The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-06-23
MATTER RESTS WITH OTIS.
Volunteers Will Be Called When
ever He Wants Them.
VIEWS OF A CABINET OFFICER.
Prompt Presidential Action Assured
Should the American Commander at
Manila Ask for Aid-Nothing Has Yet
Justified Call for TroopA

Washington, June 20.-"You may
say that the slightest intimation from
, Gen. Otis that he wants more troops
In addition to those he now has with
him and those which are to be sent to
him under the recent order. will be
followed by a prompt call for volun-
teers. There will be no further par
leying with Aguinaldo and his follow
eqs, and no let-up In the aggressive
campaign which Gen. Otis Is conduct
Ing"
This was the pithy comment Of one
Of the most influential members Of the
cabinet when informed that the entire
nation. as evidenced by declarations Of
governors In response to requests for
expressions Of opinions, Is practically
united in It's willingness to support
President Mckinley, should he deem
the conditions in the Philippines neces-
skate call for volunteers.
1T Is the intention Of the president"
continued the cabinet official, Ito use
every means In his power to put down
the rebellion In the Philippines as
promptly as possible. Just before the
president went away the question was
frequently discussed at cabinet meet
ings, and there was no conflict Of opin-
lon as to the policy to be pursued in
the Philippines. The president is de-
termined to restore peace throughout
the islands If 1t takes ten times as
many troops as we now have there.
Up to the present time there has not
been word or suggestion from Gen.
Otis and the ranking officers Of his
command indicating that the force
there is insufficient.
1.-THE president stands ready to call
for as many volunteers as may be
necessary to subdue the Filipinos, and
there is every reason to believe that
he can secure without delay all the
volunteers he may call for.
1.-THE official and unofficial reports OF
the engagements in the Philippines"
continued the cabinet officer, have
agreed in the statement that in every
encounter the American forces have
been victorious. With Victory upon
victory reported from headquarters 1t
was fair to assume that the enemy
would eventually become weary Of be-
ing thrashed, and finally recognize the
power and determination of the Amer
lean forces. Under the circumstances
there has thus far been nothing to JUS
tify the president in calling for more
troops"
Advocates of a larger army In the
Philippines hope that the president
will quickly take measures to raise the
necessary troops. 1t Is admitted that
Gen. Otis cannot hope to do much more
than hold his present lines during the
rainy season, but it is urged that he
ought to have enough men under his
command to have his forces thoroughly
reorganized and to be ready TO begin
aggressive action all along the line as
soon as the rainy season closes.
1t is believed by officials Of the war
department that 1t would be possible
to enlist $4,000 men without taking
much II any absolutely raw material.
Certainly the regiments could be Off
cered entirely by the pick Of the Off
GERS who served as volunteers in the
Spanish war, and 1t Is believed that
most of the enlisted men could be OBJ
tained from those who served in the
volunteer regiments. Many of these
men would be just as efficient as regi-
lars, and II Is argued that II they
could be got together soon and put
into camps of instruction until trans
portation could be provided they would
be in condition to take the field at
once on arriving at Manila.
Gen. Otis, II is acknowledged, would
undoubtedly prefer to have his force
made up as largely as possible Of reg
ulars. It would be possible for the
war department 70 send him several
more regiments of regular troops II
their places In the United States and In
Porto Rico could be taken by volun-
teers.
With more than double the force
which he estimated he would need.
officials here say he ought to be able
to bring the campaign to a close In q
comparatively short time and to oc-
cupy all the important points of the
island with such strong garrisons as
to make it apparent to the natives that
the United States proposes to maintain
order and put down rebellion with a
strong hand.