The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-24
TO REINFORCE OTIS.
Two More Regiments VIII be ut
Once Sent to Manila.

Two More Regiments VIII be at
Once Sent to Manila.
Washington, February 23. The war de-
partment has arranged to dispatch further
reinforcements to General Otis at Manila,
The regiments selected are the Ninth in
fantry. now at New York. and the Sixth
infantry at San Antonio. Both these regi-
ments Will go by way OF San Francisco. II
is expected that the transport taking them
will be able to leave by March 10. by
that date General Otis will have received
all tho reinforcemcnts now aiioat and
bound for Manila save those on the Sher-
man, which smiled from New York last
Sunday. This will give him 5000 more
troops. made up of the flower OF the oni-
ted states army, regulars tried in Indian
service, and most OF them Injured 70 the
Cuban climate In its worst aspects, hay
ing participated in the campaigns there
during the last wet season.
Every report that comes TO the war de-
partment goes to convince the officials that
an offensive campaign must be immedl-
ately assumed in the Philippines. This Is
no longer matter of choice but OF noces-
sity, against which the officials say. sen-
timental considerations can not stand. ln
their opinion the lives and health of Amer
lean troops now in the neighborhood oil
Manila depends on tho initiation OF such q
campaign.
General Otis report of the big fire III
Manila yesterday and Inst night while
agreeing closely with the press reports
makes mention OF rather Formidable
demonstration by the insurgents near Ca
loocan. the scene OF some of the heaviest
fighting succeeding the frat engagement
with the insurgents on the 18th. This II
taken as an indication that the rebels hav,
not yet been thoroughly impressed will
the strength OF the American arms.
disquieting feature noted In the press
reports is the presence of small bodies O
armed insurgents within the American
outposts, possibly an evidence that ou'
lines are too far extended and 700 thin
around Manila. II Is realized that 1t vii
he necessary TO sweep the country OF all
hostile elements. The task wi,i be dit.
| ficult because of the resemblance of tho
PHILIPPINES To one another. whiGa would
make 1t hard to distinguish between t
nun-comhatant and an out and out rebel
Sometimes there Is no such distinction,
the one resolving into the other on short
| notice, for it is patent now that the Phii'
! ipinos can not be couptoG on to observ,
! airy OF the rules OF war and must be Tough
, on the same basis as Indians.
A most serious problem confronts Gen
!
4 the suburban towns from fire, not only be
Gauge of the treacherous character Of til,
rebel PHILIPPINES, but also because outside
/ Of the business establishments the houses
/ are built of the himsiest bamboo, huns
with mating screens. Even the floor
are made OF strips of bamboo, SEPARATED
so as TO allow the free circulation of air
/ 1t Is within the power of almost any per
son to set Are to these houses from with
out or within in few seconds, MS the!
are SO closely built, and the ravages of
single FIRE In a quarter so constructed
might easily reach the half million dolls
point mentioned by General Otis in hi
dispatch The foreign quarter Is Of bette
construction, but still includes many G
these light bamboo houses, which the old
er residents seem to find cooler than tn
houses OF more solid construction. TIL
walled town which the insurgents threat
en- to burn tonight Is said TO be of sub
stantial construction and probably is NOR
easily defended against such an atteinp
than any other section OF the town. Th
officials here say that II the rebels con
tinue this sort Of tactics in Manila disre
garding the rules OF war, General Oti
will be under the necessity OF making
house to house inspection and suin.,arii
disposing Of all suspicious characters.