The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-06-01
Of the Situation in the Philip.
pincs...IIow Aguinaldo Forced
the Present Conflict
BY BALD MISREPRESENTATION
The Insurgents Provoked Hos.
tilitics.-.Thc Plot to Massacre
Foreigners III Manila.


4 transmitting the reports of his subordi-
nate officers upon the operations around
Manila up TO April G. General Otis be-
rms with this statement: "Thesc MILL
ury operations are fairly well present.
N IN the reports and have little to add
thereto, but desire particularly to call
attention to the rise and development
Of conditions and circumstances which
resulted finally In war. This I deem to
! Re essential In order to correct the
somewhat prevailing Impression that
The government of the United States is
4 responsible through deceit or wrongful
action for the present existing iiostlli-
ties"
TO this end. he gives short summary
Q, the Philippine instruction against
Spain. laying stress on the fact that q
snail band OF the natives OF Luzon,
LADDERS OF the rebellion of '96 against
Spain were induced for monetary con-
sIleration to leave the island. These
4 zen returned to the vicinity of Manila
ner the destruction Of the Spanish
4 feet, they being. us General Otis says,
encouraged without authority to at
tempt the organization Of what they
were pleased to denominate an indepen-
tsat government for the Filipino peo-
Pc"
General Otis tells Of the landing Of
Aguinaldo from an American vessel and
q the insurgents taking advantage Of
ihs active hostilites between the United
States and Spain to capture southern
points and Increase their strength. In
iependence, General Otis says was pro-
claimed by AgulnalGsin August. and as
A early as June he had warned the United
States authorities against the landing OF
It's military forces on Philippine soil
without first obtaining his consent, be-
cause, as he expressed it. ''thc Philip
pine people might consider the occupa-
;ion Of Philippine territory by North
American troops violation of their
rights
Fiction Of the Insurgents.
General Otis adds: when the United
States forces landed from their trans
ports near and to the south of Manila
for the purpose OF attacking the city the
fiction that they were acting as allies
d the insurgents and In furtherance of
Philippine independence, appears to
have been conveyed by insurgent lead
I G:"
General Otis describes Agulnaldo's
Efforts 10 strengthen his lines In pre-
4 pl'ation for hostilities with the United
ssates during this time and explains the
growth OF the !nsurgcnt independent
movement by stating that In the alb
seace Of Spanish authority, many able
aud conservative Filipinos gave adher-
eace 10 this seemingly de fGcto govern
1eht' Many OF these withdrew their
aiherence when the radical element de-
Cared its hostility TO the United States.
detailing briefly the tension that ex-
h'el at the time. General Otis In expla-
tatoA o. his course give some interest
%s correspondence that passed between
aHse!f ard ASuinaldo.
kaFIy In January. when General Otis
was asked by conservative Fillpinos to
sp'o!nt committee OF army officers to
-'ei on lnsurgent committee and effect
ecombromisc by which peace might be
Maintained. General Otis refused to
'1Vos'size an insurgent government, but
vas willing to negotiate with Aguinaldo
=" commission appointed by him.
'eaeFal Otis says the negotiations be-
tween the two commissions reached no
S'Hc'usiOns as the insurgent members
could hot submit any formulated state
-.sH' which they were able to maintain.
4 '"eI presented as the desire OF the In
'''sehtS absolute independence under
@e hFnteCtion OF the United States, but
''s nature and scope OF the protection
""0ea for they could not explain. and
~e conferences resulted in failure.
'hhurgcnts Become Aggressive.
:" me latter part of January, the in
'-'seNts became aggressive. interfering
'"n The American troops and finally
4 81 General Otis to address another let
" 70 ASu!naldo. calling attention to
,'e arrest by Filipinos Of some Amcrl-
,'" soldiers and newspaper cores
,S'cht and requesting an explanation.
\ ''"T'al Otis letter added: 81 am doing
"fything possible to preserve the
,,a s,%ee and avoid all friction until the
"pho people can be made fully nc
,.-'"'ed with the sentiments and Inten-
,'y"s OF the American sovcrnment.when
=, =" confident that they will appreciate
@ W. enacavors of the United States and
:, VI. again look upon that country as
'"..' friend and protector"
~, ! n'so fully believe that the present
,yi !, " the result of machinations Of
/ .nhposcd pcrsons.'
ssn'hn'do replied TINT the men
4 l,S,. arrested inside OF hB lines for
vs .en ,e OF decree forbldding foreign
a. i" approach the insurgcnt lines.
Ar,.,s OILS report explains that the
Il AsI 'chffs were not outside our llnea
ns,aIaays nc quotes the correspondence
4 Az 10 show the efforts OF tho
,taSa authorities TO maintain
dr., neft tells how the American sol-
\ t1,p,n"rFe opened lnsHlted and how ths
rrSrsa,,hts had continually lnborcd to
a trlynS.ueh their lines. threatening to
tTl bhc ,hc Americans out OF :hc island
trr ''w hnnily. on the night OF Fcbru-
M,a me demonstration was made. MS
t7nsSy General Macarthur. which re-
N In The killing OF q Filipino bg an