The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-10-24
SITUATION At MANILA.
Ex-GonsuI Pratt DiscIoses the Dis
graceful Conditions.

United States at Singapore, has arrived in
this city, coming directly from Manila and
stopping for time in Paris while on the
way
Mr.. Pratt was appointed Consul General
by President Cleveland and remained in
office until June, 1899. EIe was at his post
during the whole of the Spanish war This
post was especially important from
stragetic point of view by reason of its
proximity to the Philippines Dir. Pratt
had exceptional opportunities for familiar
izing himself with all the circumstances of
the war in that part Of the world and as a
Government official was connected with
many of the important events. He gives
an interesting account of his experiences,
going into the subject as far as disere-
ton and pFepTiety will permit. Among
other things he says:
ION April %, 1898 l was informed that
Agufnaldo was in Singapore, and TealiZ-
ing that he might be of great service to
our Government in the pending war, / ar
ranged for an interview with him On the
following day. I met him on April q and
found him to be in hearty sympathy with
our Government I talked to him about
the detences of Manila, the condition of
the Spanish fleet in the bay, and numerous
other things of Importance relating to the
situation there.
After satisfying myself as to his IA
vorable disposition toward US, and of
his ability to be of service continued
MI Pratt. L asked him If he would be
willing to go to Hongkong to confer with
Admiral Dewey, with view to cooper
ating with the Admiral To this he as
scented all the more readily ae it deyeI-
oped in cur conversation that he was in
touch with the insurrectionary movement
or the island which had recently broken
out anew He expressed great Satisfac-
ton at the prospect of the Americans at
lacking the Spaniards, believing that it
would materially aid the efforts his PEG
pie were making Aguinaldo was anxious
to know how long the American fit ct
would remain in front of Manila his fear
being that the fleet would retire before
he could sufficiently organize the Filipino
forces to command the situation He
expressed an earnest hope that the
Americans would remain long enough to
enable the Filipinos to organize gov
eminent of their own
After fully comforting with Aguinaldo
l telegrapheI Admiral then Commodore,
Dewey through our Consul at HongkoDg
as follows:
g Aguinaldo, insurgent leadr, here
VIII come Hongkong. Arrange with
commodore for general cooperation in
surgents Manila il desired Telegraph
telegraphed me as follows:
% Tell Aguinaido come as soon as pos
sibIe'
Two or three days afterward, think
on April 20, Aguinaldo left Singapore sor
Hongkong to meet the commodore:
Immediately upon his departure | cab
led the Secretary of State at Washington
that AguinSldo had gone to Hongkong ex-
planned the object of his going and mott
fed the Government of the circumstances
in full. In my report to the Secretary of
State | said:
He tAguinaldol hoped the United
States would assume protection of the
Philippines for at least long enough to al
low the Inhabitants TO establish a govern
ment of their own. in the organization of
which he would desire American advice
and assistance.
"Aguinaldo did not reach Hongkong IN
til after the American fleet had left, and
hence was unable to see the Commodore
on his arrival After the battle OF Ca
wife, or Manila Bay, Commodore Dewey
sent the auxiliary cruiser McCulloch back
TO Hongkong and brought Aguinaldo and
his STAFF To Manila Bay It is important
TO note at this point that Aguinaldo did
not go to Manila Independently, but went
there under the auspices of the American
Government
What occurred after AguinaIdo arrived
at Manila Bay is well known. He con-
ferred with Commodore Dewey, landed
and proceeded to organize his forces, be-
ing furnished by US with arms and ammu-
milton. Aguinaldo co-operated with our
fleet against the Spaniards and after our
troops were landed he continued TO CO.
operate with them. It cannot be fairly
denied that the Filipincs aided materially
the capture of Manila -
MT. Pratt spent practically the entire
month of July last IN Manila Speaking of
the conditions prevailing there. he said:
The city is under martial law and the
Government is extremely rigid. No per
son can go about the streets after 10
Q clock at night without a pass from the
provost marshal The streets are guarded
day and night by military patrols. One is
likely 10 be challenged at any street cor
ner ard be fired upon if the challenge is
not promptly responded to. On one eccas-
ION l remember being challenged six times
IN ride of twenty minutes. | heard of one
instance of an Army officer being fired
upon by the patrol, the bullet penetrating
his carriage and barely missing him. In
stances more or less similar could be null
uplied, showing the unsatisfactory condf-
| lions existing there.
The censorship OF the press could nor
be more rigid than it is. The editor of one
OF the principal American papers there told
ME OF despatch he desired to send to a
Chicago paper, which he submitted to the
censor The censor having erased all the
important statements which it had con-
tanned, the editor took it TO General Otis
and asked Otis for permission to send if
The general said.
| . That telegram cannot CO.
1.-The editor asked:
" Are its contents not true2'
'sEle general replied:
g That does not signify. The telegram
cannot go. If you undertake to reproduce
any part of it in your paper here I shall
suppress that paper, and as far as You are
concerned I shall consider whether to ban
ISL you from the islands or put you in pris-
on. Nothing that reflects upon military CD
erarions here can be sent cut
The situation to my mind is as bad as
| it can be Looking a it as l saw it. it
was ;tImest impossible to believe that
such things could be done under the
| American fag and in the name of the
| American Government.
ut viii be a bloody and costly task to
! subdue the people over there The ma
| tional sentiment among the Filipinos is
| growing, not diminishing I talked with
| large numbers Of men of all classes. from
| the highest to the lowest and found all
| with few exceptions, firmly imbued with
| the idea of national Independence. and de-
| termined to submit to no greater neasS-e
| of foreign control than what might be af-
| forded by protection.
| The Filipino forces are in possession of
| and are operating throughout the greater
| part Of the country the American author
| ity being recognized only within the limits
| cf army garrisons. While / was in Manila
| there was fighting between our troops and
| the Filipinos almost within gunshot of the