The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-02-11
GIVE OTIS FREE REIN.
Authorities at Washington will Not
Hamper Him.

Washington, ID. c., Feb. 7.-Secretary
Algcr was asked today if he had sent.
or was about to send Immediately, any
instructions 10 Gen. Otis, based on yes
tcrdlyS developments, which develop
mentS in some quarters were taken as
enlarging his legal field of operations.
The secretary replied: NO sir; it does
not appear that Gen. Otis is in need of
any instructions of any character just
now.
As near rs can he learned that just
expresses the determination of the ad-
mInlStratlOn III respect to the situation
at Manila and the programme for the
future. The President. as we'll as Secre-
tary Algcr, has unlimited confidence in
Hen. otlS and as Adlt.-tien. Corbin was
actually responsible for his selection to
command the American forces at Ma
MIA 1t is apparent that Gen. Otis can
count on the most loyal support in his
operations long as he continues to ac-
quit himself with credit, as he has done
We We're Not Aggressors.
What gives the officials particular
gratlhcatlun is The fact, as set out in
Secretary Ayers cahlegram, that Gen.
otlS carefully avoided allowing the Unit
ed states forces from being put in the
position, a was sought by the insur-
gents Of being the aggressors in the con
tirt OF Sunday night. No matter how
the flhplnoS and their sympathiZers NAV
seek To create the impression that the
Americans. by firing on the Fiipinos
who were running the American guard
lines. really took the initiative in the re-
action. no person having the least idea
Of military law. it is said at the war de-
partmcnt, could question the duty i'm
posed upon the American guards of fir
ing upon the men. Just week prior
to the outbreak some of the Filipinos
who had sneaked through the lines
sought to aSSaSSluate some of the Amrri-
can soldiers, that it was necessary
for the latter To take no chances on
maintaining the integrity of their lines,
and especially during the night hours.
Qualification Is also expressed at the
state Of preparedness of Gen Otis forces
as revealed 10y the alacrity with which
the troops got into action in the night.
thoroughly justifying Gen. Otis state
mont To the war department that he had
the situation well i'll hand. Gen. Otis is
absolute of his own movements, and it is
assumed that he will take any steps with
III his power necessary to protect Manila
and the American forces from further
attempts upon their safety by the insur-
gents. Regarded in its widest sense, this
amounts 10 Il belief that the American
forces not only will take a strong de
frnsivc position all along the advanced
lines, but that they will not hesitate to
push lOl W al u " CRUSH out ANY 1nr1fpr
attempted gathering of the Filipinos in
force.
The character Of the arms carried by
the insurgents, as set out in Gen. Otis
Cahlegram, posted this morning, caused
mild sensation among the army oil
GERS. on duty at the department. None
of them cared 10 be quoted i'll comment
upon the statements made by Gen. Otis,
but one expert declared that so far as he
was informed. the latest pattern of
MauSers that the Spanish troops i'll Ma
Mia had were dated as far back as lS!hi,
while the latest pattern, such as de-
Ncrihcd hy the cahlCgram. was right up
To date. seem Ia Indicate that they had
not been obtained 10y capture of the
Spanish but from some other source.
Under international law citizens of neu-
tral states may sell arms TO Insurgents
at the risk of having them captured as
coutrahaud on the way to delivery and
these arms must have been smugglcd
from some Of the Asiatic ports recently.
However, aS Otis aud Dewey undoubt
cdly have taken steps to cut off the fut-
ure supply Of ammunition. and the in
SurgentS are wasting great quantities.
these arms soon will be of much less
value