The Savannah morning news., 1902-06-28
DEWEY ON AGUINALDO
HAS VERY POOR OPINION OF FILL
PINO LEADER.
SAYS HE WAS THERE FOR LOOT
GOT IN HUFF WITH cARMACK AND
QUIT ROOM.

His Loyalty From the First-Sharp-
~ Questioned by Mr., Cnrmack on
This Matter He Asserted That "AIl
IL Fair in Wnr"-Refused Point
blank 10 Answer CarmacIs's Last
| Question.
Washington, June 27.-Admiral Dew
ey continued his testimony before the
| Senate Committee on the Philippines
to-day Replying to the questions put
by Senator Patterson, he said that he
had begun negotiations with the gov
ernor general Of che Philippines, Gen.
Jaudenes, for the surrender CT the city,
and the negotiations were conducted
through the Belgian consul. The adj
miral said he had j. formed Cen Mer-
rift of the proffer OF Gen. Laudenes,
but that he did not believe that Mer-
rift had taken much stock IN it.
II assured him that such was the
case" said the admiral. but told him
of the arrangement that before the
surrender should take place l was to
engage an outlying fort and make the
sis nal according to the international
/
the Spaniards Wee to hoist the white
flag on the southern bastion I may
say that l was The first to discover the
flag Notwithstanding l had stationed
fifty men to look out for L. 1t was a.
thick day. and | CHANGED TO be the
first to discover It "
Admiral Dewey said he had read
the testimony of Gen. Macarthur,
saying that he knew of no agreement
of the kind mentioned. but that IL
had not been his (Dewey's) business
to communicate with any one except
the commanding officer.
Asked by Mr.. Patterson to explain
| his statement that Gen. Merritt had
not accepted the report that the Span
iards had agreed to capitulate, Ad-
| miral Dewey said that was only his
| belief.
Merritt Doubted Spnninrds.
Il don't believe" he said, that the
| General entirely trusted the Spanish
authorities. Still, he did not say 70
in SO many words. / may add that I
have since learned that some OF the
| Spanish officers were tempted to fire
at us, though they did not do So Even
| my own flag lieutenant did not accept
|
| knew. however, that they would sur
render, for l understood the straits
| they were in"
Replying TO a question as to whether
| the agreement to surrender had been
made public at the time of the attack
upon Manila, Admiral Dewey said he
/ thought not
There are" he said. ''lots of things
| which are not communicated to the
| public"
Mr.. Patterson sought to secure from
| Admiral Dewey an admission that
| Aguinaldo had issued a proclamation
of independence t. the Filipinos about
the time Of the sinking of the Spanish
squadron, but the Admiral said he did
| not remember it, although it was pos
| sible that he might have done so.
Senator Patterson then said the pa
| per forwarded by Consul General Pratt
May 20, 1898, in which the Philippine
leader said that Providence had open
ed the way for independence to the Fill
ipinos and spoke of the Americans as
their liberators.
The Admiral said that he did not re-
member to have seen the paper He
had given Aguinaldo a printing press,
and probably he used this press for
getting out his proclamations.
Williams Too Enthusiastic.
In reply to question, the Admiral
said that Consul Villains, who had been
stationed at Mania, was an honest
man, although perhaps quite enthusiasts
tic. The Admiral did not, however, re-
member to have promised to Aguin-
aldo his cordial cooperation" as the
consul had reported.
Speaking of Aguinaldo's loyalty, the
Admiral said he had become suspicious
of that leader before the receipt of his
proclamation of July Is
Il began to suspect that he was not
loyal to us when he demurred to NOV
ing out of CaVite when our troops ar
rived" said the Admiral
You mean that they were thinking
more of their own independence than of
us2"
Yes"
Admiral Dewey also testified con-
corning the arms sent to Manila by
Aguinaldo, and Senator DIETRICH asked
the Admiral If he did not believe that
the arms were purchased with money
previously paid by Spain to secure
peace, and that II was his intention TO
use the money to foment another in
surrection for the purpose of gain.
The Admiral's reply was:
Exactly So"
Admiral Dewey said he had forward
ed the proclamations of Aguinaldo to
Washington without reading them.
enough for my work at-that time"
said the Admiral.
"Since you have asked my opinion
he said, in answer to a question, IT
will say I believe AgEinaido was there
for gain, for loot, for money. and that
independence never entered his head"
Dewey Gets in "A Corner.
Senator Carmack asked the witness
why he had done so much to aid man
whom he regarded as a common rob-
Der and plunderer.
The Admiral did not reply imme-
diately. His face Redeemed and he
laughed. He then said the senator had
rot quoted him accurately. but he adj
mitted that he had said Aguinaido had
gone TO Manila for plllage and plumber.
He added, You know the old saying
that all Is fair in war"
do you consider II fair in war 10 as
sist a known plnnderer and robber IN
an enemys territory 20 pillage with
out restraint
II believe it n az I read history"
The Admiral said when he assisted
Aguinald0 he did not call him a rob.
Der and piupdercr, but the 'insursenf
leader
- say J think h. was there Tor ioof
and money " NF DuFfiHuaH