The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-06

OOTOsIe u ne Sp1Cie-S are 70 De OF Se-fN-
See 10 ms campaign. More, of course,
wili follow IS rapidly as they can be
gotten ready If General Otis needs them
IN any future operations he may plan,
but US already stated, it is believed
this particular crisis will have passed
before they can be transported the
great distance from the United States
TO Manila. These troops, with those
now in Cuba, represent the cream of the
American army, according 10 General
Corbin. Il is true that only about 1900
Of General Otis soldiers are regulars,
but his volunteer soldiers have been IN
der thorough discipline ana training for
months, some as much as eight months
and many participated in the engage
ments attending the capture of Manila
and are practically.as good as the reg
uiarS. $500
STRENGTH OF INSURGENTS.
No one here knows the real strength
of the insurgents opposed to General
Otis. The accounts of their number are
conflicting and none of them comes
from reliable sources. Still, the best be-
lief Of the authorities at the war depart
ment is that they number about 10000
men, but they. are not comparable to
the American forces in personnel, diSci-
that they have some Mausers. some
Remingtons and a variety of other fire
arms, and it is suspected they have
been quite plentifully supplied with
ammunition from outside sources.
Taken as a whole, this armament is de-
cidedly inferior to that of the American
troops. Then, with inexperienced Of
ficers, in many cases even the colonies
of regiments being not more than p
years Of age, and their lack of knOwl-
edge Of tactics. they are at a great dis
advantage. Their strong point is their
knowledge of the country and certain
fanatical bravery in onslaught that
would be formidable to a volunteer
force not well trained to stand fire.
Like the CubanS, they rely too much
on a swOrd-like weapon. corresponding
TO the maChete, a weapon Of little value
against long-range rifles. Altogether,
the war department officials have not
the slightest doubt of General Otis abil-
ity to hold his position Indefinitely. and
the only cause for apprehension is the
fear that by taking to the interior Of
the country, practically impossible for
American troops in the approaching
rainy season, prolonged Indian-fght-
ing style of campaign may follow.
DEWEY'S FLEET.
Besides his soldiers, General Otis has
at his back in Manila bay, command
ing the city, a veritable Rock of Gibral-
tar in Deweys fleet. With the vessels
he now has and those about to join him.
Dewey Will have twenty-one ships of
various types. Of full-fiedged warships
he has nine, as follows: The flagship
Olympia, Boston. Baltimore, Charles
ton, Concord, Monadnock. Monterey
Petrol and Buffalo. He has also three
armed supply ships which are just as
effective as a warship almost in at
lacking troops outside of Notifications
and in maintaining the blockade. They
are the Culgoa, the Nanshan and the
ZafirO. The vessels on the way to Join
Dewey are the gunboat Helena. now at
Colombo: the CaStine, at Gibraltar: the
Princeton. due at Port Said Tuesday:
the Bennington, the Brutus and York
town. probably at Guam on their way
TO Manila; the battleship Oregon and
the water boat Iris. at Honolulu.
The S0lace is about to start any mo-
ment from Norfolk for Manila. This
leaves out of account the army trans
ports under Otis command. which
could be made of great service.
The fleet cannot operate against
troops in the interior, but undoubtedly
Dewey Will Immediately draw a tight
Gordon of blockading vessels around the
isalnd of LuzOn and make a special
effort absolutely to cut off the insur-
gents from the supplies and ammuni-
ton which they must have to carry on
the war.
AGONCILLO MUST GO.
One of the first steps of the admin
istration, upon hearing Of the out
break at Manila, was to give attention
to the presence in Washington of
Agoncillo, the accredited representative
here of the Philippine insurgents. They
would not say whether or not any steps
had been taken looking to his expul-
sion from the United States or to his
arrest, but his status, il can be stated,
has already been the subject of a care
full Study. The officials have been 10th
TO disturb him, first because they did
not care to martyrize him unnecessar-
Iy, and, secondly, because they did
not care TO expose themselves TO the
criticism that they were interfering
improperly with the supply of infor-
nation and arguments respecting the
Philippine question while the treaty
was pending before the senate. 1t is
possible, however. that their patience
IS now exhausted, believing. as they
do, that he has in some fashion been
connected with this outbreak, and that
they may be aroused TO the point IF
action. It was said at the state de-
partment, plainly, that AgoncillO was
either traitor or 4 SOY. If the Philip
pines are regarded as American terri
y
active agent of an Instruction against
the United States, and as such is a
traitor. If the Philippines are still in
nominal Spanish possession, then, as a
state Of war-still technically exists, he
can be regarded only as a SPY. At The
very least, his presence is highly oh
nOXious, and there is said to be ample
authority for his expulsion by presi- /
deuti5l order.
Diplomats took a lively interest in (
the news. realizing that the govern /
meEt Of the United States Will call +
upon them very early TO see To it that /
no aid of any sort is rendered to the /
Filipinos, and that no filibustering eX- /
petitions shall leave their soil with mu- !
nitioIas OF war or supplies for the il
surgents. Special precautions viii be
asked 10 be taken at Singapore and /
Hongkong, principal points OF the /
eastern trade, to prevent the dispatch I
Of vessels carrying secret carsoes in F.
aid Of the Insurgents 1t is believed I
that The interests Of other nations in /
a peaceful state of things in the east I
VIII cause them to exercise special Wig (
lance in this respect. matter of much /
Importance, III view of the great num- /
Der and extent Of the Philippine is
lands " ithout the receipt Of arms /
or ammunition from the outside the /
insurgents viii be badly handicapped. /
The United States. by refusing to rec |
Ognize Asoncillo III any way. is in g !
strong position automatically, and do 4
doubt is expressed as to all European /
nations maintaining a most correct at /
titude. and refusing in any manner TO |
acknowledge that Agunialdo and his /
followers have any status warranting 4
their recognition in any manner.
NO INTERVENTION.
Members Of the diplomatic corps said !
the outbreak made two things quite |