The Savannah morning news., 1902-06-27
FALL OF MANILA
ADMIRAL DEWEY GIVES SENATE
THE INSIDE FACTS.
SPANISH DEFENSE A BLUFF.
HAD BEEN TRYING TO SURRENDER
ALL THE TINE.


standing Between Spanish Gov
eronOr General and Himself, an6
the Attack by the Americans Was
to Save the Governors Honor.
Never Took Any stock in AWuinai-
do, but Gave Him some Help md
Advice Because They Had ga Com
mon Enemy
Washington. June 26.-Admiral Dew
ey made a statement before the Sem
ate Committee on the Philippines to-
day concerning the early operations at
Manila. when he was in command of
the American naval forces in Philip
pine waters. The admiral's statement
contributed an important addition to
the history of the surrender of the city
of Manila. This consisted of a positive
statement by the admiral to the effect
that the city had surrendered to him
at the time that the Spanish fleet was
sunk. and that when the city did sur
render it was in pursuance Of definite
understanding between himself and the
Spanish governor general.
Admiral Dewey said that during the
naval engagement several guns had
been fred at him from the shore bat
teries and that as soon as the Spanish
squadron was destroyed he steamed
toward the city, sending word to the
Governor that If another shot was fired
from the shore he would fire upon the
city.
THE Governor replied" the Admiral
continued that If 1 did not fire upon
the city the shore batteries would re-
main silent. The Spanish flag was not
taken down, but white flags were rails
ed. 1t was a surrender and If had had
with me 5000 troops with which to oc-
cupy the city I could have taken it and
held it. The governor general sent word
to me several times that he wanted 10
surrender to me-to the navy. l could
not entertain his proposition Of for
NAL surrender because of the lack Of
troops to take possession of the city,
The Arrival of AguinaIdO.
Admiral Dewey then told of the ar
rival at Manila of Aguinaldo, and
that upon his reporting to him on his
and organize his army. Accordingly,
Aguinaldo had landed, but he came
back apparently discouraged and
wanted to go to Japan. The admiral
said that he dissuaded him and ad-
vised him to continue his efforts out
side the American lines and gave him
rs Mauser rifles and some ammuni-
ton.
I'VE had a common enemy" said
the admiral, land 1 wanted his help"
The admiral said he paid no atten-
ton to Aguinaldos first proclamatio
of independence of the Filipinos.
Speaking of Aguinaldo's military OPP
Grafton he said he did wonderfully in
whipping the Spanish.
Never Recognized AguinaIdO.
Admiral Dewey said emphatically
that he had never recognized Aguinal-
dos government; nor did he salute
Aguinaldo's flag; he never called
Aguinaldo General" but addressed
him as Don Emilio"
The Admiral said he had never given
the Philippine republic the slightest
recognition; that he had no authority
to do so and did not consider it an
organized government. He said the
Spaniards were fearful of the Filipinos
entering Manila and therefore surren-
dered to him in advance. He said there
was no need for the loss of a man
in the capture of the City.
No gun would have been fired
but for the fact that the Governor said
that his honor demanded that a few
shots be fired, so he had to fire and kill
a few people, but the Spaniards did not
fire because he dewey had warned
them not to do so.
He did not believe the Filipinos could
f..lwz ~ Al t.4Kk h.
Spaniards were greatly demoralized.
On cross-examination by Senator Pat
terson, the admiral said he never re-
ceived letter from Consul Pratt tell
ing him he must cooperate with Agui-
naldo. He added that Pratt wrote
number of foolish letters about that
time.
More Capable Than Cubans.
Admiral Dewey said he had written
the navy department that the Filipinos
were more capable of self-government
than the Cubans because he saw that
Congress contemplated giving indie
pendence to Cuba and he knew that
the American people had little infor-
nation concerning the Filipinos.
The Admiral said that when Agui-
naldo was at the hight of his power
the British admiral Seymour, had adj
vised the Filipino chief to tie to the
Americans as they were his best
friends He said that when he let the
Filipinos have guns and ammunition
he thought il was a military necessity.
Looking backward he could see that
they were not needed. He considered
them very ungrateful in turning
against the United States. The Admit
raj said he and not the Filipinos had
captured Subig Bay and he had taken
possession because German man-of-
war was preventing Aguinaldo from
passing.
Admiral Dewey had not concluded
when the committee adjourned