Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-20
OTIS FINDS ERROR IN DELAY
Says Troops Should Have Attacked Fill
pinos on Reaching Manila.
ASSERTS INDEPENDENCE WAS NOT SOUGHT
Genera Admit Change I'm Troops
Hsmpered Him In Bringing
About = PaeiacsticH In
the Islands.

WASHINGTON. March 1s.-General Otis
continued his testimony before the senate
Philippine commission today. Referring TO
hts order Of September 8. 1898, directing the
withdrawal Of the insurgent troops outside
the defenses Of Manila, General Otis ex-
planned that a commission from Aguinaldo
visited him.
In the discussion which followed they did
not mention the fact that the towns imme-
diately adjacent to Manila we're not q por-
ton OF the city. He classed as ridiculous
| Aguinaldo's request TO receive a portion
of the northern part Of Manila occupied ky
the spaniards in trade for some OF the
southern part Of the city hela by the insur-
gents.
General Otis said he did not give the in
surgents actual permission to occupy the
blockhouses, which Aguinaldo claimed had
been given. What he had said was: II
don't care anything about the blockhouses;
we are not going to take possession Of
them"
General Otis said that Agufnaldo had de-
manded Of General Merritt the right to oc-
cupy the palace Of the civil governor, which
caused General Merritt to cable 20 wash
ington for instructions. The rsDly was that
there must be no dual occupation Of Manila.
Capture of IIoilO.
General Otis then related the circum-
stances Of the capture Of Iloilo, the offer OF
the Spanish General Rios to hold the place
against the insurgents pending the arrival
Of United States troops and the capture OF
the Town by the VisayRns before the arrival
Of the United States troops. Aguinaldo. he
said. was overjoyed when he learned that
the detachment had been sent out because
- 49, A. At @kaf
would be fred at Iloilo which would bring
on war between the United States and the
insurgent forces. General Otis said he had
cabled Washington saying that the taking Of
noilo meant war in the islands. and had re-
ceived the response to defer action. which
he did until the insurgents made war or
the United States forces in Manila He had
he said. issued his proclamation extending
military authority to all parts Of the archi-
pelago under instructions from the presi-
dent.
Senator Rawlins sought to show that
many Of the things done by the United
States military authorities we're In contra
vention Of the protocol. but General Otis ex'
planned that he felt it his duty to protect
lives and property.
Hampered by Change Of Troops.
General OI1S h0mItIeu III Iepiy 10 al IN
quiry from Senator McComas that the ac'
OF congress limiting the service Of the vol
unteer troops until July. 1901, their return
to the United States and the forwarding o
others to take their places, greatly ham
pered him IN the paci1cation Of the islands
When the trouble in China occurred notic'
had been passed among the Ffnpinos tina
the United States would not be able to sent
more men to the Philippines, and this EN-
boldened them to resist the authority o
the government.
mo man ever worked harder in the In
~terests Of peace than l." said the general
but IL the United States troops had at
tackled the F1lipinos and driven them on
Of the city when they first got there I
would have been much better. They go
very 'cockey' after a while q though
they could sweep US into the bay"
General Otis declared the ultimate orig
inal object Of the F~ilipinos was, not indie
pendence, but the establishment Of q gov
eminent under Aguinsldo.