The times., 1899-09-09

Brigadier General ovenshine, late Of the
Second Brigade of Lawton's division,
Eighth Army Corps, has just returned from
Manila and is at 1925 NJ Street northwest
with his family, recovering from a severe
attack of typhoid fever. He called on the
Secretary of War yesterday and reported
his presence in Washington, but held only
a few minutes conversation with Mr.. Root.
When questioned regarding the war in the
Philippines the general said:
Il had in my brigade the Wyoming,
North Dakota, and Idaho regiments of vol
unteers and the Fourteenth Infantry of
regulars, and was in the southern part of
Luzon with Lawton about six weeks. We
captured everything we went after and held
every city we took. Ia fact. the southern
part Of the island was completely under
Lawton's control when / was taken sick
the latter part of June and sent to the gen
eral hospital at Manila. l remained there
until the latter part of July and then sailed
for San Francisco, arriving about the first
of September, and then came to Washing
tom
Has General Otis been successful in
prosecuting the war in the Philippines?
the reporter asked.
Il can only speak of the part of the cam
pajgn l was engaged in with Lawton, and
that was successful"
is Otis popular with the Army officers
geRerally?''
1T is not for me to say. l only saw
: Otis when / was sent for. and personally
nv dealings with him have been very
pleasant"
Has not Otis suppressed the real facts
4 of the war and sent out garbled reports OF
the condition of affairs in the Philippines?
1T is not for me TO criticise my superior
/ officer
How long do you think it will take to
: suppress the insurrection in the Philip
pines?"
Il don't like to prophesy. but / should
i think that with plenty of troops the IN
surrection could be crushed out within a
1 few months after the dry season begins
but I may be mistaken.
Were the newspaper correspondent per-
mitted to state the facts Of what occurred
in your part of the island2''
so far as l know, yes; but | had little
to do with the correspondents. / saw them
everywhere and always treated them well
and received the same courtesies. but had
nothing TO do with what they sent TO their
/ papers.
WAS there not a good deal of dissatis-
4 faction among your volunteers, especially
4 the North Dakota regiment?"
They never complained to me. After
was taken sick and relieved / knew nothing
of what occurred with my brigade"
( In speaking of the food furnished his
men, the general said: I'VE had the best
Australian beef and mutton. even better
! than you get in Washington. Our other
supplies were equally as good and there
was no complaint. AS to the reports OF
the Filipino soldiers mutilating any of ouI
dead CT our soldiers mutilating the enemy
out Of revenge. never saw a single case
of any kind Of mutilation and don't be-
lieYe there was any with Lawton's com
mand In the hospital / had the best OF
treatment and there were plenty of nurses
/ to work on the men, but / believe there
was a scarcity of nurses in some of the
1 hospitals AS for the round robin the
newspaper men presented 10 General Otis
know nothing of ii further than | heard
/ there was complaint made by the news
paper men. but / don't know any OF the
particulars"
4 When asked IL the officers of the Army
would net like to see General Miles succeed
! General Otis, General ovenshine said:
Personally. General Miles is good
I friend Of mine. ! served with him in the
I West for many years, but no matter who
/ is sent TO the Philippines / would have
nothing TO say Nor have ! any criticism
to make Of General Otis. ! am at home tc
/ try and regain my health, and will return
to the Philippines. / suppose. as soon as
am well. / hope to be back there by jan
uary. ! have reported to the Secretary
Of War and unless am sent for | shall moi
go to see him again, as I have no report
1 TO make"