The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-06-05
General Is Released From Quar-
antine and Lands,
SAYS THE WAR Is OVER
DECLARES THAT AGUINALDO's
FOLLOWERS DESERTED HIM.
Leader Had Few Friends Before His
Reported Death-Returning Com
mander Says Our Troops are Aecli-
mated Now and Can Stand Cam
paigning Better Than Filipinos.

San Francisco, June 4.-AfteT five
days in quarantine at Angels island,
Major General E. s. Otis, who arrived
last Wednesday from Manila, was al
lowed to land today.
On account Of the cases of smallpox
on board the transport Meade General
Otis and all board had to submit to
vaccination.
General Otis was brought over from
Angels island on a special steamer
furnished by General Shafter, who
went to meet the returning general,
accompanied by Surgeon Major Arthur
and Captain Wilson. The party was
driven to the Occidental hotel, where
General Otis spent the afternoon re-
ceiving callers and preparing for his
departure.
1t had been decided to receive Cen
eraI Otis here with full military hon
OrS, but for some reason this ceFe-
mOny was omitted. In response to a
request by a representative of the As
sOciated Press that he make a state
NEST of the situation in the Philip
pines, General Otis said that while it
would give him great pleasure to COM
ply with this request, he was con-
strained to decline for the reason that
such action, in his judgment, would
/ be inconsistent with his duty as an Of
4 ficer of the army.
Says Aguinaldo Was Deserted.
! Asked what would be the effect on
/ the war if the report of AguinaldO's
death was true. General Otis said the
/ war was practically ended. that Agui-
] naldO's followers were deserving him
! fast, and those who now remain with
J him are generally of the lower class
/ Most of his officers have left him,
/ though some still remain in touch with
/ him. Some of those who have left him
/ are now engaged in business in Manila,
and others are hiding in the mountains.
/ Many of his closest followers are very
/ friendly toward the United States, and
as soon as the natives in general gain
confidence IN the friendly offices and
/ the justice of Americans. General Otis
thinks there will be little difficulty in
/ bringing them 20 terms. AS to the
/ commercial value of the islands, the
/ general said that they were vastly rich,
! especially in hemp, sugar and tobacco.
and that as soon as the situation be-
/ came more quiet business of all kinds
/ would increase tremendously, even as
it is now doing.
! General Otis would not state wheth-
er or not he favored the retention of
the islands by this country. In re-
Spouse to such a query, he merely said:
We've got them now. What are we
| to do about it?"
Troops Are Acclimated.
Regarding the number of troops and
the condition of the soldiers, General
/ Otis said:
There are $4,000 effective troops
scattered among the islands now. en-
gagged in the protection of the people
from guerrilla warfare. which is ram
pant in some sections. The general
health of the troops is exceedingly
good the percentage of sick for the
month of April being but 10 per cent
The American soldiers can stand the
campaign much better than the Fill
ipinos, and especially during the rainy
seasons did their good health impress
me. The men are becoming acclimated
and though it may become necessary
to send out relief troops at times, it
viii hardly be necessary TO send sol
diers very frequently"
General Otis said his own health was
/ excellent, that the ocean trip had done
him a world of good General Otis left
for Washington tonight, and will re-
port to the president at once He said
he could not state when his report or
the situation would be ready, but he
would first make a verbal report u
the authorities in Washington, and
later hand in an extended written re-
DOR