The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-27
Who Threw New Light on Conditions
at Manila Before and After the
Opening of the War.
REPUBLIC NEVER RECOGNIZED
NOR WAS THE FLAG OF THE FILL
PINOS SALUTED BY HIS GUNS.
Important Statement Before the Sem
ate Committee-RepIies to Cues
tiOns Asked by Members.

WASHINGTON, June 26-Admiral Dewey
made statement before the Senate COM
mittee of the Philippines concerning the
early operations at Manila, when he was
in command of the American naval force
in Philippine waters. The admirars state
ment contributes an important addition to
the history of the surrender of the city of
Manila. This consisted of a positive state
ment by the admiral to the effect that the
city had been under his control from the
time that the Spanish fleet was sunk, and
that when the city did surrender it was in
pursuance of a definite understanding be-
tween himself and the Spanish Governor
General
The admiral was questioned by Senator
Lodge. He said he had first heard from
Aguinaldo and his friends about April l.
1898. month before the battle in Manila
bay, when it became certain that there
was to be war.
Il then heard that there were a number
of Filipnos who desired to accompany the
fleet to Manila" he continued IAN OF
them were young and earnest 1 did not
attach much Importance to them or TO
what they said. The day before we left
Hong Kong l received a telegram from
Consul General Pratt. located at Singapore
saying that Aguinaldo was at Singapore
and would join me at Hong-Kong. 1 re-
piled all right; tell him to come aboard
but l attached so little Importance to the
message that 1 sailed without Aguinaldo
and before he arrived. There were then
many promises to what the Filipinos
would do, but I did not depend on them.
Consul Williams assured me that upon
our arrival and the firing of the first gun
$4,000 Fiipinos would rise None did rise,
and 1 frequently joked him on this point"
Admiral Dewey said the Spanish Gov
ernor wanted to surrender the city TO him
after the destruction of the fleet, and that
he dewey would have accepted the
formal surrender if he had maintained the
troops TO garrison the city.
FLAG NOT SALUTED.
When Aguinaldo arrived the admiral ac-
companied him 10 the city and helped him
ashore and told him to organize his peo-
pie. Agunaldo 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 Aguinaldo's S
first proclamation of independence of the
FIlipinos Admiral Dewey said emphatic
ally that he never had recognized Aguin-
Agunaldo's flag after the proclamation of
independence of the Filipinos. Speaking
of AguinaldOs military operations he said
he did wonderfully in whipping the Span
iards. Admiral Dewey said he never called
Aguinaldo general" but addressed him
as Don Emilio"
The admiral said he had never given the
Philippine republic the slightest recogni-
ton that he had no authority 10 do So
and did not consider IL an organized gov
ernment. He said the Spaniards were fear
ful Of the Filipinos entering Manila. and
therefore surrendered TO him in advance.
He said there was 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 de-
manded that a few shots be fired. $50
had TO fire and kill few people," said the
admiral. but the Spaniards did not fire be-
cause he dewey had warned them not
10 do He diG not believe the Filipinos
could have taken the city unafded. but
| the Spaniards were greatly demoralized
The admiral said he never received let
ter from Consul Pratt telling him he must
cooperate with Aguinaldo. He added that
| Pratt wrote number Of foolish letters
about that time
| Admiral Dewey said he had written the
Navy Department that the Filipinos were