"Oh, yes. But that was all right. Don't we own the whole place? And the
regiment was only obeying orders."
"I wonder why the general gave the orders?" asked Cleary, musing as he
looked into the smoke which he was puffing forth.
"They say it was because he had what he called 'overmastering political
reasons.' That is, there was the army bill up in Congress and it had to
go through, and he was given the tip that some fighting would help it,
and he took the hint. It was good statesmanship and generalship, too.
All subordinate things must bend to the great general interests of the
country. It was a good move, for it settled the business. Gomaldo sent
in the next day and tried to patch up a truce, but Notice wouldn't see
his messengers. He told them they must surrender unconditionally. It
was fine, soldierly conduct. He's a brick."
"What has he gone home for?" asked Sam.
"Why, he'd conquered them. Why shouldn't he go home? They're giving him
a grand reception at home, and I'm glad to see it."
"But he says that he has pacified the islands and brought the war to a
close!"
"So he did, in the military sense. He couldn't tell that the scamps
wouldn't submit at once. It wasn't his fault that they showed such
unreasonable bitterness and obstinacy."
"How much territory do we hold now?" said Sam.
"We've got the city and a strip along the bay where the fleet is; about
five miles back, I should say.
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