The evening times., 1900-03-28
PRESAGING OTIS RETURN
Philippine Army Changes Regard
ed as Significant.
Secretary Roots Conference " ith
the New InsuIar Comm ission-In-
creased Activity Against the Reb-
els sAnticipated-NseA rthur Likely
to Succeed the Present Com mander

When Secretary Root late yesterday aft
| ernoon announced the abolition Of the De-
partment of the Pacific and Eighth Army
! Corps and issued orders establishing the
| Division Of the Pacific" it was the first
official step toward relieving General Otis
| from the command of the Army in the
| Philippines
The new division will be sub-divided into
| four departments to be commanded by
| prominent officers now under General Otis
as follows: Department Of Northern LuzOn.
Gen. Arthur Macarthur; Department OF
Southern Luzon. Gen. John c. Bates; De-
partment CT the visayas Col Robert p.
Hughes and Department of Mindanso and
Jolo Col. William A. Kobbe.
In addition to issuing the order sub-di
viding the work of the campaign in the
Philippines. Secretary Root also had an
interview with the members of the new
Philippine Commission yesterday after
noon. and it is said discussed the question
Of establishing civil government in the
islands According TO weII-informed
Army officer the sub dividing Of the mill
tary Department Of the Pacific means that
General Otis will be relieved OF his COM
mand upon the arrival Of the Philippine
Commissioners at Manila. II is said that
the subdivisions were made at this time
in order that the commanders Of the new
departments may become acquainted with
their duties and be in a position to point
out to the Commissioners the needs of
their respective localities so that civil gov
eTnment may be established as soon as
possible.
Those in command of the new depart
ments, it is said will also be given per
mission to act in their discretion against
the natives who continue in rebellion
While General Otis will be in nominal
command of the Department Of the Pa
ciic, he will be relieved of the many mi
nor details OF campaigns which. his
friends claim, have proved so harassing 10
him and have undermined his health.
The minor officers of the various de-
partments will be under the supervision
of the department commander, and thus
escape the rule Of General Otis which is
said TO have proved so CALLING TO many of
them.
It is generally believed in Army circles
that Secretary Roots order which is said
to virtually deprive General Otis of much
of his power. will prove very popular with
the Army in the Philippines. and will re-
suit in increased efforts by the depart
within their territory.
The successor to General Otis in the COM
mand of the Department of the Pacific it
is said. has not yet been selected. but it
is believed that il will be General Arthur
Macarthur, who is a major general of
volunteers and the ranking officer after
General Otis. The name of Brigadier Gen.
eral s. B. NJ. Young. who is the colonel OF
the Third Cavalry and a most energetic
officer. has also been mentioned but it is
believed that the command will be first Of
fered to Macarthur.
The confidence of Secretary Root in Cen
eral MacArthur's ability is shown by the
fact that he was made commander of the
Department of Northern Luzon, which is
the most important of the four new divi-
sions. Aguinaldo is believed to be in hid
ing in that part of the country and the
mountainous section still swarms with
armed insurgents who in small bands. are
preying upon the peaceable natives. Gen
eral Macarthur first work will be to sup
press the rebellious bands and if possible
to capture Aguinaldo. The question of civil
government for his department will be de-
cided after the Philippine Commissioners
reach Manila.