Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 56, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 March 1899 — WAR WILL BE SHORT. [ARTICLE]

WAR WILL BE SHORT.

Otis and Dewey Expect Soon to ‘ übdue the Filipinos. With the navy and land forces acting in unison it is expected to make the Philippine campaign short and decisive. The arrival of Gen. Lawton at Manila gives Gen. Otis a man well trained in Indian warfare and fully capable of leading the army against the natives, whose methods are similar to those of the red men of th<* plains. The regulars, who have already reached Manila, with the men due there soon, form an important addition to the army. All are in good physical condition and better fitted to battle in the tropics than the men who have been living in the warm climate so many months. The regulars are armed with Krag-Jorgenson rifles, the best arm in the Government service. Admiral Dewey’s ships are all in splendid shape, despite the fact that they have been so long beyond the reach of modern repair plants. The navy will have much to do in the coming campaign, as it is the intention to assert United States sovereignty on every inhabited island of the archipelago. Soldiers and seamen dre alike impatient to begin the attack. The defensive policy has been wearing on all, and they prefer real fighting to the desultory skirmishing which has been almost continuous since the natives first began open hostilities. Although, the rainy season in the islands is near, the American commanders are confident that they can make good progress if not utterly crush the opposition before the weather puts an end to operations. Filipino Envoys Give Up. The last of the Filipinos left Washington for New York Monday, from whence they will sail for Paris. They are Sixto Lopez and Dr. Jose Lozada. Dr. Lozada practically gives up the fight. He said that he expected very little further difficulty in the solution of the Philippine question. At Anglesea, N. J., a gunner killed a duck with a large clam, attached to one of its feet. The duck had evidently been wading in water-and had stepped in the opening of the clam while it was feeding. '