The times., 1899-08-10
MIR. Root md AguinaIdo.

The country was treated to a great deal
of Philippine news yesterday Secretary
Root, in an Interview at Plattsburg, N Y,
declared that the war would be prosecuted
relentlessly; that fifty thousand men would
be in Luzon by November !, and that moth
ing would be left undone to crush the in
surrection without any avoidable delay.
The amiable Aguinaldo, not to be out
done by lis War Once opponent, also en-
tered an appearance with two conspiracies
TO massacre Americans, and one OF two
pitched battles around San Fernando 1t is
quite apparent that he has been informed
of Mr.. Alger's retirement and of the char
acter Of that gentleman's successor. This
is illustrated in the redoubled efforts he
has been making TO secure some signal sue
cess before many more American troops
can be landed at Manila. AS we have long
expected, native rising in the capital, to
take place coincidently with another al San
Fernando, had been carefully planned
They were to occur on some night when the
rebels should think il feasible to attack the
two places from the outside simultaneous
ly. and thus prevent junction of MacAr-
thur with Otis.
How far the operations of Tuesday and
yesterday may demoralize the Tagals re-
mains 10 be seen According to the ac-
counts they outnumbered our troops by two
thousand men, and yet were driven from
their trenches with an American loss OF
only forty killed. If it was Macarthur S
idea to only effect a sortie, give the rebels
drubbing and then retire again to San
Fernando. it is difficult to see what good
the movement could accomplish. If. on the
other hand, he is trying to open his way
back 10 Manila, it is easily understood
But in that event it may be surnised that
his path would swarm with Filipinos on
front, fianks, and rear, and he would have
10 fight on his four faces all the way to
his objective point.
Whatever may be the immediate situa-
ton. and It is believed to be serious
enough, the desperate efforts OF the enemy
10 overcome our weakened forces before
the end of the rainy season viii urge the
war authorities here TO renewed exertions,
and we may be sure that troops, artillery,
ard horses viii be forwarded as fast as
they can be. But there is always the dan
ger OF what may happen before help can
reach the Philippine army. What is left
of il Is known to be decimated by sickness,
and few OF the men who have been boiling
when they were not roasting for near.y
two months. are presumably in prime con-
dition for campaigning.
il is this wearing g-out process upon which
Aguinaldo has confidently depended for
success. 1t was this hope that made him
so apparently anxious for peace near the
end OF the spring campaign In which he
came close 10 total defeat, Notwithstanding
the hlunder OF our Government in striking
him with an insufficient force. DENLY and
the schoolmasters fell in with his desires.
and, probably, SO did Otis. At any rate
the fighting WIS suspended when it should
have been most active, the rebels gained
the time they desired, and when the rains
came, resumed hostilities and laughed at
the Yankee general and his occurring civil
ian Commissioners. All that followed
might have been predicted. Practically the
whole country saw il coming, and the only