The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-03-15
OTIS ACTION
Is Approved by the President
and War Department.


and War Department.
Washington, March 14.-Gen OTIS IN FOR
bidding further negotiations between the
Spanish at Manila and the Insurgents
touching the surrender Of the Spanish
prisoners held by the latter, acted upon
his own authority. The government has
not sent him any Instructions upon tnis
point to support him to she extreme in
amy action OF that kind he may take
% is said ut the state department that
utere have been some exchanges be-
tween the United States ana spain
through Indirect channels. touching these
particular prisoners dating back to the
sirnine of the protocol ast August
Tho Unued States government under
took finally t1 secure The release of the
prisoners. 10 never contemplated trying
to secure t1eir release by ransom. bat
simply through the suppression of the iu-
surrectiou. and cannot be held by any re-
quirement of International law 90 do more
than has been done to secure the release
OF Tho prisoners There viii be no relax
alton of The efforts in This direction But
as the United states campaign in tho
the energy possible and as the release OF
tine prisoners depends upon the issue OF
thut campaign thrc can be NO complaint
Of failure upon the present part 0f the
United States to meet lts obligations
1n preventing the Spanish government
from negotiating directly with tho lnsur-
gents. So is said here that Gen. Otis was
undoubtedly correct in his attitude. In
asmuch as She ratification OF the peace
rgaty has NOT been effected and the Uni
t,d States and Spain arc still technically
in e. state of war uuolihed only by the
operation OF the procotol suspenGing hos
tuteq In this condition there Is no au-
thorjy 40 the present for the slaniards
To negotiate with the insurgents without
the cousen Of he United saes Under ne
rules of war alone there would stiu be
ample warrant for Gen. Otis 90 take any
action tha, might calculate TO prevent
the insurgents from receiving supplies "
food. clothing amr"nltious ot war or
money. for the latter can always with
more or less difficulty bee resolved inio
the former oven On the fact ~ a ock-
adc u the Spanish minister OF foreign
annlrs feels called upon to address him
self respecting thc subject 90 the state
departments he undoubtedly would be I'M
formed .hat Gen. otis must bc sustained
though reassurcd os 90 the intentions Of
The United states. 90 use an proper efforts
to carry on, its undertaking.
Washington. Warch 1.-THE attention or
.bc officials of the war dop1rsmcrt has
l.en called tp the report from Manila
chat General OTIS had relusol to allow
ihr retiring Spaniards to cary arms 20
Oh, CaroIiues. &C was learned that this re-
rusd was in strict pursuance OF the terms
of Oh. protocol which govern in thea D.
s,.nce Of The ratification of .Hc paace
treaty Under the tecdn.cad suspension OF
Iostuitics 90 could not bc permitted that
spain suuld change ths gtltu quo TO the
extent of fortifvIng aad strongly Ra1's-
oring points heretofore unprotected as
was to he the case in the Tarohncs. 1t is
gathered thas General OTIS refusal pra'.-
ally applied rather TO -he removal of
Crnuon than To thes mat arms of the
troops. although these aiso may have hcen
iacmded. When Colonel l.ios tho senior
Spanish army officer .u iAe Philippines,
evacuated lioHo, he carr "a the Spanish
garrison Of the town dire .ly to the port
of Vamboaugo, ON the aolth siIo OF .tc
island OF Mlndonao tlkirf with them as
much of the cannon apd munitions of the
place ass his ships wall carry, AMI g
is these stores and guns that Rios desired
to take t1 the Car)luo8.
Th.o rlciais here are "a litt'e puzzled o.
account for This desire on the part OF
spain To- garrison ANA fortfy me Caro-
liner. for 10 has been nsslmel tnal the
lsroIauona ctwecn Soan and Germans
i,aiur tlw7rl sale OF tha er1dp 20
C0wanF would be cogs ur1 81 "a "a
.uteest,d with some pl ,usrDilUs ia; Ger
u.-.y has required spur m case of a
t.lh Q, turn over the grIl1 oa such G ~
dtDus as win MOT r.atli. ar cnor an
.trmrns part 90 supp asa an tn5ufsc-
ton such as the Unitsd st1'as oulaCi-
ties d. cod lu thr Ph2ipp.oes