Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-24
OUTLOOK FOR PEACE
Regarded as Encouraging by Many
Department officials.
NEWS GRATIFlES SECRETARY ROOT
All the Volunteer Regiments to Be
Sent to Manila
MATTER OF BLOCKADING

Secretary Root, Adjutant General Corbin
! and other high officials of the War Depart
| ment are very much gratified at the news
contained in the advices from Gen. Otis
| today to the effect that the sovereignty OF
| the United States has been firmly estab-
| lished in the Island of Sulu, with excellent
| prospects of its extension to other Islands
of the Philippine archipelago. Another
cause of general congratulation was the
report from Mr.. DENLY of the Philippine
commission showing the favorable state of
| affairs in the city of Manila as indicated
| by the reopening Of the public schools.
| These and other advices lead many ON
cials who have Lot heretofore been very
| sanguine as to the future, to harbor the
! hope that the people of the Philippines may
| soon see the manifold advantages or a
peaceful submission to the authority OF the
| United States. and in that way avert the
| proposed employment of force fer the sup
| preston of the Instruction which has con-
| tinued so long under the misguided dlrec-
| ton of Aguinaldo.
More Encouraging Outlook.
| The outlook for cessation of hostilities
| is now regarded by many officials of the
| War Department as more encouraging than
| it has been at any time since the opening
| of the rainy season, which necessitated the
| suspension of active hostilities, except on
| a limited scale The fact that the admins
| tration has determined to place a large
! army at the command of Gen. Otis, with
| the avowed purpose of destroying or COM
| polling the surrender of the insurgent
| forces is expected to exercise a strong
/ moral influence in the solution of the pres
! ent troubles, showing the Filipinos the
| utter folly of further resistance. and the
! advantage of being under the government
| of the United States.
| The Conference.
| Secretary Root returned to the city last
| evening from an extended conference with
| the President. Attorney General Griggs and
| Gen. Merritt in regard to the situation in
the Philippines. An important plan of &C
! ton in connection with future military OPP
| erations in that quarter was fully discuss
! ed, and the results will shortly become
| known through the orders of the War De-
partment.
| Secretary Root does not consider it pru-
| dent eXpedient to disclose these plans
| at the present time, but makes no secret
Of the purpose of the administration to put
! down the instruction at the earliest pos
sible date. He was visibly annoyed at the
! newspaper statement that about half of
| the volunteer army was to be retained in
| this country as a reserve force for use
| only in the Philippines in the pro-
posed army of $1,000 men was not suiii-
| cient
According to a statement made by him
| last evening, every mothers son of the
volunteers will eat his Christmas dinner in
| Manila. He explained that by this state
ment he meant that every member of the
| twenty new volunteer regiments will have
| been landed in Manila bay by that time.
| Regarding the reports that General Wes-
| ley Merritt, who has also been at Lake
| Champlan in conference with the Presi-
dent and his War Secretary, is to succeed
| General Otis in command of the troops in
| the Philippines Secretary Root was nom
| committal He evaded all questions on
| this point and declined to make any posi-
tive statement whatever in regard to the
| subject.
Rush for Commissions.
Secretary Root did not come to the War
Department until about 1890 today, having
been busy with his clerks at his hotel up
| to that hour. At the War Department he
found many visitors awaiting an interview
! with him. and his time during the day was
largely occupied with callers. There was a
| particularly large rush of men seeking to
secure appointments for their friends and
| constituents in the new regiments, and the
| completion Of the list of officers of these
| regiments took up great portion Of the
| Secretarys time.
| There was also a great deal of CORES
| pondence which accumulated during the
| two days the Secretary was absent which
| had to be disposed OF. and he was conse-
quently immersed with work during the
| whole of the day.
| Among the callers were Senator Spooner
| of Wisconsin, who has recently returned
| from Europe, Senator Sewell of New Jer-
sey, Representatives Walker of Virginia
and Brownow and Gibson of Tennessee
| and Commissioner Evans Of the pension
| office.
| Blockade of Philippine Ports.
The blockading of the ports of the Phil
| ippine Islands. and especially those of Luz
| zon, is subject which is receiving consid-
Grafton at the War Department.. Secretary
| Root says he has yet insufficient informa-
! ton to take action on the matter. The
| Secretary believes in making war with Sc
| verify and taking advantage Of everything
necessary to make campaign successful.
War, he says, cannot be made In any way
| without causing distress.
At the same time to make an absolute
| blockade and to shut up every port may
| do more injury just now than good. He
| considers that it would be a serious hard
| ship upon a peaceful community to shut
| it off from means of subsistence because
a port which supplies them is In the hands
| of marauderS.
Another matter that has to be considered
| Is the fact that the merchants and business
men in Manila would be most seriously
crippled, and it might cause great deal
of dissatisfaction should rigid blockade
be maintained during the present time of
comparative inaction. Secretary Root how
ever. Is a believer in the policy of making
the war upon those who are opposing
United States authority of such character
that will end 1t in the shortest possible
time, and the probabi tiles are that when
the next campaign begins there will be an
effective blockade maintained and that
any commerce between the towns within
the American lines with the country In the
control of the insurgents will be stopped
Meanwhile all possible precautions will
be taken to prevent arms and ammuni-
ton from being supplied to the EiliDipOS
To that end 1t Is quite likely that the ships
of the navy and the smaller gunboats cap
tured from the Spanish will be utilized.