New-York tribune., 1902-03-20
THE PHILIPPINE WAR.
SOME INTERESTING TESTIMONY BY
GENERAL OTIS.
FILIPINos RESPONSIBLE FOR BEGINNING
HOSTILITIES-THEIR PURPOSE NOT IN
DEPENDENCE. BUT PLUMBER
AGUINALDO'S DUPLICITY.

Committee to-day Referring to his order of
September s. 1898. directing the withdrawal of
the nsurgent troops outside the defences Of
Manila. he explained that a commission from
Agunaldo's cabinet visited him. In the discus
sion which followed, he said. they did not men
ton the fact that the towns Immediately ad
jacent to Manila were not a portion of the city
He classed ridiculous Aguinaldo's request to
receive a portion of the northern part of Manila
occupied by the Spanards. in trade for some
OF the southern part of the city held by the in
surgents. General Otis said he did not give the
insurgents actual permission to occupy the
blockhouses. which Aguinaldo asserted had been
given. What he had said Il don't care
anything about the blockhouses. We are not
going to take possession of them"
AGUINALDOS RIDICULOUS DEMANDS
Aguinaldo had demanded of General Merritt
the right to occupy the palace and to make
appointments in the civil government which
caused General Merritt to cable to Washington
for instructions. The reply that there must
be no dual occupation of Manila.
General Otis then detailed the circumstances
attending the capture of Iloilo the offer of the
Spanish General Rios to hold the place against
the insurgents pending the arrival of United
States troops, and the capture Of the town by
the Visayans before the arrival of the United
States troops. Aguinaldo was overjoyed when
he learned that the detachment had been sent
out. because he (Agunaldo) declared that the
first shot would be fired at Ioilo which would
bring war between the United States and the
insurGent forces. General Otis said he had
cabled TO Washington, saying that the taking Of
Iloilo meant in the islands. and had
Ceived instructions to defer action, which he did
until the insurgents made the United
States forces in Manila. He had issued his
urOClaOati extending military autbOritV n all
parts Of the archipelago under instructions from
the President
Senator Rawlins sought to show that many
Of the things done by the United States mill
tary authorities were in contravention Of the
protocol but General Otis explained that he felt
it his duty to protect lives and property.
PRESIDENT MKINLEY'S PROCLAMATION.
At the afternoon session General Otis. re-
ferrinG to his proclamation, said he expressly
omitted therefrom the word Sovereignty be
cause the Filipinos attached to it the meaning
which the word conveyed to them while under
the domination OF Spain Senator Carmack
called his attention To the difference between the
language used by the President I'm his nstruc-
tions and that contained in General Ots's proc
lamation and asked why he had also omitted
tho words control" government" lawful
rule" and authority must remain supreme
structions Of the President were received he
was somewhat surprised. He was afraid they
would bc disastrous and assist the AGuiraldo
government to excite the people Of Luzon. He
told Admiral Dewey. who called on him the fol
lowing day. that he did not think the President
understood the situation, owing TO the great
distance Of the islands from Washington, and
that under the conditions then prevailing he
would be perfectly justified in making certain
hat
the words referred 10 might be used by Mabint
TO excite the people
General Otis admitted. in reply to inquiry
from Senator McComas. that the act Of Con
eress limiting the service Of the volunteer troops
until July l. 1901. their return 10 the United
States and the forwarding Of others to take their
places, greatly hampered him in the pacihcation
Of the islands. When the trouble in China
CURED notice had been passed among the
Filipiuos that the United states would not be
able to send more men TO the Philippines. and
this emboldened them 10 resist the authority Of
the government
senator Patterson asked If the idea OF the
Filipino people regarding the hopes and aspra-
tions for Independence was a mistaken one.
MEANT TO ATTACK THE AMERICANS.
NO" said General Otis. "Agunado had his
ambitions" Speaking very deliberately. he said:
"And he sent from Hong Kong for
the purpose of driving the spnninrds out
and then attacking the Americans, I sup
pose. We have the papers of the original
tuntn." He thought Aguinaldo was performing
a double part at that time
He then explained the location Of the Ne
braska regiment. which was first attacked out
side Manila
In reply to Senator Carmack. he said that he
had plan Of action in contemplation in the
event that the fight had not occurred that
night and the treaty had been ratified the next
day. although plan could have been found very
quickly.
mo man worked harder in the interests
Of peace than l." said the general But if the
United States troops had attacked the Filipinos
and driven them out of the city when they FIRST
got there it would have been much better They
got very 'cocky' after a while. and thought they
could sweep us into the bay"
The trouble in Luzon. General Otis said. was
caused by the good men being overthrown be-
cause of fear of assassination.
Until the time of the ratification of the
purpose of asserting an1 maintaining the nde-
pendence of that island by armed force If neces-
sary?" asked Senator Patterson.
They asserted that they wanted to drive the
SpaniaTds out replied General Otis.
Further on he remarked that what they were
there for he did not know He had an idea
however. formed some time before the breaking
out of hostties. that the insurgents intended
to drive the Americans out if they could. The
Filipino army, he declared was there To overawe
the people in Northern Luzon and elsewhere.
Admitting" said Senator Patterson that
they were there to overawe the people did you
have any doubt In your mind that the hope of
the Filipino army was independency?"