The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-22


Washington, d. c.,
April 80, 1900.
ITO Otis. Manila:
Gable whether General Torres came to
you under flag of truce February 3, 1899,
and stated Aguinaldo declared fighting had
begun accidentally and not authorized by
him; that Agunaldo wished it stopped and
to end hostlities proposed establishment Of
reatral zone between the two armies OF
width agreeable to you so during peace
negotiations there might be no further
danger conflict. Whether you replied fight
ing having begun must go On to grim end.
The following is General Otis reply:
tCablegramD
Mania. May /, 1900.
ITO Adjutant General, Washington:
Judge Torres, citizen resident Of Manila,
who had served as member on iDsurgent
commission, reported on the evening Of
February 5, asking II something could not
be done to stop the fighting. as establish
ment of neutral zone. / replied that
Aguinaldo had commenced the fighting and
must apply for cessation: / had nothing 10
request from the insurgent government.
He asked permission to send Colonl Arguel-
lez to Malolos. and Arguellez was passed
through the lines near CaloocaB the next
morning. He wen. direct to Malolos. told
Generals Aguinaldo and Nabini that Cen
eral Otis would permit suspension of hos
tilities upon their request. They replied
that a declaration of war had been made.
copy of which they furnished him. They
said they had no objection to suspension
OF hostiiities, but beyond this general re-
mark made no response, but directed him
to return with that message. Arguellez
reported that he conveyed my statement:
that they had commenced the war and it
must go on since they had chosen that
course of action. but he did not attempt to
induce them to make any proposition, as
he feared an accusation of cowardice. The
insurgent chief authorities made no prOpo-
sition and did not intend to make any,
nor did they attempt to do so until driven
out of Malolos. My hasty despatch of
about that date was misleading Took in
writing the statement OF Arguellez several
days ago in order to fully understand the
temper of the insurgents at an early psriod
of the war OTIS"
In the correspondence transmitted are
letters from the Secretary of the Navy to
Admiral Dewey, and his reply as to wheth-
er the flag of the Filipino Republic was
ever saluted by the Admiral. The Ad-
mirals reply is as follows:
"Office of the Admiral,
Washington, May II, 1900.
"Sr:
Il Replying to the Departments letter
of the 14th inst. | have the honor to in
form you that the flag of the so-called
Philippine Republic was never saluted by
me or by any of the vessels OF the squad
ron under my command
go Isla Grande. Subic Bay. was captured
by the Raleigh and Concord, under my
orders, as reported in my telegram of July
10. 1898. There was no assistance to or CO.
operation with AguinaldO's forces.
"3. The vessels named captured the Span
ish garrison OF said island without assist
ance from anyone, as indicated in the
above mentioned despatch
~. The said garrison was turned over
to the Filipinos for safekeeping, as shown
in the report made by Capt. ]. B. Cough |
Ian, U. s. NJ, on file in the Department. |
The prisoners had refused to give parole,
and there were no facilities at my com. |
mand for their care. Aguinaldo had prom
Used that they should be treated humanely /
and according to the laws OF war.
II have the honor to be. sir very re- |
spectfully. GEORGE DEWEY.
Admiral, United States Navy
ITO the Secretary of the Navy" /