Evening star., 1902-03-18
GENERAL OTIS HEARD
DESCRIBES CONDITIONS IN THE
PHILIPPINES.
Believes Military Force There Could Be
Materially Reduced-Natives Unfit
for Self

MAJ Gen. Otis again appeared before the
senate committee on Philippines today
hen he left the Philippines in May, 1900.
zen Gus said that the army had dispersed
an OF Aguinaldo's army; quiet prevailed
curing the months of May and June and
hardiy shot was fired. 1t was safe to go to
al parts OF LuZon and other islands and a
very large trade had been established A
CIVIL government had been set up also the
supreme court and courts of first instance
IN seven Of the nineteen provinces Of Lu-
ZOn.
Cen Otis, answering a question by Sena-
tor Culberson, said he never trusted native
officers, because they were too cruel to
their men. He said he could trust their low
atty, but they treated their captives with
too much cruelty. They were as bad as
the insurgents, said he
Withdrawal of Troops
When he left the Philippines he said, the
war as war had ceased. Answering a
query by Senator Hale, Gen Otis said he
saw no difficulty in Withdrawing material
number of troops from the islands. The ma
tive forces he declared to be very neces-
sary, and he said there was no peace in
Manila until the native police was organ
lied.
Gen. Otis also said that when he left Ma
MIA he apprehended further trouble because
there was a certain element which DOM
mated the ignorant classes. The great ma
1or1ty, however, wanted peace. No armed
bands OF any importance, he said were op-
posed to the United States at that time
Asked by Senator Hale where the supplies
money. arms. &c, of the insurgents came
from, Gen. Otis said they received 900
rifles from Admiral Dewey and they also
received from Hong Kong certain arms.
Skinned ,i,l,
landed at Batanyas. They had received
some arms from Japan and had captured
some from the Spaniards at small garrisons
which they attacked. He said that the
merchants gave him more trouble than the
insurgents themselves
The troops Of the United States, he said
had treated the F'ilipinoS with the greatest
kindness Every statement of harsh treat
ment he heard of had been investigated. In
fact said he, we We're laughed at by the
Spaniards and the European army officers
for the humanity we exercised"
Incapable of Self-Government.
AS to the capacity Of the F'ilipinos for self
government he said that Aguinaldo's form
er secretary of state had told him that it
would take one hundred years to accom-
plish this. General Otis considered that
the Filipinos were not capable Of self gov
ernment. The Filipinos, he said, under
stand that they must have protection be-
cause without it other nations would divide
up the islands, but they were desirous of
making the best possible terms they could
with the United States. Their ideas was
to have control of the internal affairs OF
the islands but protection outside.
General Otis testified in response to ques-
tions by Senator Rawlins that he knew
very little of the correspondence between
General Merritt and Aguinaldo, but he re-
called Aguinaldos reply to a communica
ton referring to an agreement that the in
surgent forces should withdraw to a GER
tain point designated. He had himself di-
rected AguinaldO to withdraw to the suburbs
of Manila outside the American defences ac-
cording to the terms OF the protocol with
Spain. This was not only a military neces-
sity, but in accordance with right and
duty. No nation In the world, said he, ex
cept the United States would have al
lowed those people to have hemmed us in
the way they did, The order for their
withdrawal was made solely in the inter-
ests Of peace
The dual occupancy of Manila, General
Otis said, he considered dangerous He
based his whole action, he said on the
protocol, as he understood it.
At II o'clock the committee adjourned I'M
til tomorrow.