The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-03-26
| GEN. OTIS 7EsTIFlES
ON PHILIPPINE war.
Believes Filipino Army Always
Contemplated Driving Ameri-
cans Off Island.
Washington. March 19.-Gen. Oti

Washington, March 19.-Gen. Otis
continued his testimony before the
senate Philippine committee today.
Gen. Otis said that Aguinaldo had
demanded of Gen. Merritt the right to
occupy the palace and to make ap-
pointments in the civil government
which caused Gen. Merritt to cable
Washington for instructions. The reply
patton of Manila.
Gen. Otis then detailed the cir
cumstances attending the capture of
Iloilo. Aguinaldo, he said, was over
joyed when he learned that the detach
ment had been sent out because he
fAguinaldo) declared that the first
shot would be fired at Iloilo which
would bring on war between the Uni
ted States and the insurgent forces.
Gen Otis said he had cabled Washing
ton saying that the taking of Iloilo
meant war in the islands and had re-
ceived response to defer action.
Gen. Otis, referring to his proclama
tion, said he expressly omitted there
from the word sovereignty because
the Filipinos attached to it the mean
ing which the word conveyed to them
while under the dominion of Spain.
Senator Carmack called his atten-
tion to the difference between the Ian
guage used by the president in his in
structious and that contained in his
(Otis) proclamation and asked why he
had also omitted the words "con-
troll, government, !" lawful rule, ;"
authority must remain supreme. -
s'We were at that time fighting hard
| for peace, - replied Gen. Otis. When
these instructions of the president
were received he said he was somewhat
surprised. He said he told Admiral
Dewey that be did not think the presi-
dent understood the situation, owing
to the great distance of the islands
from Washington and that under the
conditions then prevailing he would
be perfectly justified in making GER
tain amendments. He said he had
the advice of leading Fllipinos who
| told him that the words referred to
might be used by Mabini to excite the
people.
"No man ever worked harder in the
interest of peace than I'' said the gen
eral. "But if the United States troops
had attacked the Filipinos and driven
them out of the city when they first
got there it would nave been much
better. They got very 'cocky' after a
while and thought they could sweep
US into the bay.''
Gen. Otis admitted in reply to an
inquiry from Senator McComas, that
the act of congress limiting the ser
vice Of the volunteer troops until July,
1901, their return to the United States
and the forwarding of others to take
their places greatly hampered him in
the paci6cation of the islands.
Senator Patterson asked Gen. Otis
if the idea of the Filipino people
regarding the hopes and aspirations
for independence was mistaken one.
"No," said Gen. Otis, Aguinaldo
had his ambitions Speaking very
deliberately, he said, land he was sent
over from Hongkong for the purpose
of driving the Spaniards out and then
attacking the Americans. I suppose.
We have the papers of the original
junta." He said he thought Agui-
| naldo was performing double part at
that me.
"Until the time OF the ratification of
the treaty was not the Filipino army
there for the purpose of asserting and
maintaining the independence of that
island by armed force if necessary
asked Senator Patterson.
Gen. Otis-They asserted that they
wanted to drive the Spaniards out
| Gen. Otis remarked he had an idea
formed some time previous to the
breaking out of hostilities that the
insurgents intended to drive the Amer
leans out if they could. The Filipino
army he declared was there to over
awe the people in northern Luzon and
elsewhere.
Admitting, said Senator Patter-
son, 'that they were there to overawe
the people, did you have any donbt in
your mind that the hope of the Fiilpi-
10 army was independence"
"They never intended to secure
| independence but to set,up a govern
! ment under Aguinaldo, was the re-
sponse.
.."Was the Filipino army there for
the purpose of plunder??" asked Sena-
tor Patterson.
Eyes and I think they we're going
to try and drive the Americans into
the sea. y
Gen. Otis said in money matters he
believed Aguinaldo strictly honest, and
then bringing his fist down on the
table and speaking with great empha-
sis, said: I'm duplicity he has few
equals. y
Asked by Senator McComas about
the assassination of Gen. Luna, Gen.
Otis said there was no doubt that this
was Aguinaldo's act.
The Beaumont Murderers.