The age-herald., 1902-03-06
GEN. HUGHES MAKES
 SPIRITED REPLIES
Senators Question Him About Statements of Gen. Otis
DOESN'T LIKE CRITICISM
Says Filipino Insurgents Could Have Been of Little Aid In the Capture of Manila By American
 Forces.

 series of questions by Senator Patterson and other minority members Of the sem ate committee on the Philippines today General Hughes said the Filipino forces could have been of but little assistance if 1t had been necessary to capture Manila from the Spaniards by assault
 ''The capture of that city was by pre- arrangement between General Merritt ana Admiral Dewey and the Spanish com- mander. was 1t not?' MT. Patterson then asked.
 1T know nothing about that" responded General Hughes.
 "As a military man, what Is your be- lief, founded upon your conversation with your superiors?" MT. Patterson then asked.
 Senator Beveridge insisted that the question was not proper, but Senator Pat terson insisted 1t was.
 'I would ask" said the witness, If 1t would not be much better to excuse me in answering, in view of the fact that General Merritt is in Washington, and you can get the facts from him first hand"
 1T prefer to ask you, and you can answer as you see fit"
 "I do not think ought to answer that question:" replied General Hughes, Con- tinuing his reply to further questions the witness said that the Filipinos had aioeo the Americans materially by their knowl- edge of the country, and the accommoda- tions they had supplied but that the Fill pinos have never been considered part of the fighting force against the Spanish forces The principal consideration in con- nection with them was to keep them out of the way, he said.
 As to Using Forces.
 In response to further questioning by MT. Patterson, General Hughes said he certainly would construe General Otis re- mark, referred to in his report of Septem- Der IS, 1898, that he would use force to compel the insurgent troops to retire to the line designated by General Merritt as meaning that he would use the United States military forces.
 Senator Patterson was pressing General Hughes as to the motive of General Otis for requiring the insurgents to retire to the line designated when Senators Rev. erlQRe, mcCOHdS anu 1Ou6e OOJSNltu5 SehJ ing it was unfair to the witness to ask the question: General Hughes said, how ever, that Aguinaldo complied with the order. except as to one small outlying district, and at that time there was no indication of enmi{y on the part of the Filipinos
 Senator Patterson, after reading from the report of General Otis, in which he had stated that with the navy on one T. AI~ ,t. at thar Spaniards had been bottled up in Manila, remarked that this statement did not CO., incide with that of General Hughes.
 why not?" sharply asked the general
 MT. Beveridge vigorously objected to this line of questioning, tending, he said to put General Hughes in the attitude of criticizing superior officer.
 Hughes Showed ImpatIence.
 General Hughes, showing some impa- tience, said: There is no difference be- tween us. No civilized man would have left Manila to the insurrectos."
 Senator Lodge, addressing Senator Pat terson with some degree of, irritabiltty. said:
 You must not ask General Hughes to criticize his superior officer, his repre- sentatives or anything else."
 General Hughes-General Otis Is strong enough to stand criticism.
 MT. Patterson disclaimed that he was criticizing General Otis, which brought a quick retort from General Hughes, who remarked: "Then you are trying to criticize me-
 ''I am only trying to reconcile the diff ferences between you and General Otis" answered Senator Patterson.
 "If there Is any differences between General Otis and myself and you will point them out I will try to set them right" replied General Hughes, with some warmth of feeling.
 This ended the colloquy and Senator Rawlins asked a few questions of the witness intending to bring out an ad- mission with the initial outbreak which occurred outside Manila, but General Hughes insisted that it happened inside the town.