The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-11
Spaniards Say He Delivered Them to
AGuinaldO After He Had Prom
ised He Would Not.
ORDERS CAME FROM DEWEY
ACCORDING TO THE MODIFIED
STATEMENT, MADE LATER.
Reported Surrender of Gen. Alejan-
drinO to Gen. MacArthur-Insur-
gent Records mt Mangatarem.

MANILA, Dec. 10, 4:30 o. m.-Colonel JUL
10 Del Rio, who is among the released
Spaniards who have just arrived here, gives
an interesting version of the famous Irene
incident, in Subig bay in July of last year.
He was formerly in command of the Span
ish troops in the Olongapo district. His
narrative is corroborated by Senior Rafael
Rosello. a wealthy Spanish merchant, who
also fell into the hands of the insurgents.
Both declare the Spaniards surrendered to
Captain Coghlan, of the United States
cruiser Raleigh, on an express agreement
that they were not to be given up to the
Filipinos, and they assert that the Spanish
government has promised to press their
claims against the United States for their
long imprisonment
According to their story, a thousand in
surgents were besieging Olongapo, where
there were two companies of marines and
a battalion of military, together with many
civilians. The German cruiser Irene en-
tered the harbor. to take the women and
children on board. AT this juncture the
insurgent steamer ilipinas, flying the in
surgent flag, started 20 leave. The Irene
threw a shot across her bow. claiming the
right to stop her, as Germany had not
recognized the insurgent flag. The Fill
ipinos then raised white flag and de-
parted. When she returned she was flying
the insurgent flag and was accompanied by
the United States war ships Concord and
Raleigh. The Irene was then leaving the
harbor with non-combatants. Without
the least warning" says Colonel Del Rio,
1.-The American warships began to bonn
bard u.s. firing about twenty-five shots.
Seeing that resistance was useless, as our
guns had never been mounted, we raised
the white flag. Captain Coghlan came
ashore with several of the officers, and 1t
was expressly stipulated that the surren-
der was to the Americans alone. captain
Coghlan was asked to promise that the
SpaniardS would not be delivered to the in
surgents and when he had given his pledge
the entire garrison surrendered The Amer
leans sailed away on the evening of the
7th, leaving the garrison practically
unarmed. They returned on the Sth.
Meanwhile the insurgents had repeatedly
fired upon the town. Captain Coghlan now
Filipinas. When they protested he said
that, although in the hands of the in
surgents, they would be treated as Amer
lean prisoners. Nine civilians, all mer-
chants, were placed on board the Filipinas,
and despite their protests. were kept inn
prisoned on the vessel at Olongapo until
their recent release"
Senior Rosello, who is chiefly responsible
for the foregoing statements, admits that,
except for one attempt to rob the mer-
chants. for which Aguinaldo punished the
officers of the Filipinas by reducing them,
all were well treated. Colonel Del Rio, in
a separate statement, says:
Captain Coghlan gave his word that
our capitulation would be accepted as 1t
was made, that is, to the Americans. He
promised that should not be given into
the hands of the insurgents, and L believe
he was sincere. Later, the Concord went
to Cavite for instructions, returning with
an order from Admiral Dewey that we
were to be handed over to the insurgents"
Colonel Del Rio and Senior Rosello de-
clare that the Irene left her anchorage at
o'clock in the morning, and that the
American war ships arrived at half past
10. passing the German cruiser as she was
leaving the bay. They express surprise
at the popular belief that the Irene slipped
her cable the appearance of the Con-
cord and the Raleigh.