The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-17
CEBU TO BE TAKEN NEXT.
General Miller VIII Soon Occupy An
other Imporfnnf City.


other Important City.
NEW YORK, Feb. ia dispatch to the
Tribune from Washington says 1.-THE au-
thorities at the War Department expect
a dispatch from General Otis by the end of
TINS week announcing the occupation by an
American force of Cebu, the third city of
Importance in the Philippines. When Gen.
Miller started for Iloilo his instructions
were, after establishing American authority
at that port to proceed Immediately to Cebu
and occupy the place. For this purpose the
Thirty-first Iowa Volunteer Regiment was
sent after him, but on account of unex-
pected opposition to the landing of General
Miller's troops at 1loilo, compelling tedious
delay of forces on shipboard the Iowa regi-
ment was returned TO Manila last week and
lhe FIRST tennessee was sent to take its
place Tor the purpose of garriSoning Cebu.
II appears that that regiment was landed
with the other troops a Iloilo on Saturday
ana sunday, but, in view of the ease with
winch Iloilo can be guarded against attack
on the part of the natives. It Is thought
that by this time General Miller has found
II possible TO re-embark part of his forces
10 carry out the original programme of Sc
"Cebu is the capital of the island of the
same name and is the most ancient town In
the Philippines, being formerly the seat Of
government OF the Nisayan group, which in
Guides Cebu BOhol, Panay. Negros and
Leyte; The administration was, however, re-
moved TO Manila in lS49 It's population at
present is over $1,000 and it is considered
the natural mercantile center Of the archi-
pelago, being about three hundred miles
borhood possesses fine roads Although it's
climate IS better than that of any other
town IN the group the natives have been
devoid of commercial enterprise. The trade
or Cebu consists principally of hemp and
sugar, the neghboring islands of Leyte
Mindanao and Bohol having extensive hemp
Plantations. Of Ubi oh,
finds its way to Cebu for shipment. There
are some valuable and extensive coal de-
nave as yet been worked only specifically
and without much enterprise. The town is
built on large plain at the foot of the
chain OF hills that traVerSeS the island
throughout its length, is we'll constructed
and of late years has been a thriving place.
The merchants quarter, situated along the
port, includes some wel!-built stone houses,
though many are old. The huts of the
Malays, for the most part fishermen, are
on the beach east and west of the city.
Ihere are fine cathedral, a bishops
palace, a courthouse, a postoffice and a tele-
graph station. The port is formed by the
narrow channel which separates Cebu from
Makten island. 1t was on this little island
that Magellan was killed in 1921 after MAX
ing the first passage across the Pacific.
1t is not the intention of General Otis
and Admiral Dewey to establish garrisons
for the present at other towns in the Phil
ippines than Manila, Iloilo and Cebu, al
though as soon as these ports and their
United States the smaller vessels of Admiral
Deweys feet viii make systematic cruises
throughout the islands to command re-
spect for the American flag On the visits
or these ships to various ports their officers
will learn positively whether the commerce
OF such ports Will warrant the establish
ment In them of custom houses and Ameri-
can representatives, but at present there
is not sufficient information to warrant the
dispatch of forces 10 any other ports ex-
cept. possibly, at the northern terminus of
the railway extending from Manila to Ling
ayen. 1t will be General Otiss effort TO open
this railroad throughout its length soon
as possible IL is owned by a British corpor-
alton and in addition TO the commercial ad-
Nantages accruing from its operation it's
strategic value can hardly be overestmated,
especially Aguinaldo's adherents in the
Island of In2on are apparently confined to
the immediate neighborhood Of it's lines.
One of Admiral DeWey's ships will soon
go to the extreme south of the archipelago
10 secure the alliance of the Sultan of Sulu,
and to report on the harbors of that minia-
ture group. while another ship will explore
the comparatively undeveloped Island OF
Felawan. in the China sea, which many
naval officers say will turn out to be the
most important island in the Philippines.