The times., 1899-11-03


FiHpnCs and our officers with a view Of
operating against the Spaniards. nor was
there any cooperation Of any kind between
the respective forces, and the relations
/ between the two forces were strained from
the beginning Upon our landing they
furnished our forces no protection nor sup
port. The natives objected TO our estab-
fishing camps ard were only quieted by the
assurance that the United States would pay
for all the damage done and for all wood
and other articles consumed. There never
was any pTeconeerted operation or any
combined movement by the United States
and the Filipinos against the Spaniards,
When the city of Manila was taken on Au-
gust 13. the FilipinOs took no part in the
attack. but came following in with a view
Of loOting the city, and were only prevent
Cd from doing so by our forces preventing
them from entering. Aguinaldo claimed
that he had the right to occupy the city;
he demanded Of General Merritt the ces-
sion of the Palace Of Maiacanan for him
self. and the cession Of all the churches OF
Manila, Paco and Ermita, and also that a
part Of the money which was taken from
/ tht Spaniards as spoils Of war should be
given up, and above all. that he be given
! the arms Of the Spanish prisoners. This
confirms the statement already made that
be intended 10 get possession Of these
arms for the purpose OF attacking us. All
these demands were refused.
After the taking CT Manila the feeling be-
tween the Americans and the insurgents
grew worse day by day. All manner OF
abuses were INDUCED in by the insurgcnt
troops, who committed assaults and rob
berries. and under the order OF Gen. Pho
del Pillar even kidnapped natives who were
friendly toward the Americans and carried
rhoy,, of IN, rC 20 mountains or killed them
In the interest of law and order it became
! necessary to order the Filipino forces back,
and this order made them angry. Aguin-
aldo removed his seat of government to
/ MalclCs. in which the so-Called Filipino
I Congress assembled. The anti-AmericaH
/ feeling was steadily uourshed by the Fiji
! pino newspapers, which were directed to
foster it. At this time SandicO began to
. establish what were called Popular Clubs
in Manila aud the neighbCring villages and
towns Ostsnsibly they were intended to
; promote social intercourse and the instruc
+ tion Of the people; their actual object was
! 10 provoke bitterness toward the Ameri-
cans. Their influence was far-reaching,
and from their membership was recruited
later on the local militia which was TO
attack US from Within Manila while the
regular inzuTgent troops attacked US from
without.
4 On September q a significant decree
passed the Filipino Congress imposing mil
ijary service On every male over eighteen
years cf age excepting those holding Gov
ernment positions In every carriage fac
tory and blacksmith shop in Manila bclos
4 (lznivesJ were being made.
It IS in proof before US that Aguinaldo
was urged at this time TO make some i'm
mediate determination IN regard to the
settlement Of affairs with the Americans.
At this time we were about 10 discuss the
future OF the Philippines in Paris, and
many Of the leading FilipinOs believed
that America would abandon this country.
Il was made plain to Aguinaldo that II
was not enough for the Filipinos to desire
America 10 stay in the islands, but that
il would be desirable fer them to show
America that il would be 10 her interest
10 keep the country. Aguinaldo was ad-
vised 10 write President Mckinley and ask
what desires he had about the country.
and what form Of government ne wished
to establish. and to ask him not to aban-
don the Filipinos. This view was ac-
cepted not cnly by the Government but
by members of the Filipino Congress.
There was however, considerable opposi-
ton especially from Paterno, Mabini and
Sandico While il seemed to appear that
the sovereignty OF America was accept
able 10 Aguinaldo. still he was always
urging the military men to prepare Tor
war. The cabinet at MalOloS decided TO
send the President Of the United States
the proposition above mentioned, but Ag-
uinaldo did not wish 10 do so. He first
stated that he desired TO translate them
into Tagalog and afteTward that he wished
! to put them into cipher, and so delayed
! the sending Of them.
Danger signals Multiply.
Danger signals now multiplied Ag-
uiuaIdo endeavored TO get the war-making
power transferred from congress to him
self He also urged a heavy bond issue,
; 10 secure SI0GG000 for the purchase of
arms and ammunition. II is now known
that elaborate plans had been perfected
for a simultaneous attack by the forces
within and without Manila. The militia
within the city numbered approximately
10 0bD- they were armed for the most part
with bolos. Gen. Pic del Pillar slept in
the city every night. No definite date
had been set for the attack. but signal
By means OF rockets had been agreed upon,
and 10 was universally understood that
il would come upon the occurrence of the
first act on the part OF the American forces
which would afford a pTetext; and in the
lack Of such act in the near future at all
events Persistent attempts were made to
provoke our soldiers 10 fire. The insur-
made persistent and continuous efforts TO
push them back and advance the insur-
gent lines further into the city of Manila.
d. was a long and trying period Of insult
and abuse heaped upon our soldiers with
constant submission as the only means OF
avoiding an open rupture The Filipinos
I had concluded that our soldiers were COW
ards and boasted openly that We were
afraid Of them. Rumors were always prev
alent that our army would be attacked at
once With great tact and patience the
commanding general had held his forces
ia check and he now made q final effort
to preserve the peace by appointing a com
mission to meet a similar body appointed
by Aguinaldo and 10 confer with regard
20 the situation of affairs, and TO arrive
at a mutual understanding Of the intent,
purposes, aims. and desires OF the Flip
ino people, and Of the people of the
United States The sessions were held
daily. the last occurring on January 90,
six days before the outbreak of hostilities
40 substantial results were obtained; the
Filipino commissioners being either un-
able or unwilling to give any defiDite state
ments Of the intent purposes, and aims
Of their people" at the close Of the last
session they were given full assurances
that no hostile act would be inaugurated
by the United States troops.
The critical moment had row arrived.
AEuiraldo secretly ordered the Flipinos
Who were friendly TO him 20 seek refuge
outside the city. The Nebraska Regiment
al that time was in camp on the east line
at Santa Mesa, and was guarding its front.
For days before the memorable 4th Of Feb
ruary. 1893. the ou;pCsts in front of the
! reufr71arr had hrzn guEuAv ruPu8rgd and