The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-07
LAID DOWN ARMS.
Lack of Ammunition
Causes Abandon
ment of Guns.
so OFFICERS SAY.
Everything Goes To Show
a Speedy Termination
Of Hostilities.

Washington May Cit is believed
that an animating purpose in the Fill
Pine presentation is to make sure that
whatever form of government is adj
opted, will afford lucrative and infu-
entail places for the many ambitious
Philippine leaders. The administration
sees nothing in this aspiration irrecon-
cilable with a firm development over
the islands by the United States, the
opportunity for the F'ilipinos being
found in a liberal provision for NUM-
cipal and even provincial native gov
eminent in the islands.
United States officials properly dis
tributed throughout the islands in SUI
pervisory capacities, charged to inter
fere as little as possible with local af-
fairs so long as they are conducted
without abuses, and a few garrisons
of troops at strategic points, support
ed by a naval contingent, it is
thought by officials here, may prove to
be all that is necessary for the effective
maintenance of the service over the
islands, while meeting the native as
pirations for home rule.
The Philippine commission has been
instructed on these points, and Presi-
dent Schurman is especially sanguine
of the ability to bring about the accept
ance of these conditions by
the insurgents. Aside from the
encouragement conveyed by the pro-
gress of the peace negotiations the Of
fcials find bright promise in the rapid
development of the military compaign.
The press reports this morning that
Lawton is meeting slight resistance in
his movement northward: that the in
surgents are fleeing before him, and
more important still, that they are
casting sway their arms are facts
tending to indicate the approach of the
end.
The throwing away of the arms is
claimed by the naval officers to be the
result of the navys effort to cut off the
supply of incoming ammunition to the
insurgents. Without ammunition there
would be no inducement to carry along
their weapons. The army officers here
say that it is either lack of ammunition
or a breaking down of their courage
| that has led the. Filipinos to abandon
their rifles.
Moving northward from Balinag
where he is reported this morning
Lawton is apparently converging with
his forces upon Mount Arayat distAnt
about sixteen miles, the point at the
bend of Rio Grande where Otis predict
ed the insurgents would make their last
| stand.
With Macarthur moving northward
from San Fernando, the two columns
should meet before this last insurgent
stronghold within about four days, if
| they meet with no more than the or
binary opposition, so that even IL
| diplomacy fails, there is hope of the
collapse of the rebellion from purely
military reasons, within week or ten
| days.
AS a result of the presidents consi-
deration of the report of the Wade
court of inquiry appointed to investi
gate the character of the food supplied
| to the army especially meats, during
the recent war with Spain, the follow
| ing instructions were today cabled to
the military commanders in the Philip
pines, in Cuba and in Porto Rico:
! Gen. Otis, Manila; Gen. Brooke,
Havana; Gen. Davis, San Juan:
By the presidents direction you nave
from time to time been requested to
make suggestions as to change Of ra-
lions for your troops, so to better en-
able the president to determine under
provisions of section eleven forty-siN,
revised statutes what alterations, if
any, in established ration would be con
ducive to the better health Of troops
serving in tropical climates.
Acting secretary of war directs that
you institute a board of three officers
noted for their ability and experience.
serving respectively in the line, medical
and subsistence departments. to fully
examine into subject of any desired
changes in rations for the troops Of
your command.