The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-08-25
TO PUSH CAMPAIGN.
New Volunteers Will Spend Christ
mas in the Philippines.
PORTO RICAN BATTALION PRAISED.
Lieut. Bryand. the Adiutant, Says That the
Porto Rican Soldiers Are Fine Lot
of Men-The Relief for Porto
Rican Sufferers.

Washington, Aug. 24.-Secretary of
War Root returned to the city last
night from his visit TO the president at
Lake Champlain. He went at once to
his apartments at the Arlington hotel
and during the evening spent some
time with Gen. Corbin and Acting Sec
rotary Nickel John. 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 a cabinet meeting and involved no
great departures from the policy al
ready in force respecting the Philip
pines That the campaign in the
Philippines is to be pushed vigorously
and promptly is evident from remark
the secretary made to the reporters.
He was determined. he said, that every
man belonging to the 30 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 a 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 "A 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 a 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 it's organization
few weeks ago. This battalion is
commanded by Maj. l.. p. Davidson
and is the only one of its kind in the
army. Lieut.. Bryand, who is the bat
talon adiutant, has written letter to
Mai. Johnson, of the adjutant gem
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
ficered by Americans, will be a success
and a valuable addition to the United
States army.
RELIEF OF PORTO RICAN SUFFERERS.
Washington, Aug. 24.-The condi-
tions in Porto Rico are receiving the
careful attention of the war depart
ment officials and every effort is being
put forward to relieve the suffering
caused by the hurricane. The secre-
| tary is gratifed at the respons es that
have been made to the appeals for as
sistance and noted the fact that APP
proximately $40, 600 or 500 900 in money
/ has been raised to this end.