The Americans are finding out by experience that they must
use Regulars to conquer Luzon, and that even with them the work will take many months. Under circumstances not yet explained Aguinaldo has captured ten or eleven Volunteers with their officer, and is holding them as hostages in the event of his terms being rejected. At the same time General Lawton, who has taken eight "cities," has " retired " to Manila, and reports that in his judgment it will take one hundred thousand men to subdue, and thenceforward to garrison, the group. The retreat—for it clearly is a retreat—has discouraged the men, and it is said that whole regiments now demand to be sent home, as their term of service has expired. The Americans in the States are, therefore, quite gloomy, and the anti-expansion Democrats are hopeful of victory at the polls. The Govern- ment, however, is pursuing a wise policy, sending 15,000 Regulars for service in the Philippines, and telling any weary Volunteers that they may go as fast as they like. Much too great importance is attributed in London to these checks, and also to American party talk. The checks only mean loss of time, and the Americans are just like us,—they must have their grumble. As to their giving up anything for which they have fought just because they are discouraged, they may believe it who please. We were discouraged after Isandhlana, but we are beyond the Zambesi all the same.
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