The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-07-01
DEWEY TESTIFIES
BEFORE SENATE PHILIPPINE
COMMITTEE.
THE SURRENDER OF MANILA

Spanish Fleet was sunk-The Admit
raj Tells OF His Relations with apui-
naldo, Who Is Sent Ashore to Organ
lie His Army-Arms Furnished the
Filipinos-Dewey Sees His Error In
Negotiating With the Nations.
washington, June 26.-Admiral Dewey
mad a statement before the senats
committee on the Philippines today con-
corning, the early operations at Manila
when he was in m OF the Amer
lean naval forces in Philippine 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
been surrendered TO him at the time the
Spanish fleet was sunk and that when
h city did surrender it was in pursu-
ance OF a definite understanding be-
tween himself and the Spanish govern
or general.
Admiral Dewey said hat during the
nava engagement several guns had
been fired at him from the shore bat
teries and that as soon as the Spanish
squadron was destroyed he steamed to-
ward the city, sending word to the gov
ernor that if another shot was fired
from the shore he would fire upon the
city. THE governor replied" the ad-
miral went on, that if 1 did not fire
upon the city the shore batteries would
remain silent The Spanish flag was
not taken down, but white flags were
raised. 1t was a surrender, and il !
had with me 5000 troops with which to
occupy the city I could have taken it
and held it. L anchored my ships under
his guns 1000 yards ava and lay by
twenty-four hours. During that time
h governor general sent word to me
several times that he wanted to surren-
der to me-to the navy. I could not
entertain his proposition a formal sur
render because of the lack of troops to
take possession of the city"
Amiral Dewey then told of the arrival
at Manila of Aguinaldo, saying he had
come from Hong Kong on the revenue
cutter McCulloch and hat upon his re-
porting to him on his flagship he had
told him to go ashore and organize his
army. Accordingly Aguinaldo had
landed, but he came ack a few hours
afterward, apparently discouraged and
asked leave of absence in order to go
to Japan. The admire said that he
discouraged this course n urged him
not to give up. He advised him furth-
er to continue his efforts outside the
American lines and gave him seventy
five MauSer rifles n some ammuni-
ton. w a a common enemy" said
the admiral, and I wanted his help"
The admiral said he paid no attention
- - 49, -
dependence of the Philippines. Speak
ing of Aguinaldo's military operations,
he said he did wonderfully on the whip
ping of the Spaniards.
Admiral Dewey said emphatically
that he never had recognized Aguinal-
dos government; nor did he salute
A~guinaldo's flag; he never called Agui-
naldo general but addressed him as
Don Emilio"
The admiral said he had eve given
the Philippine republic the slightest
recognition, that he had no authority
to do so and did not consider it an Or
ganiZed government. He said the
S%paniards were fearful of the Filipinos
entering Manila and, therefore surren-
dered to him in advance. He said there
vas no need for the loss of a man in the
capture of the city. No gun would
have been fired, but for h desire of
the governor, who said his honor de-
manded that a few shots be fired, $50
I had to fire and kill a few people"
a i the admiral, but n S~paniards
did not fire because he dewey had
warned them not to do so.
Admiral Dewey added hat he was
pleased to supply the committee with
this history. 1t had, he said, never
been printed, and he had been reserving
it with the view of writing the story
himself.
He did not believe the Filipinos could
have taken the city unaided, but the
Spaniards were greatly demoralized.
On cross examination by Senator Pat
terson, the admiral said he never re-
ceived a letter from Consul Pratt tell
ing him he must cooperate with Agui-
naldo. He added that Pratt wrote a
number of foolish letters about that
time.
Admiral Dewey said he a written
the navy department that the Filipi-
nos were more capable of a self govern
ment than the Cubans because he saw
that congress contemplated giving indie
pendence to Cuba and he knew that
the American people had little informa-
ton concerning the Filipinos. He said
he still thought the Filipinos better ca
pable of governing themselves than the
Spaniards were.
Senator Carmack called Admiral
Dewey's attention to the fact that he
had given arms to Aguinaldo notwith-
standing the governor general had told
him he would surrender the city at any
time and asked why he had done so in
the face of that understanding.
The reply was to the efec that ne
considered it a proper military act. The
Filipinos were our friends he said,'
and they were doing our work L believ-
ed that they were so delighted to get
rid of the Spaniards that they would
accept us with open arms. Even. when
| Aguinaldo was at the height of his
power at Malolos, Admiral Seymour OF
the British navy had told Aguinaldo
| that he should tie to the Americans as
| they were their best friends. The Fill
| Dinos thor were orr friends and were