Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-14
WAR BETWEEN
ARMY AND
NAVY
GENERAL ANDERSON TAKES Is
SUE WITH ADMIRAL DEWEY
ON THE CAPTURE OF MA
Mia.

CHICAGO, July 12.-General Thomas M.
Anderson has addressed to the Record
Herald a letter giving his version Of the
surrender Of Manila in which he differs
materially from the statements made by
Admiral Dewey. General Anderson's let
ter is in chief as follows:
National Soldiers Home; Erie County,
Ohio, July 9.-To the Editor: Admiral
Dewey is quoted as saying in his evidence
before the senate Philippine committee
that when Manila was surrendered 1t was
in pursuance of a definite understanding
between him and the Spanish governor
general. In concluding his statement he
said that his views did not coincide with
those expressed by General Anderson in
a magazine article and closed his testi-
mony by saying: We differed very much
from the beginning
Admiral Dewey is a great naval OTHER.
He did the state great service. Yet I must
say, with all Difference, that he is mistak-
en- in his statement in relation to the sur
render of Manila. So sincere is my regard
for the admiral that would not make this
assertion but for the fact that such state
ments, when uncontradicted, pass into his
tory.
Several days before the assault made
on the 18th of August, Father McKinnon,
the Catholic chaplain of the First Califor-
MIA, was permitted to pass our lines and go
into Manila. He saw the archbishop and
the governor general and when he re-
turned he reported that the latter told
him he could not and would not surrender
without fight as he had to fight for the
honor of Spain. Subsequently General
Merritt directed me to draw up the tacti-
cal order for the attack and this was done
on the assumption that there would be a
bonafide resistance. In the attack and the
preceding skirmishes we lost 122 killed and
wounded.
''If the city was surrendered as a result
of a definite understanding what was the
understanding and how definite was 1T?
Was It that American soldiers were to be
sacrificed for the honor of Spain.
1.-THE admiral says we differed very much
from the beginning. hope our country
men will believe that we differed very
much about this. If there ever was such
an understanding 1 did not know 1t and
the army did not know 1t.
THE admiral is reported to have testi-
fed that the Spanish authorities offered to
surrender to him the day he destroyed
the Spanish squadron. No written propos-
ais have come to light, and the probabili-
ties are that he was deceived by the mis-
representations of the foreign consuls,
who were endeavoring by all means In
their power to prevent a bombardment
1T now learn for the first time that my
correspondence with Aguinaldo was not
approved by the admiral. Permit me to
remark that he had no occasion for a
correspondence. When he took possession
of the Cavite navy yard he doubled the
wages Of several hundred Filipinos work
ing there. That did not require any cor
respondence, nor did Il require any cor
respondence to induce Aguinaldo to start
his insurrection. 1t is not difficult to in
duce men to do what they wish to do.
II wrote some letters to AguinaIdo which
seemed necessary at the time. He had ar
rested some Of our officers for entering the
town Of Cavite without his permission.
He had forbidden his people to supply us
with lighters to land our men and mate
rails. We required land transportation,
and he hid all the carts. We could only
buy fuel and forage from him. Finally he
forbade us to land on the sacred soil Of
Luzon. We did not pay any attention to
this last impertinence, but in regard to
the other disagreements thought a cor
respondence was justihable expedient.
II, however, had known as much about
them as everybody seems to know now, I
might have arrested him then without
corresponding.
referring now to my original PROPOSE
ton that Admiral Deweys statement in
reference to the surrender of Manila was
misleading wish to say that no doubt the
admiral and General Merritt both thought
that they had made an agreement with
the Spanish authorities by which the city
could be taken without bloodshed. Yet the
fact remains that Captain General Angus
tin was relieved because he was willing to
make such q capitulation while bis sue
cessor refused to do so.
GAS to this, both the admiral and the
general commanding must have been mis-
informed.
Speaking for the second division Of the
Eighth Army corps permit me to say that
its attack on the defense of Manila was
not in the nature of an opera boufette
demonstration.
THOMAS NJ. ANDERSON"