The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-10-18

From Pettigrew's speech at Armour
on August Z:
Some of us mistrusted that we
began the war. Some of us believed
it was necessary, that orders were
sent from Washington to attack
the Filpinos in order to ratify the
Spanish treaty.
Let us see what the record is as to
this infamous charge aaginst the gov
eminent and the gallant volunteers be
fore Manila.
On May 2lst, 1900, tire president sent
TO the Senate response to the resolu-
tion asking FOR a report as to the al
legged negotiations for peace on Fe0ru-
airy 5, 1889. after the breaking out of
the Filipino revolution. The reply
contains the following correspondence
by cable.
Adjutant Generals Office, Washing
/ ton, April 1910 Otis, Manila: Cable
whether General Torres came TO you
under flag of truce, February 5, 1892
and stated Aguinaldo declared fighting
had begun accidentally and no: au-
thorized by him; that Agu naldo
wished it stopped. and to end host Ii
| ties proposed establishment of neutral
zone between two armies of width
agreeable to you, SO during peace ne
gotiations there might be no further
danger of conflict; whether you replied
fighting having begun must go on to
grim end. -Corbin.
The following is General Otis reply:
Manila, May 1, 1900.--To Agwsr,
Washington-Ju Torres, citizen
resident OF Manila. who had served as
member of insurgent commission, re
ported evening February 5, asking IL
something could not be done ID stop
the fighting as establishment of neutral
zone. | replied Aguinaldo had com
menced the fighting sn1 mus a)plT
for cessation; I had nothing to reques
from insurgent government. He asFe Il
permission to send Colonel Argu llez
to Malolos and Arguellez was pas Ell
through lines near Caloocar NJ
morning. He went direct to Malolos,
told General Aguinaldo and Mabini
that General Otis would permit su-pnn-
sion of hostilties upon their request
They replied declaration of war had
been made, copy of which they fur
nished him. They said they had no
objection to suspension Of hostilitles.
but beyond this general remark mad :
no response, but directed him to return
with that message Arguellez reported
that he conveyed my statement; that
they had commenced the war and 1t
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 t.
make any, nor did they attempt to dc
so until driven out of Malolos.
Lieutenant Colonel Slower or the
First South Dakota in letter written
Ito this bureau under date Of May 7tl
says:
beginning of hostilities we were
right there and know. You wilt
find a very concise statement OF it
u in General Otis report as corps
commander Of the Eighth corps for
the year 1899. OF course he smooths
over the rough edges OF the way
we were treated. and insulted, and
abused by the natives, but you md
Il mentioned along for half dozen
or SO pages in his correspondence
with the department, and In his
correspondence with General Mil
Ter down in front Of Cebu, In his
/ instructions to Miller in fact. here
and there it crops out, little ev-
erywhere.
The night before the outbreak
Twas on duty as field officer OF the
day; had row at the Santa Mesa
bridge. They tried to make US fire
on them that night, but we did not.
Two days before the outbreak
about two hundred of them lined
ND in skirmish line with their
rifles loaded and cooked, and extra
| cartridges under their guns in
their left hands. and came right
straight up to our outpost on the
Balic-Balic road, disregarding or
ders to halt and everything else;
| ~x,on xhoro ond cav If