Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-23

cred in any locality.
Extraordinary precautions have
been taken for the suppression Of
further trouble which is threatened to
take place in the city tonight. But, it
is generally believed, that last nights
experience will effectively quell the
disturbing clement.
Fire has been burning all day i'll
the Tondo district and has been
clearing the rebels out of many
houses in the outskirts, from which
the enemy previously fired on the
Americans.
The following is the official report
of the attempt to destroy Manila by
fire last night:
MANILA, February p, 1899.
General, Washington:
Determined endeavors to burn city
last night; buildings fired in three
different sections of city; fires con-
trolled by troops after severe labor !;
a considerable number of incendiaries
shot and few soldiers wounded; early
this morning large body of insur-
gents made demonstration off Mac
Arthur's front near Caloocan and
were repulsed; loss of property by
fire last night probably half million
dollars. OTIS.
Further ReinfOrcements for Otis.
The War Department has arranged 10
dispatch further reinforcements to Gen.
Otis at Manila. The regiments selected are
the 9th Infantry, now at New York and
the 9th Infantry, at San Antonio Tex
Both of these regiments will go by way of
San Francisco. Just what transports they
will take cannot yet be stated, but one is
due at San Francisco about the LIST of
March, and it is expected that the first ex-
pedition will be able to leave by March ID
BY that date Gen. Otis will have received
all the reinforcements now afloat and bound
which sailed from New York last Sunday.
This will give him 6,000 reinforcements
made up of the flower of the United States
army-regulars tried in Indian service and
most of them Injured to the Cuban climate
IN its worst aspects, having participated In
the campaigns there during the last wet
season.
Must Assume the Offensive.
Every report thai comes to the War De
partment goes to convince the officials that
an offensive campaign must be Immediately
assumed in the Philippines This is now
matter of necessity, against which, the Of
fcials say, sentimental considerations can
not stand. In their opinion the lives and
health of American troops now in the neigh
borhood of Manila depend upon the initia-
ton of such a campaign. Gen Otis report
of the big fire in Manila yesterday and last
night, while agreeing closely with the press
reports, makes mention of rather formida-
bic demonstration by the insurgents near
Caloocan, the scene of some of the heaviest
fighting succeeding the first engagement
with the insurgents of the 10Th.
This is taken as an indication that the
have not yet been thoroughly i'm
pressed with the strength of the American
arms. disquieting feature noted in the
press reports is the presence of small bodies
of armed insurgents within the American
outposts, possibly an evidence that our
lines are too far extended and too thin
around Manila 1t is realized that it will
be necessary to sweep the country clear
of all hostile elements. The task will be
difficult because of the resemblance of
the Filipinos TO one another, which would
make it hard 10 distinguish between an
non-combatant and an out and out insur-
gent. Sometimes there is no such distinc-
tion. the one resolving into the other at
short notice, for ii is patent now that the
cannot be counted upon to OBJ
serve the strict rules of war and must be
fought on the same basis as Indians.
The Protection of Manila.
A most serious problem confrcnts Gen.
Otis in the protection of Manila and the
suburban towns from fire. This is not only
because of the treacherous character of
the Filipinos themselves, but also because
of the construction of these tropical towns
and cities.
Very generally the houses outside of
the business establishments, are built of
the flimsiest bamboo hung with mating
strings, and even the floors are made of
strips of bamboo separated SO as to allow
the free circulation of air.
The fraiI houses are elevated on short
posts above the ground, a precaution found
TO be necessary for the protection of health
in that climate. 1t is within the power of
almost any person to set fire to these
houses from without or within in a few
seconds of time, and as they are closely
built the ravages of a fire in a quarter so
constructed might easily reach the half
million-dollar point mentioned by General
Otis in his dispatch.
The foreign quarter is of better construc-
ton, but still includes many of these light
bamboo houses, which the older residents
seem to find cooler than houses of more
solid construction. The walled town which
the insurgents threaten to burn tonight is
said to be of substantial construction, and
is probably more easily defended against
such an attempt than any other section OF
the town. The officials here say that if the
rebels continue such tactics in Manila,
jeopardZing the lives of women and chill
dren and foreigners, who are not involved
III the war, General Otis will be under the
Of