The Topeka state journal., 1900-06-05
OTIS COMES ASHORE.
Still Insists That the Philippine War
is Over


San Francisco. June 5.-After five days
IN quarantine, Major General E. S. Otis,
who arrived last Wednesday from Manila.
was aliowed to land. Several cases of
smallpox on board the transport Meade
We're the cause of the quarantine and
General Otis and all on board had to sub
init to vaccination. General Otis was
brought over from Angel Island on a spe-
cia1 steamer furnished by General Shat
ter, who went to meet the returning gen
eral, accompanied by Surgeon Major Ar
thur and Captain Wilson. The party was
driven to the Occidental hotel. where Gen
eral Otis spent the afternoon receiving
callers and preparing for his departure
east
It had been decided to receive General
Otis here with full military honors, but
for some reason this ceremony was omit
When seen by a representative of the
Associated Press, General Otis, in re-
sponse to a request that he make state
ment of the situation of the Philippines,
said that while it would give him great
pleasure to comply with the request he
was constrained to decline for the reason
that such action, in his judgment, would
be inconsistent with his duty as an officer
of the army. Asked what would be the
effect upon the war if the report of Aguin-
aldO's death were true, General Otis said
that the war was practically ended that
Aguinaldo,s followers We're deserting him
fast and those who now remain with him
are generally OF the lower class Most OF
his oitlcers nave LETT hi!n, 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 hid
ing in the mountains. Many of his clos
est followers are very friendly toward the
United States and that as soon as the ma
tives in general gain confidence in the
friendly offices of the Americans. there
would be little difficulty in bringing them
to terms. Asked 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 became more quiet, busi-
ness of all kinds would increase tremend-
Ously, it is now doing.
General Otis would not state whether
or not he favored the retention of the
islands by this country In response to such
a query he merely said We've got them
now. What are we TO. do about it2'
Regarding the number of troops and
the condition of the soldiers, General Otis
There are 5000 effective troops, scat
tered among the islands now, engaged in
the protection of the people from guer-
/ rilla warfare, which is rampant in some
sections. The general health of the troops
/ is exceedingly good The per cent of the
sick for the month of April being but ten
/ per cent.
/ 1.-The Americans can stand the climate
better than the Filipinos, and especially
/ during the rainy season did their health
! impress me. The men are becoming ac-
4 climated and though it may become nee
/ essary to send out relief troops at times,
/ it will hardly be necessary to send sol
/ diers very frequently
/ General Otis said that his own health
/ was excellent, that the ocean trip had
done him a world of good. General Otis
/ will leave for Washington at once and
/ will report to the president. He could not
would be ready, but he would first make
a verbal report to the authorities II
/ Washington and later hand in an eX-
tended written report.