The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-02
SOLDIERS ON OTIS.
lhey Declare Him to Be Thoroughly
incompetent.
OTHER THINGS INSlNUATED.
Volunteers viii Talk More Freely After
Muster Out.
THE WAR Is NO NEARER AN END
Than When the First Shot Was Fired BY
Billy GraysoB.
INTERVIEWS WITH RETURNED NEBRASKANS
They Are Unanimou. in Their Views
Concerning the Comma ndinT Gem
eral In the Philippines.
Than When the First Shot Was Fired by
Billy GraySon.
INTERVIEWS WITH RETURNED NEBRASKANS
(Special to The Post.l

/
San Francisco. August 1.-The soldiers
of the Nebraska regiment and Utah Light
| Artillery corroborate the statements of
the Oregon boys concerning the gross
Incompetence of Otis, and In strong terms
the returned veterans denounce the 'od
woman at Manila" Officers whose names
can not be used declare that the situation
in the islands Is far worse than Otis
has represented. and one Nehraskan OF
rank said In plain words that the war
was no nearer ended than when Billy
Grayson fired the first shot at Manila on
February 4. He said:
The Filipinos show no sign of yield
ing. Americans must adopt the same
methods pursued by the pioneers who
settled in the far West, They must drive
the natives back and take possession OF
the country The Filipinos must be treat
ed as the American Indians have been"
He declared that 1t was folly to talk
about crushing the natives with an army
OF 10000, as 1t was not possible With this
force even to hold the country taken.
He said that the present trouble Is prac-
tically only on the island of Luzon. Min
danao, adjoining Luzon, was abandoned
by Spain. except for a few garrlsons, after
years of fighting to reduce the natives
to subsection. The people are even more
warlike than the Tagalos and the Lord
only knows what will happen when the
United States tackles them"
He would not make specific criticism OF
Otis. but said that the commander was
grossly unestimating the difficulties
to be overcome. The soldiers are more out
spoken. They charge Otis not only with
incompetency, but accuse him OF using his
Office for personal gain and with causing
needless sacrifices of lives by his ignorance
OF details in the field. Following are the
statements of few OF the men inter-
viewed. Hundreds Of others express sim
liar views. 1t is q remarkable fact that
politics seems TO cut no figure with these
men, who have been away so long that
they are no longer in touch with public
matters at home.
Lee Ashton, company G-The boys are
very bitter against Major General Otis
because of his utter disregard for their
lives or comfort. We captured one town
five seperate times and each time we lost
some men.
George r. Boomer, company Colts
does not seem to have a mind capable of
grasping anything more than routine army
work,
Bert Clarke, company Bit Is the gen.
eral opinion among the islanders that the
American forces will soon withdraw and
leave Aguinaldo to master the situation.
They believe that the United States are
afraid of them.
Hugh Hogan, company Bolts never
leaves the walled city OF Manila, and all
he has done so far in the campaign has
been to. prevent other officers gaining vic
foriGs with trpDDS who ready ana
willing TO win.
A. B. Storch. company Bolts Is a man
who looks out for Otis.
F. Harris musician--The boys calls Otis
"Woll- in hand Otis" or Grandma" and
either sobriquet Is appropriate. When we
were in absolute distress from the want
of food and with half the men in the hos
pitfalls, Otis cabled that everything was
moving along smoothly.
A. Powell, muscan-People here In the
United States don't understand the Sc
robustness of the situation in the islands,
owing to the persistent Misrepresentation
OF conditions there.
Corporal j. Richards. company B-Otis'
life is taken up with designing new
teers shamefully, much worse than the
regulars.
". S. Tllton, company CTlme after
time when we surrounded the Filipinos
and had them at our mercy, Otis sent
orders instructing us TO fall back. TfJs
has prolonged the war.
II. c. Shaw. company CT don't believe
we will mako any progress In the Philip
pines until Otis is removed.
j. d. Cory. company B-The men have
no confidence in Otis.
w. J. Craig company CA better and
ADLER man and one who is not influenced
by religious secis must be sent II we are
10 conquer the Fll!pinos
+. c. Turner, company K--General Otis
IL a fraud his administration In the
philippines Is responsible for the present
disgraceful condition of affairs,
Wm. Grayson, company M-The people
here in the United States do not under
ssand The philippine situation. as Otis has
psreistently miareprt aented 1t. He words
~ dispatches OF the press correspondents