The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-09-06
WAS WITH FUNSTON.
Capt. II. N.wt0n Talks Interes4' ..or
AgulnaldO and His Captul " -.

capt. d. Newton, who was with
General Funston when he captured
Aguinaldo was in st. Paul last Friday,
and after some persuasion he related
to Disptach reporter some of the in
cidents of that venture. After briefly
sketching the features of the capture
which have been related at second
hand many times, he followed with
some interesting things concerning
Aguinaldo, his complete surprise at
his capture and his bearing. The
captain said: "There is no doubt but
that he was completely stunned, be-
wildered and amazed. Had he been
otherwise, he might have slipped
away. But it was not to be. While
our Macabebee scouts were shooting at
Aguinaldo's body guard in front of
his hut, the dictator stood within
thinking his soldiers were firing their
arms in glee over having received re-
enforcement. He stepped to the door
to look out. At that moment one of
his officers was shot through the shout
der. Another dashed into the river
and was killed. Aguinaldo at last
realized that he was in trap. We
saw him snatch up macintosh, done
up in a roll, and throw it over his
shoulder, intending to make a dash for
the rear of the house. But we were
too quick for him, and he submitted
quietly to captivity. One could not
help but pity him. He was broken,
and wept copiously. For many hours
we could not get him to talk, but fin
ally his curiosity got the better of him,
and he asked questions con corning
this general and that general. We're
they alive2 Had they been captured
or killed. He had fear of being exc
cuted himself, as all his dealings with
the Spaniards had taught him it was
the custom of all nations to take a
man out in the back yard and finish
him off without ceremony"
"Aguinaldo is undoubtedly a very
crafty man. AS soon as we had him
in captivity he declared, in evident ex-
pectation that we would force him to
sign a general surrender, orders for
the captivity of his generals, etc., that
no matter what he signed, that it
would have no effect, it being law
of the Filipino republic that as soon
as an officer was captured, he lost all
authority and had no power over his
people. You must remember that
Filipino is Malay, and that his re-
gard for an oath is very small. Still, l
do not want TO say that Aguinaldo's
acceptance of the oath of Allegiance is
a farce. He can be handled, if he is
handled rightly. He has broken faith
in many past instances, and might
again, unless he sees his people pros
porous. And the whole situation lies
right there. If, in due time, the
United States can make each indivi-
dual Filipino prosperous, the govern
ment of that people will be a compare
ii vely easy matter. The Filipino has
no interests outside of his own per-
sonal interests, and if he is well-to-do,
he can be governed.
81 prefer to think Aguinaldo sincere.
Through his influence, since his cap
ture, he has brought about the surren-
der of Tino and many others who were
operating in the Benguet and Ilocos
Norte districts
"Aguinaldo blames the Americans
for precipitating the war on Feb. II,
1899. He declares his troops did not
commence the battle
AS to the future of the islands, Capt.
Newton thinks that the United States
will have to maintain an army of 30,
900 men. There will be wonderful
chances for investment after the ques-
ton of land and property rights have
been settled, and are understood by
the natives.
Capt. Newton said he saw numerous
evidences of the harm done the
American cause by the fanatical. OPP
position of people in this country.
"In one Tariac village | saw hymn
printed in Spanish and headed,
'Aguinaldo and Bryan. l saw an
anti-expansion pamphlet, written in
Boston, and copied in the Taglag Ian
guage. American opposition undoubt-
eddy cost many lives.
Capt. Newton, who, by the way, has
been appointed first lieutenant of ar
tllery in the regular army, was asked
what prevented the seventy-fiye Maca-
bebee scouts from turning upon their
American leaders and going over
hodilv to tho dictator
"Partly through fear, of the newt
able consequences, but mostly through
the undying hatred which the Maca-
bebees bear the Tagals. There were
many times when we thought. our stu
alton very grave. 1t would have been
easy for the Macabebees to have killed
us as we slept But they were true to
us, and have been fittingly rewarded.
They were extremely proud of their
success -
Of Geo. Funston, Capt. Newton
speaks eloquently. He has demonstrate
ed, the captain said, that the way to
fight the insurgents is in small bands,
which can move quickly.
'The insurgents have learned that
the American can go anywhere he
can. He is weary of the war, and l
fb;D6 ~ 10 oil ovar now -