Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-11-24
HAD 4 LARGE CONTRACT.
Commander Very Landed Marines
at Zamboanga, Mindanoa. and
Found His Force Too Small.
REQUEST ON OTIS FOR MORE TROOPS.

nEutISt tH uIlo fUn mUnE InuuTOt
None Are Available, However, Except by
Withdrawing Part of the Force from
One of the Neighboring Islands-Friend-
illness of the Moras Toward Americans
Is Increasing-Bates on q Trip to Borneo
Manila, Nov. 2L-The cruiser Balti-
more starts from Lingayen to-day, and
Rear Admiral Watson purposes to send
another to Natiguin if the gunboat
Helena, which is overdue, has not re-
turned to Lingayen. Sailors from the
gun boat Castine occupy Fam boanga on
the southwest extremity of the island
of Mindanoa. The business men,
chiefly Chinese, requested Commander
s. W. Very, of the Castine. to take
possession of the place, and protect
them from the insurgents.
Commander Very landed naval force
and, although no details have been re-
ceived, it appears he found that he had
a large contract on hand and tele-
graphed to Gen. Otis requesting the
presence of troops. But none are
available, except by withdrawing part
of the force from one of the neighbor-
ing islands temporarily. The original
plan was to have Brig. Gen. Alfred E.
Bates establish the headquarters of
the governorship of the Mohammedan
islands there when the new regiments
arrived. It will be carried out later,
when Gen. Bates returns from his trip
to the southern islands. He has been
visiting the garrisons of Jolo, Siassi
and Bongaoa.
The friendliness of the Moras for the
Americans is increasing under Gen.
Bates diplomatic administration.
Threatened feuds of the Datohs, Jaka-
inins and Calois against the sultan
will probably be averted through the
pacific influence of the American Off
GERS.
Mindanao villagers have seized
smuggling schooner bound from Illoilo
to Zamboanga and supposed to be run
dered all the crew.
Gen. Bates is now on board the York
town, bound on a months trip to Bala-
bac and Borneo, to observe the meth
DDS followed by the British in the gov
eminent of the Mohammedans.
Otis Tells of the Situation.
Washington, Nov. 21.-Gen. Otis
cables as follows regarding affairs in
the southern islands:
One of the contending insurgent factions at
Zamboanga secured the city and turned same
over to Capt. Very, of United States war vessel
in harbor; the other inSurgent faction made
demonstration against city and Very called on
JOlo for troops. One company sent. The COM
handing officer asked permission to send three
additional, leaving two there; two companies
will be despatched from Jolo. Both Jolo and
Zamboanga must be reinforced soon prac-
ticable. It will require several days 1t was
not intended to take possession of Zamboanga
until later; provisions made. Latter part
September members insurgent government on
Cottaboa district, southern Hindanoa, behead-
ed. New government formed which calls for
United States troops. Cities of Cottaboa. Du-
vaoa, Surigao, northeastern point Mindanao, OF
Importance; troops will be sent to these points
when available. Hughes moving in Panay with.
two columns; insurgents have retreated FROM
southeastern portion of island.
The navy department also received a
| report of the acquisition of Fam boanga,
which differs in some respects from the
story of that event told in Gen. Otis
| cablegram. The naval account is con-
| tanned in the following cablegram from
Admiral Watson, dated at Manila to-
| day:
| Commander Very, of the Castine, with friend
| ly natives and Moros combined captured Fam
boanga on the 10th. No casualties Landing
parties from the Castine and the Manila hold
| the town with Fit Nazro commanding it, pend
| ing arrival of troops from Jolo. There is con-
siderable force of insrgents at Mercedes, four
miles. away.
The acquisition of Zamboanga at
! this time is of great Importance from a
| military point of view. 1t is the prin-
| cipal city of Mindanao and dominates
| the entire southern half of that island,
which is second in Importance only to
| Luzon. 1t has a population of nearly
| %, 900 people and is well fortified, so
| that small garrison of troops could
! hold it indefinitely against native at
| tacks. In addition it is a naval sta
ton, where the Spaniards used to rem
devious their ships in the southern
| archipelago.
Gen. Otis dispatch intimates that he
| is somewhat EN- barrassed by the unex-
pected necessity of providing a gar
rison speedily for Zamboanga- It has
been suggested that the difficulty might
| be met by garrisoning Fam boanga with
battalion of marines, one of which is
understood now to be available in this
country and ready to sail at short no.
| tice for Manila.
BEEF SCANDAL IN ENGLAND.