The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-18
WAR WAS OVER.
Gen. Otis Said Tt Had Ceased
When He Left Manila.

Washington, March 18-Major Cen
eral Otis appeared before the
senate committee on the Philippines
again today. When he left the Philip
pines in May, 1900, General Otis said
that the army had disposed of all Agui-
naldo's army, quiet prevailed during
the months of May and June and hard
ly shot was fired. 1t was safe to go
to all parts of Luzon and other islands
and very large trade had been estab-
ished. A civil government had been
set up, also the supreme court and
courts of first instance, in seven of the
nineteen provinces of LuZOn.
General Otis answering question by
Senator Culberson said he never trust
ed native officers because they were too
cruel to their men. He said he could
{ trust their loyalty but they treated
their captives with too much cruelty.
They were as bad as the insurgents,
said he.
When he left the Philippines he said
1.-THE war as war; had ceased.
Answering a question by Senator
Guilty in withdrawing a material num-
Der of troops from the islands The
native forces he declared to be very
necessary and he said there was no
peace in Manila until the native police
was organized. General Otis said that
when he left Manila he apprehended
further trouble, because there was
certain element which dominated the
ignorant classes. The great majority,
however, wanted peace. No armed
bands of any Importance, he said, were
opposed to the United States at that
time.
Asked by Senator Hale where the
supplies, money, arms, etc, of the in
surgents came from, General Otis said
they received $500 rifles from Admiral
Dewey and they also received from
Hong Kong certain arms, shipped
aboard an American vessel which land
ed at Batangas. They had received
Ton "a 1ra1
tured some from the Spaniards at small
garrisons which they attacked. He said
that the merchants gave him more trOu-
BILE than the insurgents themselves.
The troops of the United States, he
said, had treated the Filipinos with the
greatest kindness. Every statement of
harsh treatment he heard of had been
investigated. In fact" said he, 1--WE
We're laughed at by the Spaniards and
the European army officers for the hui
manity we exercised
As to the capacity of the Filipinos for
self government, he said that Agui-
naldo's former secretary of state I'D
told him that it would take 10G years to
accomplish this. General Otis said that
government. The Filipinos, he said,
understand that they must have protec-
ton, because without it other nations
would divide UP the islands, but they
We're DESTROYS of making the best pos
sible terms they could with the United
States. His idea was to have control of
the internal affairs OF the ISLANDS but
protection outside.
General Otis testified in response to
questions by Senator Rawlins that he
knew very little of the correspondence
between General Merritt and Aguinaldo
but he recalled Aguinaldo's reply to
communication referring to an agree
ment that the inSurgent forces should
withdraw to a certain point designated.
He had himself directed AguinaldO to
withdraw to the suburbs of Manila out
side the American defences according to
the terms of the protocol with Spain.
This was not only a military necessity
but in accordance with right and duty.
No nation in the world, said he, except
the United States, would have allowed
those people to have hemmed US in the
way they did.
The order for their withdrawal was
made solely in the interest of peace.
The dual occupancy of Manila, Cen
eral Otis said, he considered danger
Gus. He based his whole action. he
said, on the protocol, as he understood
it.
At u o'clock the commission adjourn
ed until tomorrow.