Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-03-30
CALLS AGU|NALD|DS
REQUEST RIDICULOUS
Permission Not Given the
Insurgents to Occupy
BIoCkhouSeS.
FILIPINO WANTED TO
MAKE APPOINTMENTS
Must Be No Dual Occupation Of
Manila Capture Of llOilO--
Otis Gives His
Testimony.

Washington, March 10. 80 General
Otis continued his testimony before
the Senate Philippine Committee to.
day. Referring to his order of Sep.
TENDER s. 1898, directing the withdraw
al OF the insurgent troops outside the
defenses OF Manila, General Otis OK.
planned that commission from Agul-
naldos Cabinet visited him. In the
discussion which followed he said they
did not mention the fact that the
towns Immediately adjacent to Manila
were not portion Of the city. lie
classed as ridiculous Aguinaldo's re.
quest to receive a portion of the north.
orn part OF Manila. occupied by the
Spaniards. in trade for something in
the southern part of the city held by
the insurgents.
General Otis said he did not give
the insurgents actual permission to
occupy the blockhouses, which Agui.
naldo claimed had been given. What
had been said was: II don't care any
thing about the blockhouses: we are
going to take possession of them"
General Otis said that Asuinaldo
had demanded of General Otis the
right TO occupy the Palace and u
make appointments in the civil gov.
eminent, which caused General Mer
rift to cable Washington for instruc.
tons. The reply was that there must
be no dual occupation Of Manila.
General Otis then detailed the cir.
cumstances attending the capture OF
Iloilo, the offer of the Spanish General.
Rios. to hold the place against the in
surgents pending the arrival of United
States troops, and the capture of the
town by the Visayans before the arriy
al OF the United States troops. Agul
naldo he said. was overjoyed when ha
learned that the detachment had been
sent out, because he (Aguinaldo) ue
clared that the first shot would DC
fred at Iloilo which would bring or
war between the United States and
the insurgent forces. General Otis
said he had cabled Washington, say
ing that the taking Of Iloilo meant
war in the islands. and had received
the response to defer action, which
he did until the insurgents made wal
on the United States forces In Manila
He had, he said issued his proclama
ton extending military authority Il
all parts of the archipelago under in
structions from the President.
Senator Rawlins sought to show tha
many OF the things done by the Unltat
States military authorities were II
contravention of the protocol hu
General Otis explained that he felt 4
his duty TO protect lives and property
The committee adjourned until 23'
p. m. in order to permit General Otti
TO conclude his testimony today.
At the afternoon session Genera
Otis. referring to his proclamation
said he expressly omitted therefron
Filipinos attached to II the meanin;
which the word conveyed to then
while under the domination OF Spain
Senator Carmack called his attcn
ton to the difference between the Ian
guage used by the President in hi
Instructions and that contained in hi
(Otis) proclamation. and asked VIII
he had also omitted the words con
troll" government" lawful rule,
authority must remain supreme"
General Otis explained that whel
these instructions Of the Presiden
were received he was somewhat SUI
prised. He was afraid they would W
disastrous and assist the Aguinald
government TO excite the people q
Luzon. General Otis said he told Ad
miral Dewey, who had called on hin
the following day, that he did M
think the President understood tn,
situation, owing to the great distance
of the islands from Washington, an,
that under the conditions then pro
vailing he would be perfectly justifie,
In making certain amendments. Lead
ing Filipinos told him that the word
ferred to might be used by Mabini Il
excite the people
Senator Patterson asked Genera
Otis II the idea of the Filipino peopl,
regarding the hopes and aspiration
for independence was a mistaken one
NO." said General Otis; "Aguinaldt
had his ambitions" Speaking yer!
deliberately. he said: And he wal
sent over from Hongkong for the pur
pose Of driving the Spaniards out anC