Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-08-31
TO PUSH CAMPAIGN.
New Volunteers Will Spend Christ
mas in the Philippines.
PORTO RICAN BATTALION PRAISED.
Lieut.. Bryand, the Ad tutant, Says That the
Porto Rican Soldiers Are Fine Lot
Of Men-The Relief for Porto
RiCan Sufferers.

| Washington, Aug. Secretary Of
| War Root returned to the city last
night from his visit to the president at
Lake Champlain. lie went at once to
his apartments at the Arlington hotel
and during the evening spent some
time with Gen. Corbin and Acting Sec
rotary Meikeljohn. The secretary was
reticent in speaking for publication Of
his conference with the president.
The matters discussed, he said, were
such as would ordinarily be taken up
at cabinet meeting and involved no
great departures from the policy 4.
ready in force respecting the Philip
pines. That the campaign in the
Philippines is to be pushed vigorously
and promptly is evident from a remark
the secretary made to the reporters.
He was determined, he said, that every
man belonging to the 20 regiments Of
volunteers now being recruited shall
eat his Christmas dinner in that coun-
try. This statement was brought out
by reference to the published report
that ten of the regiments were to be
held in the United States as reserve
force.
Regarding the reports that Gen.
Wesley Merritt, who has also been at
Lake Champlain in conference with
the president and his war secretary, is |
to succeed Gen. Otis in command of the
troops in the Philippines, Secretary
Root was non-commital. He evaded
all questions on this point and declined
to make any positive statement what
ever in regard to the subject The sec.
retary's attention was called to reports |
of fresh propositions for treating with
the insurgents with view to peaceful |
settlement of the war in the Philip
pines. He had not heard officially Of |
these, although he expressed himself
as being glad if such solution of the
difficulties could be brought about.
THE PORTO RIcAN BATTALION PRAISED. |
Washington, Aug. 24.--According to
recent advices received at the war de-
partment the experiment of enlisting
natives of the West Indies into the
American army has proved quite sue
cessful in the case of the Porto Rican
battalion of United States volunteers,
which body completed its organization
a few weeks ago. This battalion is
commanded by Maj. L. ?. Davidson
and is the only one of its kind in the
army. Lieut.. Bryand, who is the bat
TALON adjutant, has written letter to
Maj. Johnson, of the adjutant gen.
erals Office, speaking in high terms of
the composition of the battalion. .He
says that the Porto Rican soldiers are
a fine lot of men, obedient and willing
to learn; they take good pride in being
soldiers of the United States army and
always dress very neat and clean. His
opinion is that Porto Rican soldiers, Of
teered by Americans, will be success
md valuable addition to the United
states army.
RELIEF OF PORTO RICAN SUFFERERS.
Washington, Aug. "a. The condi-
ions in Porto Rico are receiving the
careful attention of the war depart
nent officials and every effort is being
)ut forward to relieve the suffering
caused by the hurricane. The secre-
AIRY is gratited at the responses that \
AVE been made to the appeals for as Z
.stance and noted the fact that APP
$4,000 or $50, 900 in money
las been raised to this end.