The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-25

To-Day sent TO the senate a
as to the resolution asking for a report
to he resolution asking for a report
on February 5, 1899. after the breaking
out of the Filipino revolution. The re-
ply contains the following correspond
ence by cable:
'Adjutant Generals Office,
washington, d. c., April 80. 1900.
''Oits, Manila:
Gable whether General Torres came
TO you d a flag Of truce February
., 1899, and stated Aguinaldo declared
fighting had begun accidentally and
not authorized by him; that Aguinaldo
wished 1t stopped and to end hostili-
ties; proposed establishment of a neu-
trail zone between the two armies
width agreeable to you, so that during
peace negotiations there might be no
further danger of conflict. Whether
You replied: Fighting having begun
must go on to the grim end
"CORBIN."
The following is General Otis reply:
Manila, May /, 1900.
ITO Adjutant General, Washington,
D. c.:
General Torres, a citizen resident of
Manila who had served as a member
of the lnSurgent commission, reported
on the evening of February 9Th, asking
if something could not be done to stop
the fighting as the establishment of a
neutral zone I replied that Aguin,
had commenced the fighting and must
apply Cor a cessation. I a nothing
to request from the insurgent govern
ment. He ked permission to send
Colonel Arguellez to Malolos, and Ar
guellex passed through out lines near
Coloocan next morning. He went direct
to Mololos, told General Aguinaldo n
Mabini that General Otis would permit
suspension Of hostilities upon their re-
quest. They replied that a declara-
ton of war had been made, a copy Of
which they furnished him. They said
they had no objection to suspension
of hoStilities, but, beyond this general
remark, made no response, out direct
ed him to return with hat message.
ArguelleZ reported that he conveyed
my statement, that they had COM
menced the wan and it must go on
since they had chosen that course of
action but did not attempt to induce
them to make any proposition, as he
feared accusation of cowardice. The
insurgent chief authorities made no
proposition and did not intend to make
any, nor did they attempt to do so
until driven out of Mo1olos. My hasty
dispatch of about that date is mis-
leading. l took in writing the state
ment of Arguelles several lays ago in
order to fully understand the temper
of the insurgents at that early period
of the war. OTIS"
There We're a great many questions
asked in the resolution which was
adopted on April 2Sth. In his reply,
the president states:
General Otis was not directed by
the secretary of war to make such an
answer as is set forth in the resolution,
nor were any answers to communica-
lions upor the subject of the cessa-
ton of hotilities prescribed by the Sec
rotary Of wan to General Otis, but he
was left to exercise, in respect thereof,
his own judgment, based upon his Su-
periOr knowledge of the conditions sur
rounding his troops.
II also transmit a copy of a cable
dispatch from Genera Otis sent from
Manila February s, 1899, received in
Washington the 3, 1899, being the same
dispatch to which he refers in his re-
ply of May 1, 1900, as misleading. So
far as / am informed, Geneal Otis did
not afterwards reply except as Sc
forth in his said dispatch of May 1,
1900. He was not directed by the Sec
rotary of war to reply and no answer
was made by him to the secretary Of
war DIS " oil d"ppllCdllOH 10 CSdSS Sbl
ing. There appears to have been no
such application"
The correspondence includes the fol-
lowing reply to the secretary of the
navy from Admiral Dewey, as to
whether the flag Of the Filipino re-
public was ever saluted by the admiral:
washington, May II, 1900.
"Sir: Replying to the departments
letter of the 14th instant, 1 have the
honor to inform you that the flag Of
the so-called Philippine republic was
never saluted by me or by any OF the
vessels of the squadron under my COM
mand.
"Isla Grande, Subic bay, was cap
ured by the Raleigh and the Concord,
under my orders, as reported in my tel
egram of July 10, 1898. There was no
assistance to n cooperation with
Aguinaldo's forces.
The vessels named captured the
Spanish garrison of said island with
out assistance from any one, as lndl-
Gated in the above mentioned dispatch.
1.-THE said garrison was turned over
to the FilipinoS for Safekeeplng, as
shown in the report made by Captain
]. B. Coghlan, United states navy, on
file in the department. The prisoners
had refused to give parole, and there
were no facilities at my command for
III NcAN
that they should be treated humanely
and according TO the laws of war.
Very respectfully,
GEORGE DEWEY,
Admiral, L. S. y.
ITO the Secretary of the Navy
THAT MISLEADING CABLEGRAM.
The dispatch of General Otis, of Feb
ruary s, 1899, referred to in the presi-
dents letter and which Otis said was
misleading contained the following:
Might of 4th Aguinaldo issued a
flying proclamation charging Ameri-
cans with initiative and declared war.
Sunday issued another, calling all to
resist foreign invasion His influence
throughout this section destroyed. o
applies for cessation of hostilities and
conference. Have declined answer"
Robbed the Grave.
A startling incident, Of which Mr..
John Oliver, of Philadelphia, was the
subject, is narrated by him as follows:
1T was in a most dreadful condition.
Ny skin was almost yellow, eyes
-, nno1r4 ooof4l Dos- 14-n-