Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-03
ARMY IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Available fighting rorce There is About
10000 Men,
No Reduction for six Months, when
IL IL Hoped Affairs Will Have
Assumed a Pacific Tone.

New York, Jan. IA special to the
Herald from Washington says:
There will probably be no reduction
In the military force now in the Phil
ipplnes for at least six months.
Including all arms Of the service
there are now in the islands slxty-hve
thousand soldiers in addition to about
LOO marines AT Caylte and about 5000
sailors on the warships. The total OF
the fighting forces is thus fully 10000
men. The war department wishes to
avoid the mistake made when Gen
Otis first took command, OF underesti-
mating the difficulties 10 be encoun-
tered,and the policy is 10 be followed Of
having more men than are needed
rather than too few.
Army officers on duty in Washington
believe that very satisfactory prog
ress is being made in crushing the in
surrection. 1t is pointed out that Gen.
Otis is doing the work Systematically,
and having broken up the organized in
surgent forces in the north OF Luzon, is
giving his attention 10 those In the
southern part Of the island.
1t is expected that strong forces will
have to be maintained for some time in
all parts Of the island to insure order
and protect the municipal governments
being organized from rowing bands Of
insurgents and other dlsaffected ma
uves. For these reasons there Is TO be
no present reduction OF the military
forces.
II is hoped that the pachcation OF
Luzon and the organization of govern
ments in the other islands will progress
satisfactorily during the next few
months, and that before the beginning
Of the next rainy season a consldera-
bic reduction in force can be made. The
policy in Withdrawing troops will be
TO bring those home first which have
been there longest.
Gen. Otis is organizing local civil
governments In those PARTS OF the ISL
and under his control. and IL will be the
policy, and put into operation over all
the Islands a civil government under
the Presidents military authority
AS soon as possible after the compile
ton OF the detailed report Of the Phil
ippine commission, the President wishes
TO send Col. DENLY back TO the Philip
pines with two other commissioners.
As neither President Schurman nor
Prof. Worcester will be able to return.
two new men will be appointed. Be-
fore carrying out this plan the Presi-
dent viii consult with the members OF
the congressional committee charged
with Philippine affairs.
The fact that the northern ports OF
Luzon have been thrown open 10 COM
merce and that the President has ca
bled instructions to Gen. Otis 10 open
the southern ports where there is hemp
as soon as possible. shows confidence
in the situation.
II mas been intimated that hemp
spectators have used their influence
with army officers to keep the hemp
ports closed. II is said at the war de-
partment that II any officer has been
affected by ths influence II has not
reached Gen. Otis.
New York. Jan. 3.-The announce
ment that Secretary Root had cabled
Gen Otis to open the southern ports In
the Philippines In order TO break the
corner In hemp was receive with UNI
bounded satisfaction by the cordage
men In this city
A representative Of the American
Manufacturing company. which en-
ployes about l,5O0 hands, has predicted