The San Francisco call., 1899-08-11
OTIS TO REMAIN IN
SUPREME COMMAND
Decision Reached by President NC
KinIey and Secretary


CALL HEADQUARTERS, WELLlNG-
TON HOTEL, WASHINGTON, Aug 10
Major General Otis will remain in su-
preme command of the Philippine Islands
Should he request to be relieved, Major
General LawtOn Will he assigned TO outy
as his successor. I am informed by hgh
authority that this is the decision reached
bv the President and Secretary Root DUR
ing their several conferences at Lake
CbamDlafn. Secretary Root made no Sc
cra+ to-day of the intention of the Presl-
dent TO retain General Otis in control at
Manila and so informed General Miles at
q lengthy conference during Wnlch the
Philippine situation was discussed. II Is
evident that nOtwiJhst landing GeneraI
Merritt's expressed desire to return 10
Manila ne will not have the opportunity
and even General Lawton's promouon Is
conditional upon the request OF GeAeidI
Otis to be detached from his present coih-
mand. 49,
AIgar lust before his retrement, RECON-
rnended that General Otis be reneVed, on
The ground tnat he had not proved himself
equal to the emergency.
Considerable dissatisfaction IS eXpreSSeu
bv the friends of the administrator at
the decision of the President to leave Cen
eral Otis to continue his Intellectual strug-
gle to suppress the 1nsurreCII0ni pul II
was said to-day that Mr.. Mckinley de-
sired 10 give him a chance to snow What
he could do with $1,000 eIecuVe troops
General
ditiOral cavalry TO bring the total up 10
10 600 but / was informed this afternoon
that Secretary Root had no intention at
present of adopting the recommendation,
though he holds himself ready, II neceS-
sarv to order additional troops to Manila
The operations which General MacAr-
thur has been conducting TO the north
ward of San Fernando have a, double pur-
pose in view-frst. the demora1zatlon
Of the insurgents and TO prevent them
Strengthening the positions they hoId ana
prepare themselves for fall campaign;
and second. for the purpose OF eStaDnSh-
ing himself a I point on railway con
Meeting the Gulf of Lingayen with Manila.
General I.aWtonS recent demonstrate
70 the southwark of Manila and the appar-
entity deSultOry operations OF the troops
generally are all based upon General Gus
plan TO keep the insurgents III constant
fear of attack in order that they may
have no opportunity to get into condition
for operations which will begin in NO
NembeT.
prevent natives deserving to the Ameri-
cans are illustrated by letters captured by
General Otis. showing that the insurgents
are being eXhOrted to hold out little
longer and they are promised that Euro
mean recognition will be obtained and the
Mckinley administration oVerthroWn by
August II.
Gable reports received several weeks ago
from the Philippine Commission showed
difficulty in preventing desertions to the
American side, the general feeling among
the natives being one Of dependency.
High officials Of the administration are
not at all discouraged over the situation,
as they say the dispatch of additional
troops to Manila in itself will show the
natives that the reports that this Gov
ernment proposes to abandon the islands
are without foundation and that it is in
tended by the President to restore peace
and order in the islands.