Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-27
WAS THERE FOR LOOT
Dewey's Opinion of Aguinal-
dos Patriotism.
RESUMES TESTIMONY
INcREDULoUS AS TO INSURGENr
CHIEFS SINCERITY.
Explains Why He Gave Him Assist
ance-More About the Surren-
der of Manila.
RESUMES TESTIMONY


! pines today. Replying to questions put by
Senator Patterson, he said that he had be-
| gun negotiations with the governor general
OF the Philippines, General Jaudenes, for
the surrender of the city and the negotia-
| tions were conducted through the Belgian
consul, who, after the death Of the British
| consul, had been very courteous In acting
as go-between. Ii was a diplomatic ne
! gotiation, no letters being written. The
| admiral said he had informed General Mer-
ritt of the proffer of General Jaudenes. but
that he did not believe that Merritt had
| taken much stock in IL.
Merritt Inclined to Be Incredulous.
al assured him that such was the case
said the admiral, but told him Of the ar
rangement that before the surrender
should take place was to engage an out
lying fort and make the signal according
to the international code. do you sur
render after which the Spaniards were to
| hoist the white flag the southern bas-
! ton. | may say that l was the first TO
| discover the flag, Notwithstanding 1 had
stationed fifty men to look out for it. IL
was a thick day, and | chanced to he the
first to discover it, He also said he had
read the testimony of General Macarthur.
| saying that he knew of no agre oment Of the
| kind mentioned. but that il had not been
his Dewey's) business to communicate
with any one except the commanding Of
/ ficer.
Asked by Mr.. Patterson to explain his
statement that General Merritt had not ac-
! cepted the report that the Spaniards had
agreed to capitulate, Admiral Dewey raid
| that was only his belief. Il don't believe"
! ne said, that the general entirely trusted
! the Spanish authorities. sun he did not
| say so in so many words. | may add that
! l have since learned that some Of the Span
| ish officers were tempted to fire at us,
| though they did not do so Even my own
! flag lieutenant did not accept their proffer
10 hast of ia 4 hon
! that they would surrender. for l under
stood the straits they were in
| Replying to question as TO whether the
agreement to surrender had been made pub
lie at the time of the attack upon Manila,
Admiral Dewey said he thought not.
There are" he said, lots of things
| which are not communica ted to the public"
Aguinaldo's Attitude.
| Mr.. Patterson sought to secure from Ad-
miral Dewey admission that AguinalGo
had issued proclamation of Independence
! to the Filipinos about the dme of the sink
Ing OF the Spanish squadron, bat the ad-
miral said he did not remember it. although
1t possible that he might have done SO.
| Mr.. Patterson then read the paper for
Narded by Consul General Pratt May -.
/ 1895, in which the Philippine leader said
/ that Providence had opened the way for
! independence to the Fiipinos, ana spoke Of
| the Americans as their libeIatlrs. The ad-
mlral said, however, that he did not remem-
/ Der 10 have seen the paper. He had he
| said, given Aguinaldo printing press, and
| probably he used this press for getting out
/ his procamations.
In reply to a question. the admiral said
/ that Consul Williams, vino had been sta
/ toned at Manila. was an honest man, al
! though perhaps quite enthusiastic The adj
| nlral did not. howe Yer. remember to have
| promised to Aguiualdo his cordial CO.
operation, as the consul had reported.
Fer the purpose Of making inquiry cor
corning some of the repre- 81 utat tions of Con-
W q
Kong, Mr.. Patterson asked concerning that
gentlemans character. The admiral ap-
rarently hesitated 10 reply. but then said.
Hes dead-ld RAJ her not say. He was the
United States consul general He added
that he would prefer not to reply to further
questions, but when Mr.. Patterson persist
ed, he added: He was very able man
an able consul
Mr.. Patterson then read Mr.. Wildman's
! letter of July Is 1895. saying that Agui-
naldo had conducted himself in dignfied
manner, etc, and the admiral assented to
the truth Of this statement.
Speaking of Aguinaldos loyalty, the wit
ness said that he had become suspicious Of
that leader before the receipt of his procla-
nation Of July II. He said. II began to
suspect that he was not loyal to us when he
demurred to moving out of Cavite when our
troops arrived
You mean that they were thinking more
OF their own independence than of us?'
"Yes.'
Money Paid by Spain
the arms sent to Manila by Aguinaldo. and
Senator Dietrich asked the admiral If ''he
did not believe that the arms were pur-
chased with money previously paid by
Spain to secure peace, and that it was his
intention to use the money to foment an
other insurrectlon for the purpose Of gain
The admirals reply was: "EXactIy So"
Mr.. Patterson next called attention to a
number of proclamations forwarded by him
to Washington in May, but Admiral Dewey
said he did not remember having read
them and in explanation of his failure in
this respect he said: THE days and nights
were not long enough for me to get through
with my work at that time. Evidently L
didn't consider the proclama tions as OF i'm
portance If did read them. for 1 made no
comment on them"
The reading of these dispatches was fol-
lowed by number of questions.
View of Aguinaldo's Purpose.
knowing of Aguinaldo's expectation and
purpose to secure independence" said Mr..
Patterson, in beginning question, but be-
fore he had concluded he was interrupted
by the witness who said: NO, | did not
know that
''Then you believed such to be his pur-
poser
II didn't believe it. and since you have
asked my opinion | will say that | believe
he was there for gain-for loot-for money.
and / further believe that Independence
never entered his head"
Repiylng 10 another question by Senator
Patterson the admiral said that while
Aguinaldo was located at Cavite and was
under his observation he was always hu-
name, but that he did not see him much
after the army came.
Senator Carmack then put number Of
questions to the witness. Replying to these
the admiral said IL true he had as
sisted Agunaldo in organizing his army
by supplying him with arms etc that al
that time there were no American soldiers
in the Philippines, and that Agunaldo had
complete control of his own forces and
that he was under restraint. Mr. Car
mack then asked the witness why he had
done so much to aid a man whom he re-
garded as "a common robber and plum
dered."
The admiral did not reply Immediately
HIS face reddoued and he lanuhaa u.