Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-04
PROBABLY HAS NOT LAND
ED.
OTIS HAS CONFIDENCE IN MILLER.
Relieves He Understands Presidents
Purpose Not TO "Crowd" Insurgents.


Purpose Not TO "Crowd" Insurgents.
WASHINGTON, January 3.-General
Otis. commanding at Manila, has eabled
the War Department that in his opinion
General Miller has the situation well i'm
hand at Iloilo. and that he fully under
stands the purpose Of the President not
to crowd the insurgents unduly.
II is highly desirable that hostile col
lision between the American forces and
the insurgents should be avoided at all
hazards. at least pending the ratification
of the peace treaty, and as General Mil
Ter now understands this purpose Of the
Presidents. he will be guided by it, and
may be relied upon to resort to force only
on absolute compulsion.
The authorities here are now fully sat
sfed that the trouble at Iloilo may be
traced directly back to the Spanish colo
mel who was the senior Spanish army Of
ficer and directly I'm command Of the Visa
yas group, including the principal Island
of Panay and the city and garrison of
Iloilo.
SPANISH TREACHERY?
General Otiss reports show that. though
beyieged i'm IlOilo by superior force the
position Of the Spanish was thoroughly
tenable. They had repulsed every attack
of the insurgents. and had inflicted great
loss upon the latter. and altogether, there
was no reason why they should not have
held out indefinitely. This was partcu-
larlv the case i'm view OF the knowledge
on the part of the Spaniards that by the
terms of the treaty the United States
Government has undertaken to carry
them back TO Spain, involving, Of course,
their release from the siege at the earliest
practicable moment. IL is said that Rios
delayed the evacuation of IlOilO until he
became informed that the Americans
were coming, and there IS curiosity here
TO learn how that important information
reached Iloilo in advance OF the move
ments of the American transports. and
I'm the absence of cable connections. Tn
doubtedly it was conveyed by a vessel,
and there may be a question: raised as
to the legitimacy Of the news Of Ameri-
can intentions conveyed in this fashion.
AGUINALDO'S INFLUENCE WANING.
General Otis has given no notice in his
dispatch of the approaching meeting OF the
Filipino Parliament. a good deal of in
terest is attached TO this meeting, and
General Otis reports that by the attend
ance the strength Of the Agunaldo party
can be gauged. That this is waning
rapldly is not doubted and General Otis
feels that when the attempt is made 10
convene the Parliament ii will be found
that Aguinaldo has lost his control Of the
majority. and cannot command even a
working coalition. Such a state Of ar
fairs would tend 70 make easier the task
of the military authorities Of the United
States in establishing peacefully tenn
porary form OF government for the PhuIp-
pines, that will command the support OF
the people and receive the approval Of
the civilized world
OTIS WITHHOLDING PROCLAMATION
General Otis has not yet published the
proclamation by President Mckinley.
which was cabled from Washington To
him about a week ago. Feeling full con-
fdence I'm his judgment. the officials here
are not disposed 10 question his with
holding the proclamation. though II would
seem that the animatng purpose In pre-
pairing and circulating Ii was to sOothe and
satisfy the Filiplnos, and counteract the
insidious attacks the Spanish element has
been making upon the integrity OF the
American intentions respecting the Phil
ppines.
DEWEY WANTS SHORE HOSPITAL
Admiral Dewey was heard from by
cable al the Navy Department to-day.
but made no reference TO the political
situation in the islands. He reported that
he had found a building suitable for a
naval hospital at Cavite. and asked au-
thority from the department 10 establish
il at once 1t was not gathered that there
is an unusual amount OF sickness among
the American sailors. but realizing that
the naval occupation of Manila bay Is to
be of permanent character. Admiral
Dewey wishes TO establish a shore hos
pitai.
Secretary Long called upon SE.sean