New-York tribune., 1899-07-18
OFFICIALS FEARS CONFIRNED.
BELIEF THAT GENERAL OTIS IS NOT THE
RIGHT MAN FOR COMMAND IN
THE PHILIPPINES
rsY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. !


tBY TELEGRAPH THE TBIBuNE.l
Washington, July 17-What every Army Of
ficer in Washington has long feared. but for OBJ
vious reasons declined to discuss in public. and
what civilians were beginning. unwillingly in
most instances. to believe is precisely confirmed
by the remarkable cable dispatch from Hong
Kong to-day, which will take rank as a war
paper with the celebrated Santiago round robin
of hast summer.
In the War Department for more than
month the feeling existing among the higher
officials that General Otis was misplaced in
command at Manila has been growing ire
pressIble. His consecutive official reports were
seen to be non-corroborative and even the
President no longer unaware Of the dis
trustful sentiment affecting soldiers in Manila
or on duty here passing through Washing
ton to Join commands elsewhere.
OTISs UNSATISFACTORY REPORTS.
The Government was compelled to depend for
later news of the Philippine situation wholly on
the brief cabled reports from the General. 1t
patchea which had been so fun and satisfactory
to the authorities here earlier in the campaign,
had practically ceased TO come since the early
part of June, the inference being that the corre-
spondents had been driven from the field by the
rainy season The anxiety was increased by
the apparent reluctance OF General Otis to give
desired Information. his grudg1ng replies 10
queries about the men he would need in the
fali. nds-hls astnbbosn-reitsra.ion that thirty
thousand men would be enough for all purposes.
That WIS his estimate six months ago. yet for
the succeeding four months his force aggre-
gated over forty thousand and hardly an inch
Of ground was gained from the insurgents after
May l.
For four months official kilograms had come
from General Otis clinging to his belief that
the rebellion was over and only now. when
events have justified none OF the series OF rosy
predictions is it beginning to be openly admit
ted that General Otis has not known what was
going on IN the country under his control. and
that he has failed to form any adequate idea
Of the Filipino character. At last 1t is beginning
TO be realized among the civil authorities. as it
had already become a profound conviction
among military men experienced In Indian con-
troll in the West, that the war In Llzon might
not have begun, and IN any event would have
been quickly ended had General Merritt re-
rnained In command or had General Otis come
home last summer
A GOOD ADMINISTRATIVE
There is no disposition in the Army To declare
unqualihedly that General Otis Is incapable Of
ao,ne some things in Manila better than many
other of1cerr near the top of the Army list His
ability as an administrator s widely recognized.
He is unusually systematic about his office affairs
and has enjoyed envaole reputation for dis
cretion. particularly IN his dealings with trans
eressors OF civil and military law. He has long
been an authority on drir regulations and his
interest in the efficiency OF the Army organiza-
ton was shown In his establishment OF the
cavalry school But since the Civil War his
Ae,d service was never noticeable. and his
friends are reticent about It, For that reason
Generals Lawton, Young. Wheeler and Schwan.
as well as others, have been sent to him. as
expressly stated by the War Department in
order that General Otis might be relieved OF
much of the responsibility in the actual cam
ro,gn N devote more time to administering
affairs IN the rest Of the islands"
THE CENSORSHIP REVELATIONS
The revelations now made about the censor
shin astounh the leading officials here. When
oo,,n1asnts were recently made about the way
a,snatches were being stopped and mangled at
Manila the War Department was satisfied with
ar exclamation from General Otis that great
,,,ertv was being allowed. with only such re-
strtctions as prevented advance information OF
.,,,,a-v onerations from becoming known to
the enemy.
~, r-astde,t has frequently remarked TO
,,,si,ors who broached the subject that ne was
, ,o have the fullest knowledge Of Philip
.,.,-s disseminated and that ne was dis
,,osed 70 have the widest latitude commensurate
80. r,u,tarv necessity given to American cor
.o,ts throughout the islands. When the
,.,es, disclosures regarding the petty annoy
,o-rssnondents have met are officially
o,,,a,ed as in all probability they speedily
-ao-s from washington will undouot-
.a,v cause their abatement
An EXPLANATION TO BE AshED'
,rnoress,on that the gist If not the en-