The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-27
DEWEY TELLS
STORY OF WAR
Didn't Recognize the Filipino
Republic or Aguinaldo.
CALLED HIM DON EMILIO
Shot a Few Times at Manila
to Satisfy Honor.
HE CAPTURED SUBlG BAY
And AguinalGo Had Nothing
to Do With 1t.
He CAPTURED SUBIG BAY

/ washington June -b--Admiral Dewey
made statement before the senate CON-
nittee on the Philippine committee today
concerning the early operations at Manila
when he was in command Of the Amer
lean naval forces in Philippine waters.
The admirars statement contributed an
important addition TO the history Of the
surrender Of the city Of Manila. This con
sisted of a positive statement BY the
admiral 10 the effect that the city had
been surrendered 70 him at the time that
the Spanish fleet was sunk and that when
the city did surrender it was in pursuance
OF a definite understanding between HIM
self and the Spanish governor general.
The admiral was questioned by Senator
Lodge. He said ne had first heard from
Aguinaldo and his friends about April /.
1885. month before the battle in Manila
bay, when il become certain that there
was 10 be war.
Il then heard that there were a num-
Der of Filipinos who desired TO accom-
pany the feet 10 Manila" he continued.
"All Of them were young and earnest
I did not attach much importance 20
them or to what they said. The day be-
fore we left Hong Kong received a tele-
gram from Consul General Pratt located
at Singapore, saying that Aguinaldo was
at Singapore and would join me al Hong
Kong. I replied all right. tell him to
come aboard. but l attached so Mttle i'm
portance 70 the message that sailed
without Aguinaldo and before he Srrived.
There were then many promises as 10
what the Filipinos would do, but I did
not depend upon them. Consul Williams
assured me that upon our arrival and the
firing of the first gun 5000 Fnipinos
would rise. None did arise and I fire.
quently joked him on this point.
Admiral Dewey said the Spanish COVER
nor wanted TO surrender the city TO him
after the destruction OF the feet and that
he Dewey would have accepted the for
NAL surrender II he had had 5000 troops
TO garrison the city. He told about Agu-
inaldos arriving. saying that he put him
ashore and told him 10 organize his peo-
pie. Aguinaldo came back discouraged
and wanted to go TO Japan. but the ad-
miral told him 10 continue his efforts
The admiral said he paid no attention to
Aguinaldo's first proclamation OF indie
pendence Of the Filipinos. Speaking OF
Aguinaldo's military operation. he said he
did wonderfully in whipping the Spanish
Admiral Dewey said cmphaticauy that he
never had recognized Aguinaldo's govern
ment nor did he salute AgunaIdos flag
he never called Aguinaldo General but
addressed him as Don Emilio" The
gd a No
Philippine republic the slightest recogni-
ton; that he had no authority 10 do so
and did not consider IL an organized gov
eminent He said the spaniards were
fearful of the Fnipinos entering Manila
and therefore surrendered 70 him tn adj
vance. He said there was no need for
the loss OF man I'm the capture Of the
city. No gun would have been fired but
for the desire Of the governor. who said
that his honor demanded that q few shots
be fired, so l had 10 fire and kin few
people" said the admiral. but the Span
iards did not fire because ne Dewey had
warned them not TO do SO. He did not
believe the Filipinos could have taken
the city unaided. but the Spaniards were
greatly demoralized The admiral said ne
reveT received a letter from Consul Pratt
telling him he must cooperate with Az
uinaldo h added that Pratt wrote a
"a n-ber n foolish letters about that time
Admiral Dewey said he had written
The navy department that the Fniplnos
we're more capable Of seif-goverument ?
than the Cubans because he saw that
congress contemplated giving independ- 4
ence TO cuba and he knew that the Amer f
lean people had little Information con- +
corning the Filipinos The admiral said
that when Aguinaldo vas at The height q
Biz power the British admiral Seymour 4
had advised the Filipino chief % ne 81
the Americans as they ~ere his best
friends He let the FHipinos have guns
auG ammunition: he thought e was a
military necessity. Looking backward he 4
corid see that they were not needed He +
toms deTsd them very ungrafeful 90 turr- 4
lnE against the United states The ad-
mirai SAFE he. ana not The FilpInos had /
subis BAY. and be had taken 4
possession bccause German warsisfp
was preventing Asuinai10 from passing
Admiral Dewey had not concioded when
the colrmif1ee adjourned