The evening times., 1899-10-18
Again the Otis Scandal.

Again the Otis Scandal.
While, in common with AL patriotic
Americans. We cannot avoid feeling of
just resentment toward the Administra-
tion for its inexcusable course in support
ing General Otis, and continuing him in
command at Manila, We are tempted to
pity President Mckinley in the position
in which he has placed himself by listening
to the malign secret advisers who dominate
his personal policy, instead of hearkening
to the reasonable demand of the country
for an immediate change of policy and
methods in the Philippines.
The view expressed by The Times. some
days ago-that is, that the operations OF
General Schwan in Cavite province, and
General Lawton in the north of LuZon,
were valueless in a military sense-has
been more than corroborated by dispatches
received yesterday by way OF Hongkong.
We are now able TO conclude positively,
as this journel insisted in advance, that
the killing of the American soldiers and
marines who lost their lives in the ac-
tions at Cayite-Viejo, Novaleta, and
so on, was useless, senseless, and brutal
murder. 1t now appears that, like al his
other military enterprises in the island,
these futile raids were planned by OTIS
in the vice regal palace, without consul
tation with, or any reference 10, the views
of his field generals. He is reported as
acknowledging that his idea was lot 10
hold any of the positions 10 be taken IN
the area which Schwan and Lawton were
ordered to harry. His sole intention was TO
scatter the rebel garrisons, and, if posi-
bic. destroy Aguinaldo's supplies.
Otis has had sufficient experience in
the failure Of such tactics TO know better
than 10 inaugurate movements Of this
sort anew Time and again he has
forced our troops to sustain loss OF life,
wounds. and to become weakened by dis
ease, in attacking and capturing Eagal
towns and entertainments, only TO abandon
them Immediately afterward. In every in
stance Of the kind, the insurgents have
simply swarmed back again as soon as
our troops were withdrawn. This is eX-
actly what has happened in the latest case.
The rebels are again in the positions from
which they were driven a week or ten days
ago; are again heavily entrenched, and
again will have 10 be driven out with i'm
portant additions TO our casualty list.
II is no wonder that every trained SOL
der in Washington, outside of the Adju-
tant's General Office, is surprised and dis
gusted at the action Of our authorities in
keeping this undertaker's agent in power
in the Philippines. II is not in the least
strange that the friends of gallant and
competent officers on duty under Otis are
indignant over the outrage that their con-
troll by such an incompetent involves.
The Surgeon Generals Department has its
own grievance against this commander,
who unhappily exercises his destructive in
stinct only at the expense of his own peo-
pie. 1t is charged against him that he
displays complete indifference to the needs
of his medical service. Hundreds of sick
soldiers are huddled in filthy tents, with
the scantiest attention and a total lack of
hospital comforts. Otis has repeatedly re-
fused to allow the medical staff TO COM
municate information of their situation or
the true state of affairs leaked out by way
of Hongkong, and he was sharply ques-
toned by the Secretary of War, that he
permitted his chief surgeon TO call for doc
tors. nurses, and necessary supplies
With all due respect for his high station,
We desire to warn Mr. Mckinley that he is
straining American patience to the break
ing point. The man who, whether igno-
rsntly, OF because he has a contempt for
the lives Of our troops, or because he is af-
1icted with hOmicidal mania, or for what
ever reason, causes the slaughter of our
boys in Luzon without sane purpose or rea-
son, has become a personal issue with
every father and mother who have son
fighting for our flag in the Philippines.
That personal issue is expanding rapidly
and venomousIy and threatens to include
the protector of the proximate offender.
1t is due to the President that he should
be reminded of the widespread belief In
the United States that, if Secretary Root
could have had his way, Otis would have
been removed weeks and weeks ago, and
that the fact OF the latter's continuance in
command and power to sacrifice American
lives needlessly, is owing to the personal
insistence of the Commander in Chief II
there is a strong and growing movement
among Republicans TO prevent the renomi-
nation of William Mckinley in 1900, that
distinguished man has his record to date in
connection with the Otis scandal, princi-
pally 10 thank for IL