Evening star., 1900-06-08
OTIS EN- ROUTE HERE
The General Left Chicago at 1890
This Morning,
SITUATION IN The PHILIPPINES
He Says the War is Over, Barring
Robber Bands.
DENIES CERTAIN RUMORS

CHICAGO. June S-Maj. Gen. F. S. Otis
of the United States army arrived at TO
o'clock this morning from San Francisco
and Manila and left at 1919 am. for Wash
ington Mrs Otis and daughter arrived in
Chicago last night from New York. and
the general and his wife and daughter
spent the hours between trains together,
the ending of a separation of two years.
Gen. Otis declined to enter into detailed
interview, saying it would not be consistent
with his position an officer to enter into
any extended discourse regarding the sit
uation in the Philippines before reaching
Washington He said he was perfectly will
ing to talk in a genera! way. however. The
general was apparently in the best of
health. and confirmed his appearance by
saying he had not been i'll day since he
left for the Philippines. and at the present
was enjoying the best of health.
Left Situation in Good Hands.
'I left the Philippine situation in the
best of hands," he said. THE officers are
all able men and well qualified to cope with
the different questions and situations that
may arise. The war is over. This guerrilla
warfare can't last long. To be sure we will
have to repress those people for a number
of years but there is no organized force
of Fi,ipinos.
THE depredations that are going on are
conducted by robbers and droneS. The
United States troops are now engaged in
defending the inhabitants of the Philippines
against the robbery and murder committed
by their own people. But the conditions are
generally improving and in some parts are
better than they have ever been
We have ..,.Wtn effective troops under
arms in the Philippines. Estimates regard
ing the number of inha abitants in the Islands
all wild. but the number is between
6.o@o0o and 1.r1.G0. The great majority
of the people .desire peace and wish to
again take up their business pursuits
Business in Manila has again resumed ac-
tivity and the inhabitants peacefully
pursuing their avocaions.
Never Saw AEuinaldO.
II do not know where Agunaldo Is. l
never saw him. 1t is possible but not prob
able that Aguinaldo is in the Cagayan sec
tion of northern Luzon. 1t is rough.
mountainous country and sparsely settled.
At first he regarded by his people as
a leader. but of late he is losing prestige
and is not held in such high regard.
Stories have been circulated about dep
relations committed by men of our army.
but they have been false. Our men have
been held under close restraint and have
conducted themselves like soldiers.
II can't see that the administration of
our distinguished Secretary of War has
made any mistakes in this campaign. We
may have made mistakes over there, but,
if so, they have been the result of human
liability to commit error.
OmcinI RepOSts Were Correct.
Official reports of the warfare have not
been exaggerated, especially of late. l am
not conversant with the newspaper reports.
Although | received American newspapers l
had not the time to peruse them. The CEN
sorship has not been rigid and We assisted
the newspaper correspondents all we could.
OF course. some sensational kilograms We're
sent. il very difficult for newspaper
men to secure correct versions regarding
our operations as they We're so extended,
but helped them wherever We could.
Il have no idea to my course after
reach Washington. 1 have received no
orders and simply await the commands of
my superiors.
My wife and daughter will not accom-
pany me To Washington. They will return
10 New York today and l Will Join them
later. l certainly was overjoyed to
them. as this is the first time l have seen
them in over TWO years.
Regarding the situation in China. Gen.
OTIS said: II know very little about the
Chinese question. l left Manila early in
May. before the recent complications in
that country had reached the present criti-
cal state. and know very little about it.
The situation seems TO be developing very
generally and all European nations are in
ttreSted in it,