The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-27
There FOR LOOT.
Admiral Dewey Expresses Him
self Freely as to AguinaIdO
In His Testimony Before the
Senate Committee.
HAD TO KILL A FEW
He Throws New Light on Cap
ture of Manila.
City Was Fired on at Request of
the Spaniards.

Washington, June 27.-Admiral Dewey
continued his testimony before the SEN
ate committee on the Philippines to-
day. Replying to questions put by Sen
atOr Patterson. he said that he had be-
gun negotiations with the governor
general of the Philippines, Gen.Jaudens,
for the surrender of the city and the
negotiations We're conducted through
the Belgian consul, who after the death
of the British consul had been very
courteous in acting as a gO-between. 1t
was a diplomatic negotiation, no letters
being written. The admiral said he had
informed Gen. Merritt of the proffer OF
Gen. Jaudens but he did not believe
that Merritt had taken much stock in
it. I assured him that such was the
case said the admiral, but told him
of the arrangement that before the sur
render should take place L was to en-
gage an outlying fort and make the
signal, according TO international code,
Do you surrender% after which the
Spaniards We're to hoist the whAe flag
on the southern bastiOn. I may say that
I was the first to discover the flag not
withstanding that I had stationed so
men to look out for it. 1t was a thick
day and I CHANGED to be the first to
discover it."
He also said he had read the testi-
mOny of Gen Macarthur saying that
he knew of no agreement of the kind
mentioned but that it had not been his
DeWey's) business to communicate
with any one except the commanding
official
Asked by Senator Patterson to ex-
plain his statement that Gen Merritt
had not accepted the report that the
Spaniards had agreed to capitulate, Ad-
miral Dewey said that it was only ms
belief. I don't believe, said ne, that
the general entirely trusted the Spanish
authorities Still he did not say so in
so many words. I may add that I have
since learned that some of the Spanish
| officers were tempted to fire at us
Even my own flag lieutenant did not
accept their proffer as in the best Of
faith. I knew, however that they would
surrender, for 1 understood the straits
they We're in"
Replying to a question as to whether
the agreement TO surrender had been
made public at the time of the attack
upon Manila Admiral Dewey said he
thought rot. There are he said. lots
of things which are not communicated
to the public"
Mr.. Patterson sought to secure from
Admiral Dewey an admission that
Aguinaldo had issued proclamation Of
independence to the FiHpinos about the
time Of the sinking of the Spanish
/ squadron. but the admiral said he did
/ not remember it, although it was pos
sible that he might have done SO.
Mr.. Patterson then read the paper
forwarded by Consul General Pratt
May 20. 1898, in which the Philippine
| leader said that Providence had opened
the way for independence to the Fill
. pinOs and spoke of the Americans as
their liberators. The admiral said.
however, that he did not remember to
have seen the paper He had, he said,
given Aguinaldo a printing press and
probably he used this press for getting
out his proclamatiOns.
In reply to a question the admiral
said that Consul Williams, who had
been stationed at Manila, was an honest
man, although perhaps quite enthusias-
tic The admiral did not, however. re-
/ member to have promised to Aguinaldo
his cordial cooperation" as the con-
sui had reported. For the purpose OF
making inquiry concerning some of the
representations of Consul General Wild
man. located at Hong Kong, Mr.. Pat
terson asked concerning that gentle
mans character The admiral appar-
/ emily hesitated to reply, but then said
Hes dead-I'd rather not say. He was
/ the United States consul general
He added that he would prefer not to
! reply to further questions, but when Mr..
| Patterson persisted, he added. He was
a very able man-an able consul"
Mr.. Patterson then read Mr. Wild
4 mans letter of July is, 1898, saying that
! Aguinaldo had conducted himself in a
dignified manner, etc. and the admiral
I assented to the truth of this statement
Speaking of Aguinaldos loyalty, the
/ admiral haid he had become suspicious
of that leader before the receipt of his
/ proclamation of July Is. He said, Il
! began to suspect that he was not loyal