The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1900-08-23

subject has been furnished the commits
sion by Admiral Dewey:
" ON April "a, 1898, the following eli
pher dispatch received at Hong
Kong from E. Spencer Pratt, United
States consul general at Singapore:
. -Aguinaldo, insurgent leader, here
Will come Hong Kong, arrange with
commodore for general cooperation in
surgents Manila if desired. Telegraph
+'On the same day Commodore Dewey
telegraphed Mr.. Pratt. Tell Aguinaldo
come possible the necessity for
haste being due to the fact that the
squadron had been notified by the Hon z
Kong Government to leave those waters
by the following day The squadron left
Hong Kong the morning of the Doth,
and Mrs Bay on the 9th. Aguinaldo
did not leave Singapore until the Doth,
and did not arrive in Hong Kong
in time to have a conference with the
admiral.
1T had been reported to the commo-
dore early March 1, by the United
States consul at Manila and others that
the F'ilipinos had broken out into insur-
rection against the Spanish authority in
the vicinity of Manila, and on March 80
Mr. Williams had telegraphed: Five
thousand rebels armed in camp near city.
Loyal to US in case of war
No Alliance Made.
Upon the arrival of the squadron at
Manila it was found that there was no
instruction to speak of, and it was ac-
cordingly decided to allow A guinaldo to
come to Cavite board the NcCuIloch-
He arrived with thirteen of his staff on
May 10, and immedia tely came board
the Olympia to call on the commander
in-chief, after which he was allowed to
land at Cavite and organize an army.
This done with the purpose of
siren thening the United States forces
and weakening those of the enemy. No
alliance of any kind was entered into
with Aguinaldo, nor was any promise of
independence made to him. then or at
any other time
The commissions report then rapidly
sketches events now historical. 1t tells
in substance how the Filipinos attacked
the Spanish and how Gen Anderson ar
rived. and Aguinaldo, at his request re
moved from Cavite to Bacoor. Says the
commission:
Now for the first time rose the idea OF
national independence. Aguinaldo issued
a proclamation in which he took the re
sponsibility of promising it to his people
on behalf of the American Government
although he admitted freely in private
conversation with members of his ca binet
that neither Admiral Dewey nor any 9th
er American had made him any such
promise
Growth of Friction.
The report states that AguinaIdt
wished to attack the Americans wher
they landed at Paranaque. but was de
| TERED by lack of arms and ammunition
| From that point on there a growing
| friction between the E'ilipinos and the
| American troops.
There We're conferences says tn,
| report, between the officers of the Fill
| pinos and our officers with a view t.
operating against the Spaniards, nor wa.
| there cooperation of any kind. =
| There never was any preconcerted opera
ton or any combined movement by tn,
| United States and F'ilipinos against tn,
Spaniards.'
Reference is made to Aguinaldo,s de
| mand that he be allowed to loot ManiI.
| and take the arms of the Spaniards TIL
| latter demand is said TO confirm the state
ment that he intended to get possession
of the arms to attack the Americans
Waiting for Pretext.
| Further evidence of the hostile inten
tions of the Filipinos was found in tn
| organization of popular clubs whic
| later furnished a local militia to al
tack the Americans The DEGREES of tn
Filipino congress also cited, as wei
as the making of bolos (<nives) in ever
shop in Manila
1t is shown that a considera BILE elemen
in the Filipino congress wished to address
to President Mckinley a request not t
abandon the F'ilipinos. CAT this stage tn
Paris conference was discussing the fl
ture of the Philippiues-) The Presiden
| was also TO he asked his desire as to tn
form of government he wished to estaE
lish- But all this time Aguinaldo wa
preparing for war and delaying thes
messages, and it was understood that tn
attack would come upon the first act b
the American forces, W hich would affor
a pretext-
Fi1ipinos Begin War.
A brief chapter then tells of the lac
of success attending the effort made a
this time by Gen Merritt, through a con
mission. to arrive a mutual under
standing with Aguinaldo as to the inter
tons, purposes and desires Of the Eilipin
people This brings the story up to tn
outbreak on the evening OF the 4th {
| February, with the attack upon tn
American troops, following the action c
the Nebraskan sentinel The commi:
| sion, in concluding this chapter. says:
after the landing of our troops Agu