The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-13
Continuing Their Efforts at the Phil
ippines Inquiry to Make Capital
for Campaign Use.
MACARTHUR'S EXAMINATION
QUESTIONS PUT WHICH THE GEN
ERAL COULD NOT WELL ANSWER.
Attempt to Show There Was Incon-
sistency i'm Merritt's Conduct in
Dealing with AguinaIdO.

WASHINGTON. April 12.-The Senate
committee on the Philippines began its
proceedings to-day by adopting a resolu-
ton offered by Senator Carmack, calling
on the secretary of war for all the orders.
circulars and official reports received from
commanders and their subordinates in the
provinces of Tayabas, Batangas, Samar
and Laguna.
General Macarthur was again to-day the
only witness before the committee, and
his examination was begun by Senator
Culberson. His questions related to the
relationship between the native forces and
the American troops when the latter first
landed at Manila.
Senator Culberson called attention to the
fact that there is testimony file to the
effect that General Anderson had written
to Aguinaldo inviting his cooperation at
Manila and that the latter had accepted,
and that it also is stated that General Mer-
rift had himself sent aid to General
Greene suggesting that arrangements be
made with the FilipinoS for a common
understanding in the occupation of the
trenches. He then asked if, in view of
these facts, the inference was not author
lied that friendly cooperation was not de-
sired by the american officials with the
FflipinOS in the attack upon the Span1ardS.
the witness replied, If that were all there
is in the premises, ii might be admitted
that inference was to be drawn as ind1-
Gated. But there are other facts which
form a part of the case and which show
the cooperation In the attack on Manila
was not voluntary one on part"
General Macarthur then related that on
the evening previous TO the attack on Ma
Mia, after General Merritt had issued his
order of battle he (MacArthur) was in con-
sultation with General Anderson when the
lnff ton
eral 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 ctrcum-
stances. Aguinaldo was at that time, Cen
eral Macarthur said, five miles away and
the message was sent to him by wire. He
knew, however, that the Filipino leader had
received il, but had declined to accept the
suggestion and he and his native forces
had participated in the engagement the
next day. What had become of that COM
munication General Macarthur said he did
not know. He also said that If there had
been cooperation between Aguinaldo and
General Anderson while the latter was in
command of the American forces he did
not know 1t.
PATTERSON'S QUESTIONS.
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 on Manila
should be a mere feint with the view of
securing a surrender with an appearance
of battle, but without any real fight.
General Macarthur said that if there had
been such an understanding he knew moth
the fact never reached me as a brigader
general" said Macarthur, land l have
never yet heard it officially. All my orders
were for battle
nTIn NOV oil ipr
and an officer of the army that there was
an understanding that the resistance of
the Spaniards was to be purely nOminal?'
asked Senator Patterson.
Yes, have good deal of question on
that point" replied the witnesses. Il have
never seen anything to justify such an
print. L can only say that understood the
order to be for fight, and all that has
come to me to the contrary has been ex
Have you never talked with General
Merritt on the subject?'
Never"
DO you, in your testimony, distinguish
| between official information and Informal
ton that may have come to you through
other sources p"
My desire is to speak here the truth, the
whole truth and nothing but the truth"
Mr.. Patterson insisted on an explicit
ply to his question, but General MacAr-
thur declared that he could not answer
| more directly. He added that he had spok-
Ell without reservation.
Senator Culberson reiterated the state
ment concerning General Merritt's first
dealing with the Filipinos as to the use
of the trenches, and also the order to
General Anderson cited by General Mac
Arthur regarding the notification to Aguin-
aldo and asked if that were not "a change
of policy on Merritts part after he had
reaped the benefit of cooperation with the
| native troops
This question practically brought to
close General MacArthur's statements for
the day, the remainder of the time being
given up to a discussion among the MEM
bers of the committee as to its propriety.
Before this controversy arose, however,
the witness indicated that he preferred not
to make direct reply. The facts are of
record" he said. What General MeTritts
policy was i do not know. 1t did not oc-
cur to me at the time that there was any
inconsistency in his conduct. and if there
should appear to the committee TO have
been inconsistency / have no doubt that
the general will be found willing to explain
it. 1 prefer that he should speak for him
self"
senator McComas insisted that the oues-
ton was not legitimate that il called for an
inference and that the witness should not
be required to answer. The discussion was
extended, Republican members generally
contending that the question called for
mere opinion and was not in order, and
the Democrats holding that it asked for a
statement of facts and was legitimate.
Senator Lodge, as chairman of the commit
tee held that it was competent TO ask the
witness his opinion on a given subject, but
| when the question involved a criticism on
| a superior officer, which was in itself
breach of military discipline, he did not
he said, believe the committee had a right
to ask it that the witness could be
| compelled to answer it.
The ruling was freely commented on by
| the Democratic members as calculated TO
| rob the inquiry of much of its usefulness
| and they appealed from the ruling of the
| chair y 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
| curry, which, he said, he did at the in
stance of a representative of the Boer
cause as 10 whether General Macarthur
had any knowledge of the enlistment of
Americans in the Philippines for service
in the British army in South Africa. Cen
eral Macarthur replied that he had not