The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-06-27
DEWEY TELLS
HOW HE DID IT
Admiral Explains Surrender OF
Manila to Philippine Committee.
BRITISH ADMIRArS ADVICE
DID NOT CALL AGUINALDo GEN
ERAL OR SALUTE HIS FLAG.


the senate committee on the
Philippines today concerning the early
operations at Manila when he was In
command Of the American naval forces
ia Philippine waters. The admiral S
statement contributed an important ad-
dition to the history Of the surrender
of the city of Manila. This consisted
Of positive statement by the admiral
TO the effect that the city had been
surrendered to him at the time that the
Spanish fleet was sunk, and that when
the city did surrender, il was in pur-
suance of a definite understanding be-
tween himself and the Spanish COVER
nor general.
The admiral was questioned by Sena-
Tor Lodge. He said he had first heard
from Agulnaldo and his friends about
April ], 1898, when it became certain
that there was to be war.
I then heard that there were a num-
Der Of Filipinos who desired TO accom-
pany the fleet to Manila" ne continued.
IAN Of them were young and earnest.
I did not attach much importance 10
them or to what they said. The day
before we left HongkOng I received a
telegram from Consul General Pratt,
located at Singapore, saying that Ag-
uinaldo was. at Singapore and would
Join me at Hongkong. I replied: All
right: tell him to come aboard, but 1
attached so little Importance TO the
messages that ] sailed without Aguln-
aldo and before he arrived. There were
then many promises as to what the
Tilipinos would do, but 1 did not de-
10 q g
sured me that upon our arrival and the
firing Of the first gun, 10000 FilipinOs
would rise. None did rise, and ire
quently jolzed him on this point
Wanted TO Surrender.
Admiral Dewey said the Spanish gov
eminent wanted 10 surrender the city
10 him after the destruction Of the
fleet. and that he dewey would have
accepted the formal surrender If he
had had 5000 troops to garrison the
city. He told about Aguinaldos ar
rival. saying that he put him ashore
and told him 10 organize his people.
Aguinaldo came back discouraged and
wanted to go to Japan, but the admiral
told him to continue his efforts. The
admiral said he paid no attention TO
Aguinaldos first proclamation Of indie
pendence Of the Filipinos. Speaking OF
Aguinaldo's military operations, he said
ne did wonderfully in whipping the
Spanish.
Admiral Dewey said emphadcally
that he never had recognized Aguin-
aldo's government, nor did he salute
Aguinaldo's flag; he never called Ag-
uinaldo General" but addressed him
as Don Emilio.
The admiral said he had never given
rpr.s
recognition; that he had no authority
10 do so and did not consider il an
Organized government. He said the
Spaniards were fearful Of the FilipinOs
entering Manila, and, therefore, sur
rendered 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 desire
of the governor who said his honor
demanded that a few shots be fired.
80 I had to fire and kill few peo-
pie" said the admiral But the Span
iards did not fire. because he dewey
had warned them not to do so. He
did not believe the Filipinos could have
taken the city unaided, but the Span
tards were greatly demoraized, The
admiral said he never received letter
from Consul Pratt telling him he must
cooperate with Aguinaldo. He added
that Pratt wrote q number Of foolish
letters about that time.
Says Filipinos Are Capable.
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 indepen-
dence to Cuba and he knew that the
American people had little information
concerning the Filipinos.
In explanation of his statement that
the city of Manila had surrendered on
the day Of the destruction Of the span
fsh fleet. Admiral Dewey said that dur
ing the naval engagement several guns
had been fired at him from the shore
batteries and that as soon as the
Spanish batteries were destroyed he
steamed toward the city, sending word
to the governor that if another shot
was fred from the shore he would fire
on the city. 1.-The governor replied,
the admiral went on. that If I did
not fire on the city. the shore batteries
would remain silent. The Spanish tiae
was not taken down. but white flags
were raised in token OF surrender. and
fl had had with me 5000 troops with
which to occupy the city, ] could have
taken IL and held it. I anchored my
ships under guns. 1000 yards away
and lay there twenty-fOur hours. Dur
ing that time the governor general sem
word to me several times that he want
ed 90 surrender to me-to the navy.
could not entertain his proposition Of
a formal surrender, because Of the laCl
OF troops to take possession OF tht
city,
The admiral said that after Aguin
aldo got his forces organized ne Occu,
pied Cavite. but when he dewey
learned that American troops were ex
pected to arrive soon he asked th'
FilipinOs TO retire. They at first de
INJURED, but ultimately consented.
Announce Their independence.
After this time. on July Is, AguinaIdJ
sent TO him from BaCoOr his first proc
lamatiOn Of the independence Of TIL
Filipinos. THAT proclamation" sal
the admiral, was the first intimatiOl
had received of the aspirations Of tn
Filipino people fer an independent gov
eminent. Aguinaldo had never toll
me that the independence Of his peOpl
was his aim But when the pTOClama
ton came I thought nothing of IL. In
deed. I attached so little impOrtanc
20 it that I did not cable IL 10 Wash
iuEton. but left its transmission 10 tn
mails"
When Senator Lodge asked the ad
miral, Did you recognize the Filipin
republic2n he replied:
Il did not. never gave IL the slight
est recognition. I had no authority {
do so. and, besides, did not Conside
10 an organized government Their
was a reign Of terror, and the Filipin
'orces were riding rough shod over tn
community committing many acts o
,ruelty. ] sent word to Aguinaldo tina
ne must treat his prisoners kindly, an