The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-06-07
Report


The FllIpInoVEar and How it
Began Agulnaldo Always
Insoient.
W ashingtop, May 81 The secre.
taIy of waf today pade public the
report Of Gen Otis, transmitting the
reports Of his subordinate officers on
she operations around Manila up to
April s.
Gen Otis begins with this state
nent These military operations
are fairly well represented in the re.
ports and / have little to add thereto,
bnt desire particularly to call atten-
tention TO the rise and development
of conditions and circumstances
which resulted finally in war. This
s. deem TO be essential in order to
correct TIE somewhat prevailing i'm
pression that the government Of the
United States is responsible through
deceit 81 wrongful action for the
present existing hostilities.
70 llariis end he gives short sum.
mary of the Philippines insurrection
against Spain. laying stress on the
fact that 3 small band Of natives of
Lnzon, leaders Of the rebellion of .96
against Spain. were induced for q
monetary consideration to leave the
inland These men returned to the
vicinity i Of Manila after the destruc.
ton of o The Spanish feet. they being
as Gen. Otis says. "encourage3witb.
ont authority % attempt the organiza
ton of what they were pleased to
denominate co independent govern
ment for the Philip pine people. /"
Independence Gen Otis says, was
proclaimed By Aguinaldo in August
and early as July he had warned the
United States authorities against the
landing Of tie military forces on Phil
ippine sol without first obtaining his
consent, because, as he expressed it,
.sthe Philippine people might consider
the occupation Of Philippine territory
by1North American troops violation
Of their rights =
Gen. Otis says when the United
States forces landed from their trans
ports near and to the sonth of Manila
for the purpose of attacking the city
the fiction that they were acting as
allies Of the insurgents and in fur
therance Of Philippine indefeDce ap
pears to have been conveyed by In
surgenta leaders "
Gen. Otis describes Aguicaldo's
efforts TO Strengthen his lines in prepa-
ration faf hostilisies with the United
States dsring this time and explains
The growth Of che iosurgeus indepen-
dent movement.
Describing briefly the high tension
that existed at the time. Gen. Otis
includes 10 explanation Of his course
some highly important correspondence
that passed between himself and
Aguiealdo.
Early in January Gen. Otis was
asked By conservative F,lipinos to
sppoint . committee Of army of6sers to
meet 40 iosurgeos committee by which
pesoe might be maintained. Gen.
Otis refused to recogaizs an ineurgen'
government bat Vas willing to negotiate
With Aguioaldo OF = commission ap
pointed BY him.
The report sets ont in full the
correspondence oo this subject which
passed between Gen. Otis aud Agsioal-
do. The latter asmed commissios
consisting Of three Of his leaders to
confer With Gen. Otis. With view to
"a auicsble understanding but express.
edsssprise the. Otis would not receive
the comaissioners as official represents.
tives Of the issatgent government.
Ia his reply Geo. Otis explained
thu. be VAS sesing merely rs the agen.
of Che Uoited States government AZ
sach he had no authority to recognize
the Filipino government and could not
receive, officially. representatives OF
that government. he expressed earn.
ess hope that the commissioners named
by him and by Aguioaldo would be
able through conference to dispel the
misunderstanding which existed. He
vas under strict orders from the
president, be said to avoid conflict it
possible. but he admooished Aguioaldo
that the American troops we're aware OF
the Filipioos efforts to precipitste
hostili.ies. He pointed out that a
aedoi,e policy With reference to the
Philippines would have to be declared
by congress aud for the action OF
congress he hoped Aguinaldo would
wait.