Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 June 1899 — OTIS PROMISED HELP. [ARTICLE]

OTIS PROMISED HELP.

WAR DEPARTMENT PLANS TO SEND RE-ENFOROEMENT& Cana mender Telegraphs Me Need* 00** 000 Men “in the Field** at OaoeSnrgeen McQuestin Think* It WIU Require Over 100,000 Troop*. President McKinley is reported by * Washington correspondent to have come to a realization of the serious situation of the American troops in the Philippines, and, as the result of a telegram which is said to have been received 'at the War Department from Gen. Otis, he ia contemplating sending ten regiments instead of three, as was formerly intended. The strongest argument, and the one that is believed to have turned the balance, is said to have been a dispatch recently received from Gen. Otis, in which the latter explained that his dispatches had been misunderstood. He does not think that 80,000 men, including sick, wounded, noncombatants and garrison troops, would be sufficient, but that 30,000 “in the field” over and above all drains for other service would be. When he captures a town he wants men to garrison it without weakening his fighting force. That is to say, he really wants 50,000 or 60,000 men in all. Preparations are being made for recruiting many more for service at the Philippines. Some have expressed a dread fear that the Americans are being forced back to Manila by the climate, and army officers are said to be in dread of receiving news of some disaster. Another cause given for the President's alleged change of front is the testimony of Surfgeon McQuestin, which caused so much excitement at the War Department Surgeon McQuestin declares, like all other returned officers, that the force of soldiers necessary to subdue and hold the islands has been greatly underestimated; that it will require from 100,000 to 150,000 men to accomplish the task. Last accounts a few weeks ago tell of the insurgents forcing their way between McArthur’s and Otis’ forces. The enemy was at that time reported to have been repulsed with loss. Since that time no news has been made public of what has happened to McArthur’s forces. It is evident that the insurgents are not so thoroughly disorganized as the first dispatches would indicate.

Should the regiments spoken of be recruited, all the regular troops now in the United States might be sent at once to Manila. This would give Otis about 50,000 men, instead of the 35,000 which will be at his disposal when the volunteers shall have returned. It is suggested that to send all the regulars to the Philippines would deplete the forces in the. United States dangerously; but the plan proposed at the War Department is to use the 10,000 troops of the provisional army for garrison purposes here, and to call on the Governors of States for regiments of mF litia for temporary service in case of emergency. This would be strictly in accordance with the law, and at the same time it would give Otis the very best kind of men for his purposes. There are 9,000 troops now at San Francisco awaiting traasportation to the Philippines. Of these 9,000 regulars, 8,500 are raw recruits. The troops will not be sent by organizations. A battalion of seasoned regulars, for instance, will go on the same transport with a lot of untrained recruits, so that the time preceding the arrival at Manila may be devoted profitably to putting the new men into shape.