Evening star., 1902-04-12
AGAIN ON THE STAND
Gen. Macarthur Resumes His
Testimony.
THE ATTACK ON MANILA
KNEW NOTHING OF ALLEGED
SECRET ARRANGEMENT.
Senate Committee on Philippines Calls
on Secretary of War for
More Reports.
THE ATTACK ON MANILA

The Senate committee on the Philippines
began its proceedings today by adopting
a resolution offered by Senator Carmack
calling upon the Secretary of War for all
the orders, circulars and official reports re-
coived from commanders and their subor-
dinates In the provinces OF Tayabas, Ba-
tangas, Samar and Laguna
General Macarthur was again today the
only witness before the committee and his
examination was begun by Senator Cul-
berson. His questions related to the rela-
tIonship between the native forces and the
American troops when the latter first landed
a. Manila.
Aguinaldo's Cooperation.
Senator Culberson called attention to the
fact that there Is testimony on file to the
effect that General Anderson had written
to Aguinaldo inviting his cooperation at
Manila and that the latter had accepted.
and that ii also is stated that General Mer-
rtt had himself sent an aid to General
Greene suggesting that arrangements be
made with the Filipinos for common un-
derstanding in the occupation of the trench
es. He then asked if In view of these facts
the inference was not authorized that
friendly cooperation desired by the
American commanders with the FilipinOs In
the attack upon the Spaniards.
Assuming the facts TO be as stated" the
witness replied. IF that were all there is In
the premises il might be admitted that in
ference was to be drawn as Indicated. But
there are other facts which form part of
the case and which show the cooperation
in the attack on Manila was not a volun-
tary one on our part.
General Macarthur then related that on
the evening prior to the attack upon
Manila. after General Merritt had issued
his order OF battle. he tMacArthurl was
in consultation with General Anderson
when the latter received a communication
from General Merritt directing the latter
to inform Aguinaldo that the battle which
was to take place the next day was to be
between the Americans and the Spaniards.
and that he must not participate under
any circumstances. Aguinaldo was at that
time. General Macarthur said. five miles
away, and the message was sent to him
by wire. He knew however that the Fill
pino leader had received ii because he hal
declined to accept the suggestion, and he
and his native forces had participated In
the engagement the next day. What had
become of that communication General
Macarthur said he did not know. He also
said that if there had been cooperation be-
tween Aguinaldo and General Anderson
while the latter was in command of the
American forces he did not know II.
Alleged Secret Arrangement.
Senator Patterson then asked a series Of
questions intended to bring out the fact
that there had been an understanding be
tween the American commander, General
Merritt. and Admiral Dewey and the Span
ish commanders that the attack upon
Manila should be a mere feint. with the
view of securing a surrender with an ap-
pearance of a battle, but without any real
fight.
General Macarthur said that if there
had been such an understanding he knew
nothing of it.
"If there was such an agreement the fact
never reached me as brigadier general
said Gen. Macarthur and 1 have never
yet heard it officially. All my orders were
for battle
Have you any question now as a soldier
and an officer of the army that there was
an understanding that the resistance OF the
Spanards was to be purely nominal" Sen
ator Patterson asked.
Yes 1 have a good deal of question on
that point" replied the witness Il have
never seen anything to Justify such an
| opinion outside of what l have seen in
print L can only say that 4 understood
the order 10 be for a fight. and all that has
come to me to the contrary has been eN
parte in character"
Have you never talked with Gen. Mer-
rift on the subject?
Never"
DO you In your testimony distinguish
between official Information and fnforma'
tion that may have come to you througo
other sources?'
|. My desire is to speak here the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the truth"
Mr.. Patterson insisted upon an explicit
reply to his question, but Gen. Macarthur
declared he could not answer more directly.
He added that he had spoken without res
eryation.
Alleged Change of Policy.
Senator Culberson reiterated the state
ments concerning Gen. Merritts first deal
ing with the Fflipinos as to the use Of the
trenches and also the order to Gen. Ander-
son, cited by Gen. Macarthur regarding
the notification to Aguinaldo. and asked IL
that was not "a change OF policy on Mer-
ritt's part after he had reaped the benefit
of cooperation with the native troops"
This question practically brought to a
close Gen. MacArthur's statement for the
day, the remainder OF the time being given
up to a discussion among the members OF
the committee as to Its propriety. Before
this controversy arose. however. the wit
ness indicated that he preferred not to
make direct reply. The facts are of rec
ord he said: what Gen. Merritts policy
was do not know. 1t did not occur to me
at the time that there was any inconss-
tency in his conduct. and IL there should
appear to the committee to have been In
consistency I have no doubt that the gen
eral will be found willing to explain it.
prefer that he should speak for himself"
Senator McComas insisted that the ques-
ton was not legitimate. that IL called for
an inference. and that the witness could
not be required to answer.
Question Ruled Out.
The discussion was extended. republican
question called for a mere opinion, and was
not in order. and the democrats holding
that It asked for a statement OF fact and
was legitimate.
Senator Lodge, as chairman Of the COM
mittee. held that II was competent 10 ask
the witness his opinion on a given subject,
but when the question involved a criticism
upon a superior officer. which was in itself
a breach of military discipline, he did not.
he said, believe the committee had a right
to ask 1t, or that the witness could be COM
PEELED to answer It.
The ruling was freely commented upon by
the democratic members calculated to
rob the inquiry of much of It's usefulness.
and they appealed from the ruling of the
chair. A vote was about to be taken when
the hour for adjournment arrived and no
vote was recorded.
Before the committee adjourned Mr.. Pat
terson was permitted to PROFOUND an in
quiry, which, he said. he did at the in
stance of representative Of the Boer
cause as to whether Gen Macarthur had
any knowledge Of the enlistment of Ameri-
cans In the Philippines for service in the
British army I'm South Africa.
Gen. Macarthur replied that he had not.