The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-05-11
OTIS ENCOURAGING.
He Tells the War Depart
ment the Fight Will
Soon Be Over.


WASHINGTON, D. c., May II, 1sse.-In
reply to the cable of Adjutant General
Corbin last night regarding the return of
the volunteers, General Otis cabled this
morning.
Manila, May II.
VOLUNTEER organizations first to return
now at Negros and forty-five miles from
Manila at front. Expected that trans
ports now arriving will take returning
volunteers. Volunteers understand they
will begin to leave for United States the
latter part of month; know Importance
of their presence here at this time and
accept sacrifice which United States in
terestS make imperative.
Hancock now entering harbor. Trans
ports returning this week carry sick and
wounded men. Pennsylvania and st. Paul
not needed longer In southern waters,
where they have been retained, hence
dispatch; transports Nelson and Sleveland
brought freight; return without cargo.
QSigned) ''OTIS."
The Hancock, which General Otis re-
ports entering the harbor, sailed from San
Francisco April 49, carrying the Twenty
first Infantry and Light Battery E, First
Artillery, 80 officers and ,451 enlisted men.
Colonel Jacob Kline, Twenty Infan-
try, commanding.
A later despatch from General Otis
says
"MANILA, May II.
"Adjutant-General, Washington
Health and condition of troops arrived
on Hancock, excellent; two deaths en-
route, Privates E. Jones and Elmer H
Chevalier, Companies L and E, Twenty
first Infantry, April "a and 26
(Signed) "OTIS."
Gen. Otis has cabled the War Depart
ment concerning the situation in the
Philippines. He says that it is very en-
couraging. The tone of the dispatch leads
the officials here to believe that the end
Of the Filipino insurrection is near at
hand.
Following is the text of the dispatch
Manila, May IL
"Adjutant General, Washington.
Situation as follows:-Succeeded in
use in Rio Grade; railway connections
with that point secured this week; pass
age of gunboats through Macabebe coun-
try hailed with joyful demaonsttrations by
passed over by troops temporary civil ad-
ministration inaugurated and protection
to inhabitants against insurgent abuses
given as far as possible. Sings of insur-
Obstacles which natural features of
country present can be overcome.
OIIS.
Adjutant General Corbin today made
the details of operations in the Philip
pines, from the Is to the 31st of March.
The brigade participated in the movement
against Malolos, which occupied several
days of lighting. In concluding the re-
port, General Otis says
''Thus after an arduous and brilliant
campaign by the Second Division sup
ported by other troops, lasting seven
days and in volving frequent combats,
numerous casualties among our troops
and heavy losses by the enemy, Malolos,
the recent capital of the so-called Flip
ino revolutionary government, fell be-
fore the American arms.
1T is my grateful privilege to highly
commend the conduct of the officers and
men of my comand throughout the cam
paign They have shown in an eminent
degree the quality of good soldiers
obedience, discipline, endurance, courage,
steadiness, patriotism, and the most mag
nificent ardor in battle. The regimental
commanders, Colonel H. G. Kessler, First
Montana Infantry, Colonel Fred. Eunston,
Twentieth Kansas Infantry, and Major
w. A. Kobbe, commanding the two bat
talions of the Third U s. Artillery (serv-
ing as Infantry have again proved IN
actual field service their capacity and f1t-
ness for their responsible posts, and their
skill and gallantry under fire. ! again
recommend them, and each Of thsnn for
such special mark OF distinction as the
dSilSld al CRU tAS " oA "
partment may be pleased to confer upon
them, on the merits.
1T is my grievous task to have to re-
port that the casualties of the brigade
during the seven days operations par
ticularly described in this report aggre-
gate 1856 In killed and wounded, thus
swelling the brigade's total casualties in
battle since the outbreak of the rebellion
to 2S5 or considerably more than 10 per
cent of the average effective strength of
the command actually engaged in the
campaign from first to last.