New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-03

the Admiral
1t had been reported TO the Commodore as
early as March l. by the United States Consul
at Manila and others. that the Filipinos had
broken out into insurrection against the Spanish
authority in the vicinity Of Manila, and on
March 30 Mr. Williams had teleeraphed: Five
thousand rebels armed in camp near city. Loyal
to US in case Of war"
Upon the arrival Of the squadron at Manila II
was found that there was no instruction 10
speak OF. and II was accordingly decided 10 allow
AguinaldO 10 come 10 Cavite on board the Nc
Culloch. lie arrived with thirteen Of his stafc
on May -, and Immediately came on board the
Olympia 10 call on the Ommander-n-chief. after
which he was allowed to land at Navite and or
ganize an army This was done with the pur-
pose Of strengthening the United states forces
and weakening those Of the enemy. No alliance
OF any kind was entered into with AguinadO.
nor was any promise Of independence made to
him, then or a. any other time
40 PROMISE TO AGUINALDO.
The Commissions report then rapidly sketches
events now historical. 1t tells in substance how
the Filiplnos attacked the Spanish and how Gen.
eral Anderson arrived and Aguinaldo at his re-
quest moved from Cavite to Bacoor. Says the
Commission:
Now for the first time arose the idea OF na-
tlonal lndependence AgunaldO issued pr0cla-
nation i'm which he took the responsibility OK
promising II TO his people on behalf or the
American Government. although ne adinltten
freely I'm private conversation with members Oh
his Cabinet that neither Admiral Dewey nor any
other American had made him any such PROMISE
The report SAYS that Aruinado wished to at
tack the Americans when they landed at Pa
ranaque. but was deferred by lack Of arms and
ammunition From that point on there IS a
growing friction between the Flpnos and the
American troops There were no conferences,
says the report. "bctween the officers OF the
Fulpinos and our officers With view to operat-
Ing against the Spaniards nor was there CO.
operation # any kind There never were
any preconcertcd operations or any combined
movement by the United states and Filipinos
against the Spariards."
Reference is made to Aguinaldos demand that
he be allowed to loot Manila and take the arms
Of the spanlards. The latter demand is said ID
confirm The statement that he Intended 10 get
possession of the arms 10 attack the Americans.
Further evidence Of the hostile intentions OF the
Filipinos was found in the organization ot
"pooular clubs" which later on furnished
local militia 10 attack the Americans The de-
croes og the Filipino Congress are also cited, as
well as the making Of boios (knive9 In every
shop in Manila II Is shown that a consld"raD1e
element in the Filipino Congress wished 70 ad-
dress President Mckinley request not To aban-
don the Flpnos (at this stage the Paris Con-
ference was discussing the future OF the Phillp-
pines). The President was also To be asked MS
desire as to the form Of government he wished
f. establish. But all this time Aguinaldo was
nreparinc for war and delaying these messages
and II was understood the attack would come
upon the first act by the American FORCES "nien
would afford a pretext
THE WAR UNAYOIDABLE.
4 brief chapter then tolls Of the lack Of sue
cess attending the effort made at this time by
General Merritt through a Commission 70 arrive
at a mutual understanding with Aguinaldo az to
the intentions. purposes and desires Of the fln-
nino people This brings the story up TO tho
outbreak on the evening Of February t. with the
attack on the American troops following tne
action Of the Nebraska sentinel
The Commission in concluding this chapter
says:
After the landing Of our troops Asuina'do
mad. un his mind that 1t would be- necessary I'd
fight the Americans. and after ti'r mahlhs
the Treaty Of Peace at Paris TINS He'.
was strengthened He did not openly aec.are
,hat he intended 70 fight the Americans. bul ne
excited everybody. and especially ne n.',a'y
men by claiming Independence ana lt y u"uns-
f,Il whether he had the power 10 '"',N ~ '. .
troll the army al the time hostiliues br'ke oul.
Deulorable az war is the one IN Whi'n We ~
now engaged was unavoiiahle Ny Us ,,ias
attacked by bold, aaNth'"'"r9 - . =. ,s vent
III, army 80 alternative was Icit 10 D9' ,,,5
t',r',rfnious retreat II is not 10 DE cohoenSii
~ that any American "ou,d ,la,r .,S.,s 80 Our
the surrender If Manila 10 the ihsN 81 ,riendIy
(,i,gatfons 10 other nations ana I" Nle ,,,.,ard
r,,i,,,o and ~ ourselves and our llds
t ,bat force should he met py Iy', 49, ,s 40
me iu'uIc ~ 80 ne now except the prosecution vl
.yo's % ,nfu the Insurgents are reduced -
mission. , ,b. onirion that there
has ,"t nrs" "so,,adron by Admiral Dewey Wnen ~
os rosslble to withdraw our torSss or With
islands either with h"n"t ~ '"'
eafetv - the Inhabitants.
prIcS OF TERROR At MANILA
commission then takes up tho condition
-, ,ho country at the time - their arrival COM
.or,rg II with conditions existing AT the time
,o,, Manila short time ago. VIVA
,icturo is given Of ;he anarchy existing among
,ha ,,habitants In and about Manila IN the
oa,lv snring. THE situation in the city says
-. Commission was bad. Incenaiary fires oc-
.,.,,.d daily The streets w,r' almost deserted
,ra,, -, rho native population had hei. and most
-, rho remainder were shot in their houses.
r,.s,oess WAS at a standstll. Insurgent troops
o,.r,,vhere faced our lines and the sound of
r,ea fire was frequently audible In our house.
4 re,,n ~ terror prevailed Filipinos who had
favored Americans feared assassination ana
ea,y had the courage 10 come OAK openly Tor us.
Fortunately there were among this number
some of the best men Of the city
The report then speaks of the Issue OF the
proclamation and the good effect
n had on public sentiment The natives ac-
customed 10 Spanish promises. urged upon the
Commission that acts instead ~ promises should
he aiven them As a result native lew courts
were established and this greatly aided IN the
restoration of public confidence. The aos "a