New-York tribune., 1902-03-19
GENERAL OTIS A WITNESS.
HE SAYS THE FILIPINOS HAVE BEEN
TREATED WITH GREAT KINDNESS.

Washington, March 1S-Major General Otis ap-
peared before the Senate Committee on the Philip
pines to-day. When he left the Philippines In May.
1900 General Otis said the army had dispersed all
of Aguinado's force. Quiet prevailed in the months
of May and June, and hardly shot was fired. 1t
safe to to all parts of Luzon and other
islands, and large trade had been established
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 trusted native officers be-
they too cruel to their men. He could
trust their loyalty, but they treated their captives
with too much cruelty. They as bad as the
insurgents" said he When he left the Philip
pines the war as war" had ceased.
Answering a question by Senator Hale, General
Otis said he difficulty withdrawing
material number Of troops from the islands. The
native forces he declared to be necessary, and he
said there peace in Manila until the native
police was organized. When he left Manila he
feared further trouble because there certain
element which dominated the ignorant classes. The
great majority, however, wanted peace. No armed
bands of any Importance opposed to the
United States at that time.
Asked by Senator Hale where the supplies
money. arms. etc, of the insurgents came from,
dred rifles from Admiral Dewey, and they also
celyed certain arms from Hong Kong, shipped
tangas. They had received from
Japan. and had captured some from the Spaniards
at small garrisons The merchants gave him more
trouble than the insurgents themselves
The troops of the United States, he said, had
treated the FilipnOs with the greatest kindness.
Every statement of harsh treatment he heard of
had been inVeStiga ted. In fact, said he. I'VE
laughed at by the Spaniards and the European
army officers for the humanity exercised
As to the capacity of the FipinOs for self-gOv-
ernment he said that Asuinaldo's former Secre-
tary of State had told him that il would take
hundred years to accomplish this. He considered
that the Flllpnos We're not capable of self-govern-
ment The FilipinOS understand that they
have protection. because without it other nations
would divide up the islands, but they desrous
of making the best possible terms they could with
the United States Their idea to have control
Of the internal affairs OF the islands but protection
outside
General otis testified, in response TO questions by
Senator RaWnS, that he knew little of the
Spondence between General Merritt and Aguinaldo
but ne recalled AguinaldO's reply to cOmmuniCa-
tion referring TO an agreement that the insurgent
forces should withdraw to certain point. He had
himself directed Aguinaldo to withdraw to the sub
urbs of Manila. outside the American defences
cording TO the terms of the protocol with Spain.
This was not only military necessity. but in
cordance with right and duty. No nation in the
world, said he. except the United States. would
have allowed those people to have hemmed
the way they did" The order for their with
drawal was made solely i'm the interest of peace.
The dual occupancy Of Manila. General otis said.
he considered dangerous. He based his whole
tion. he said, the protocol. he understood it,