Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1899 — WAR NEAR AN END. [ARTICLE]

WAR NEAR AN END.

Communication of Gen. Otia to the War Department.

Information was received in Washington from Gen. Otis Friday which indicates that the Filipino people realize that the insurrectionary movement has gone to pieces, and are anxious that drastic measures be adopted to bring about normal conditions in the Philippines. Gen. Otis said in his dispatch that he had received a communication from prominent Filipinos saying that the remnants of Aguinaldo’s army had divided into small bands for the purpose of committing murder and robbery, and suggesting that they be classed as bandits and given the extreme punishment meted out to such desperados. They said, also, that, as it would be necessary to maintain a large number of American troops in the island tq garrison towns, it would be a good idea to utilize as many natives for this duty as possible. In his message Gen. Otis said that he sent the communication of the Filipinos as a sample of many received by him. He lessens its importance with faint praise, however, saying that the men who made the representations cited are not familiar with practices outside the islands, and have no idea of the way in which civilized nations deal with such conditions as they represent.