Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-03
Underwear

Manila. and on March 30 Mr.. Williams had
telegraphed: Five thousand rebels armed
dn camp near city. Loyal to us in case OF
war '.-.,
Upon the arrival of the squadron at
Manila 1t was found that there was no in
Burrection to speak OF and it was accord
in8ly decided to allow Agunaldo to come
to Cavite on board the. McCulloch. He ar
rived with thirteen OF his staff on May 30
and Immediately came on board the Olympia
to call on the commander in chief, after
which he was allowed to land at Cavite
and organize an army. This was done with
the purpose OF Strengthening the United
States forces and weakening those of the
enemy No alliance of any kind was en-
tered into with Aguinado nor, was any
promise of independence made to him then
or at any other time.
First Talk of Independence.
The commissions report then rapidly
sketches events now historical. 1t tells in
substance how the Filipinos attacked the
Spanish and how General Anderson arrived
and Aguinaldo, at his request, removed from
Cavite to Bacoor Says the commission
Now for the first time rcse the idea of
national independence. Aguinaldo issued a
proclamation in which he took the respon =
sibility of promising it to his people on be-
half Of the American government, although
he admitted freely in private conversation
with members of his staff that neither Ad-
miral Dewey or any other American had
made him such promise
The commission states that Aguraldo
wished to attack the Americans when they
landed at Paranaque. but was deferred by
lack. Of arms. and ammunition. From that
point on there WAS growing friction be-
tween the Filipinos and the American
troops .-,..- ....
There were no conferences" says the
report, between the officers of the Ftlipinos
and our officers with view to operating
against the Spaniards, nor was there CO.
operation of any kind. *7*
There never was any preconcerted opera
tons or any combined movement by the
United States and Filipinos against the
Spanards.". -..
reference is made to Aguinaldo's demand
that he be allowed to loot Manila and take
the arms of the Spaniards. The latter de-
mand is given to show that he intended to
use the arms against the Americans. Further
hostilities toward the Americans were the
organization Of popular clubs" which later
on furnished a local militia to attack the
Americans. The DEGREES Of the Filipino con
gress are also cited as we'll as the making
OF bolos -(knives) in every shop in Manila
II is shown that a considerable element in
the Filipino congress wished to address to
President Mckinley request not to abandon
the Flhpinos Cat this point the confer
ence was discussing the future Of the Fill
pinos)
The president was also to be asked his de-
sire as to the form of government he wished
TO establish. But all this time Aguinaldc
was preparing for war doloyipo, tbo.r
messages. and it was understood that the
attack would come on the first act bv the
Americans which would afford pretext. A
brief chapter then tells of the lack CT succese
attending the effort made at this time by
Seneral Merritt through a commission tc
arrive at mutual understanding with Agui-
haiao as TO the intentions, purposes and de-
sires of the Filipino people.
Outbreak of HostiIities
This brings the story up to the outbreal
on the evening of February A. with the at.
tack on1the American troops following the
action OF the Nebraskan sentinel. The com.
mittee, in concluding this chapter, says:
After the landing of our troops Aguinaldc
made up his mind that 1t would be necessar,
10 hght the Americans and after makint
the treaty OF peace at Paris. this determine
tlon was strengthened. He did not openly
declare that he intended to fight the Amer
leans. but he claimed independence, and i
is doubtful whether he had the power to ex
cite or control the army at the time hostili
ties broke out. Deplorable as war is, tn,
one In which we are now engaged was una
Voldable by us We We're attacked by ,
bold, adventurous and enthusiastic army
NO alternative was left to us except igaom
nous retreat 1t is not to be conceived o
fhat
the surrender of Manila to the insurgents
Our obligations to other nations and to tn
friendly Filipinos and to ourselves and tn
flag demanded that force should be met witt
force. Whatever the future of the Philip
pines may be. there is no course open to u
now except the prosecution OF the war unit
tho insurgents are reduced to submission
The commission is of the opinion that Their