Milford chronicle., 1901-04-05
CITIZEN AGUINALDO.
Captive Filipino Leader Takes the
Oath Of Allegiance.
NOT TO BE LIBERATED AT ONCE.

General Macarthur VIII Probably |
Keep the ex-Leaaer Under His Eye
and Use Him i'm LoyaIizing the
Remnant of the InSurgent Forces.
Washington, April 3.-The war de-
partment yesterday received informa-
ton from Gen. Macarthur that Emilio
Aguinaldo, the leader of the Philip
pines insurgents, who was captured by
Gen. Funston on March % and brought
to Manila on Thursday of last week,
has taken the oath of allegiance to
the United States under the terms of
amnesty offered by Gen. Macarthur by
direction of the president. The dis
patch conveying this information con-
tanned much more than was given to
the public. The portion withheld re-
lated to the future disposition of Agui-
naldO, and made suggestions as to
what the late chief of the insurrec-
! ton might accomplish. No official
statement could be obtained as to what
| finally would be done with the pris-
oner, but it was emphatically stated
! that he would be held for the present,
/
munity consistent with existing condi-
| tions. Gen. Macarthur has hopes that
a great deal may be accomplished
through Aguinaldo. During the time
he has been prisoner he has made quite
a favorable impression upon Gen. Mac
Arthur.
1t has been suggested that under the
terms of the notice of amnesty the pris-
Oner should be set at liberty at once
but there is a provision in the amnesty
proclamation which says that those
who have violated the laws of war are
excepted from its terms. Whether OF
not Gen. Macarthur has satisfied him.
self that Aguinaldo has not violated the
laws of war cannot be stated, as the
prisoner would be permitted to take the
oath pending an investigation of hi
past conduct. Aguinaldo, having beef
the head of the instruction, undoubt
eddy can be held until further investi
cation is made, or until the circum
stances which surround the situation
in the Philippines makes it advisabl
to release him outright or Otherwis
dispose of him. These conditions an
i the general situation and Aguinaldo'
= relation to them were the subject @
Gen. MacArthur's dispatch and are be
O ing considered by the authorities her,
n who will have the final disposition {
the matter.
The taking of the oath in itself
regarded as giving Aguinaldo a statU
Of loyalty to the United States quit
different from those still in arms. tn
=" war department authorities say tn;
Offenses against the articles of war, e.
cepted in the proclamation of amnest
J. refer to murders and like depreciation
Only recently five Filipino officers wei
It executed for such Offenses. 1t is NJ
u known here whether Aguinaldo W;
n responsible in any case of such o
lenses, though from the fact that &c
Macarthur allowed him to take Il
oath of allegiance, it is assumed tn
the commanding general does not no
n, Aguinaldo to be chargeable with a vi
Is lation Of the articles of war. T. IS b
n Eeved Gen. Macarthur viii keep Il
~ eX-leader under his eye '.nd avail hiI
IL self of the good offices of Aguinaldo
loyalizing the remnant of the insurge
= forces.
As having an important bearing
the case of Aguinaldo the war depal
ment has received a copy of the rel
chiefs last proclamation. A significa
paragraph is as follows:
'All guerrilla chiefs, as soon as tn
= capture any armed American citizt
shall take him into the interior at on
IS, and shall communicate with the oh
III of the nearest American detachme
:. urgently requesting the exchange
% prisoners at the rate of one Americ
for every three FilipinOs of the enel
who are condemned to death. If 81
American chief should refuse to ma
the exchange requested the Amerie
i. prisoners shall be shot, whatever
| their number"
Should the capture and submissi
of the Filipino chieftain mark the
ginning of the end in the Philippin
as is expected, the effect upon
American naval representation in A
a attic waters will be a very ccnsidera
reduction of our naval force in the
east. There are at present about
ok of our naval vessels on the Asiatic S
,,,, tion-a greater number than ever
'" fore has been modified there and
Guiding some of the finest battlesht
cruisers and irOnclads in our navy.