The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-11-04

Their Value to Us.
The summary in yesterdays Tribune
of the preliminary report of the Philip
pine commission. interesting as 1t was,
is inadequate to convey the dramatic
interest of the complete document. We
therefore give. below, the full text OF
the commissions report beginning at
the point where IT discusses the first
arrival of American troops at Manila:
on the arrival Of the troops com
manded by Gen. Anderson at Cavite,
Agunaldo was requested by Admiral
Dewey to evaCuate that place, and he
moved his headquarters to the neigh
boring town of BaCOor. Now for the
first time arose the idea of national in
dependence. AgunaldO issued pro-
clamation in which he took the respon
sibilty of promising it to his people on
behalf of the American government,
although he admitted freely in private
conversation with members of his c1bi-
net that neither Admiral Dewey nor
any other American had made him any
such promise. He had already made
himself dictator and surrounded him
self with cabinet The landing Of
American troops at Paranaque IN July
10 so eNasperated the revolutionary
leader that he wished to attack at once.
but was deferred by lack of arms and
ammunition He finally decided to
wait until the fall of Manila, enter the
city with the American troops, secure
the arms of the Spanish soldiers, if
possible, and then make his attack
Meanwhile he sent orders to the neigh
boring towns for a passive resistance
and for the planning of all possible OBJ
stacles in the way of the American
trooDs.
The second expedition went into
camp, the front toward Manill and
about 100 yards from the coast, II aar
the landing place. The camp was
called Camp Dewey" At the time Of
landing the Filipinos maintained line
from a point on the coast about Eve
miles south Of Manila and three miles
north of Camp Dewey eastward, and
turning to the north with headuuarter s
at Parana0ue, three miles in the rear
of Camp Dewey. The troops immedi-
atcly threw out line of posts. extend
ing from the coast around the camp
aud eastward to Pasay and beyond.
Upon landing and joining the troops
at Camp Dewey, Brighten. And arSon,
the ranking brigadier-gcn assumed
command of the division. shortly
afterwards, upon the arrival of Gen.
Merritt. the insurgents were notified
that our troops intended to commence
operations against Manila, and would
establish a line of works, commencing
at the base and extending east in front
of the outposts then maintained by
them. This movement was not re-
ceived kindly by the FiliDnOS, but on
the establishment of our line on their
front they gradually receded. There
were no conferences between the Oiti-
GERS of the Filipinos and our officers
with a view of operating against the
Spaniards, nor was there any CO-Opera-
tion of any kind between the respective
forces. and the relations between the
two forces were strained from the be-
ginning. Upon our landing they fur
niShed our. forces no protection nor
support. The natives objected to ouI
establishing camps, and 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 precOncerted operation or any
combined movement by the United
States and the Filipinos against the
Spaniards.
AGUINALDO'S DEMANDS.
When the city of Manila was taken
on Aug. 13, the Filipinos took no part
In the attack, but came following In
with view of loOting the city, and
We're only prevented from dong so hy
our forces preventing them from enter
ing. Aguinaldo claimed that he had
the right to occupy the city. He de-
manded of Gen. Merritt the CessiOn OF
the palace of Malacanan for himself
and the cession of all the churches OF
Manila, Paco and ETmita, and also that
a part of the money which was taker
from the Spaniards as spOils of wal
should be given up. and above all that
he be given the arms of the Spanist
f. h..
already made that he intended to get
possession of these arms with the hope
or attacking us. All these demands
were refused.
After the taking of Manila the feel
ing between the Americans and the
insurgents grew worse day by day. AL
manner of abuses were INDUCED i'm by
the insurgent troops, who committed
assaults and robberies, and under the
order of Gen. Pho del Pillar even kid.
mapped natives who were friendly to-
ward the Americans and carried then
off into the mountains or killed them
In the interest of law and order il be.
came necessary to order the FilipinC
forces back, and this order made then
angry. Aguinaldo removed his seat O
government to MalolOs, in which the
so-called Filipino congress assembled
The anti-Amercan feeling was steadily
nourished by the Filipino newspapers
which We're directed to foster it. A
this time Sandico began to establish
what We're called popular clubs" il
Manila and the neighbOrng villages
and towns. Ostensibly they We're in,
tended to promote social intercourse
and the education of the people; theil
actual object was to provoke bitterness
toward the Americans. Their inAu,
ence was far reaching, and from theil
membership was recruited later on The
local militia, which was to attack us
from within Manila, while the regular
insurgent troops attacked MS from
without. On Sept. II a significant de,
cree passed the Filipino congress, i'm,
posing military service on every male
over eighteen years Of age, eXceptine
those holding government positions. In
every carriage factory and blacksmith
shop in Manila bolos (knives) were be
ing made.
INSURGENTS ABUSE AND INSULT
OUR TROOPS.
1t is in proof before us that AguinaldC
was urged at this time to make som,
immediate determination i'm regard [,
settlement of affairs with the Ameri
cans. At this time we We're about I,
discuss the future of the PHILIPPINES in
Paris, and many Of the leading Filipi
nos believed that America woul,
abandon this country. 1t was mad
plain to Aguinaldo that it was no
enough for the Filipinos TO desir
America TO stay in the islands, but tha
II would be desirable for them to shov
America that II would be To- her inter
est to keep the country, Aguinal ld
was advised TO write President McKin
ley and ask what desires he had abou
thel country and what form of govern
ment he wished to establish and asl