The Portland daily press., 1899-02-06

night perhaps in places where the insur-
gents could creep up close 90 tho shelter OF
the tropical jungle that grows near y
into tho town Of Manila.
Every confidence. however, is felt that
General Otis is master Of the situation.
This confidence Is based not only ON this
mornings cabIegram but from repeated
assurances to that effect conveyed by Gen
ersl Otis to Washington from time TO
time during the past few months. The
forces under his command as shown by
the. records of the Adjutant Generals
office. December 10, the date of the last
report were 2l,649 troops and of these
there were present for duty 1856 men.
This command Is composed of the follow
ing organizations;
. Company A, United Statss Engineer
battalion; Companies G, +, q, !, X and
l., 4th United States cavalry: troops of
Nevada cavalry; Companies g, II, X and
Il of the Sd, and ID and u of the 9th
United States artillery; Companies A and
ID Of the California and A and b of the
Utah artillery and the LIST Wyoming
battery; the 3rd and 4th United States
infantry; the i4th and headquarters and
Companies b, ID. h, II, ], X, l. and
Of the 18th United States infantry; the
18th, Goth and 28rd United States infan.
try; the LIST California; the LIST Colorado;
the LIST Idaho; the 5lst Iowa; the Goth
Kansas; the 18th Minnesota; LIST Mon
tana; list Nebraska; LIST North Dakota;
the I'd Oregon; 10th Pennsylvania; LIST
South Dakota; LIST Tennessee; LIST Wash
ing ION, and the LIST Wyoming regiments
of volunteer infantry.
A portion Of this force, the 18th infan-
try and a battery of artillery are at Iloilo
where General Miller was sent month
or mere ago.
Approximately 9 900 men ore on their
way to join General Otis in four separate
expeditions though none are expected to
reach Manila for three weeks or month.
They are as follows: The fourth and
four companies of the 18th infantry, /, 72s
men under General Lawton which sailed
from Gibraltar last Friday; the goth in =
fantry, comprising 81 officers and 26S
men under General Wheaton which left
san Francisco January "a; the ED infnn.
try in command of Col. Egbert which
left san Francisco early in the present
month and 2, 300 men and officers of the
fantry which left New York Friday on
the sherman.
| There is big transport, the Sheridan,
now making ready in New York to carry
the 18th infantry and u battalion of the
l2tA infantry, l,s20 men in all and she
will start not later than the 18th INST
| That is all that can be supplied to Gener-
al Otis in the way of reinforcements, ao
cording TO General Otis IL the soldiers are
TO be of service in this campaign More
of course will follow as rapidly as they
can be gotten ready II General Otis needs
them In any future operations no may
plan, but as already stated this partiou
lar crisis will have passed before they
can be transported the great distance
from the United States to Manila. These
troops with those now in Cuba repre- ent
the cream Of the American army, accord
ing to General Corbin. IL is true that
only about 3, 600 OF General Otis's soldiers
are regulars but his volunteer soldiers
have been under thorough discipline and
training for months, some as much as
eight months and many participated in
| the engagements attending the capture
OF Manila and are practically as good as
| the regulars No one here knows the real
strength OF the insurgents opposed to
General Otis The reports of their num-
bers are conflicting and none OF them
comes from reliable sources. Still the
department Is that they number about
80, 900 men but they are not comparable to
the American forces in personnel disoi-
pline or quality of arms. 1t is known
that they have Mausers. some Remingtons
and a variety of other firearms and 1t is
suspected that they have been quite plen
tifully supplied with ammunition from
outside sources, Taken as a whole, this
armament is decidedly inferior to that OF
the American troops. Then with mex
perienced officers in many cases even the
colonies Of regiments being not more
Than Il years of age and their lack Of
knowledge of tactics, they are at II great
disadvantage. Their strong point Is their
knowledge of the country and certain
fantical bravery in onslaught that would
be formidable to volunteer forces not well
| trained to stand fire.
| Like the Cubans they rely too much on
sword-like weapon corresponding TO the
machete, weapon of little value against
long range rifles. Altoge ther, the war
department officials have not the slightest
doubt of General Otis's ability TO hold
his position indefinitely and the only
cause for apprehension, is the fear that by
taking TO the interior of the country.
practically impossible for American
troops in the approaching rainy season, a
prolonged Indian fighting style of cam
paign may follow.
Besides his soldiers General Otis has at
| his back In Manila bay commanding the
city, veritabls rock of Gibraltar in
| na@ay,s Heat With the vessels he has