The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-20
OTIS ON AGUINALDO
FILIPINO LEADER WANTED TO
RUN THINGS.
WAS PLAYING A DOUBLE PART.
GIVEN A HARD REPUTATION BY
HIS FORMER OPPONENT.

his FOAMGIN
AguinaIdo ReJOiced when War Be-
gun, Said GEN. Otis-His Int ntiOn
Was 10 Run the Americans Into
the Sea and Set Up n Government
with Himself as DictatOr-HOnE
Kong Junta Had This in View All
the Time-Some Light Thrown on
Gen. Otis' Changes in the PrOcla-
nation Sent Out by President Me-
kinIey.
Washington, March 19.-Gen. Otis
continued his testimony before the Sem
ate Philippines Committee to-day.
Gen. Otis said that Aguinaldo had de-
manded of Gen. Merritt the right to oc-
cupy the palace and to make appoint
ments in the civil government, which
caused Gen. Merritt to cable Washing
ton for instructions. The reply was
that there must be no dual occupation
of Manila.
Gen. Otis then detailed the circum-
stances attending the capture of Iloilo.
when he learned that the detachment
had been sent out because he (Agui-
naldo) declared that the first shot
would be fired at Iloilo, which would
bring on war between the United
States and the insurgent forces. Gen.
Otis said he had cabled Washington,
saying that the taking of Iloilo meant
war in the islands and had received the
response to defer action.
Gen. Otis, referring to his proclama-
ton, said he expressly omitted there
from the word sovereignty" because
the Filipinos attached to it the mean
ing which the word conveyed to them
while under the domination of Spain.
Senator Carmack called his attention
to the difference between the language
used by the President in his instruc-
tions and that contained in his (OtisO
proclamation and asked why he had
also omitted the words control"
government" lawful rule" author
ity must remain supreme"
1--WE were at that time fighting hard
for peace replied Gen. Otis. When
these instructions of the President
were received, he said, he was some
what surprised. He said he told Ad-
miral Dewey that be did not think the
| President understood the situation,
owing to the great distance of the is
lands from Washington, and that I'M
der the conditions then prevailing he
would be perfectly justified in making
certain amendments. He said he had
the advice of leading Filipinos who
told him that the words referred to
might be used by Mabini to excite
the people.
mo man ever worked harder in the
interests of peace than IT, said the
general But if the United States
troops had attacked the F'ilipinos and
driven them out of the city when they
first got there it would have been
much better. They got very 'cocky'
after a while and thought they could
sweep us into the bay"
Gen. Otis admitted. in reply to an in
quiry from Senator McComas, that the
act of Congress limiting the service OF
the volunteer troops until July. 1901,
their return to the United States and
the forwarding of others to take their
places greatly hampered him in the
pacification of the islands.
the idea of the Filipino people regard
ing the hopes and aspirations for indie
pendence was mistaken one.
NO. said Gen. Otis. "Aguinaldo
had his ambitions"
AguinaIdo's Mission
Speaking very deliberately, he said !:
And he was sent over from Hong
Kong for the purpose of driving the
Spaniards out and then attacking the
Americans, | suppose. We, have the
papers of the original junta"
He said he thought Aguinaldo was
performing a double part at that time.
Until the time of the ratification of
the treaty was not the Filipino army
there for the purpose of asserting and
maintaining the independence of that
island by armed force if necessary ?"
asked Senator Patterson.
Gen. Otis-They asserted that thew
wanted to drive the Spaniards out
Gen. Otis remarked he had an idea
formed some time previous to the
breaking out of hostilities that the in
surgents intended to drive the Ameri-
cans out if they could. The Filipino
army, he declared was there to over
awe the people in Northern Lpzon and
elsewhere.
Admitting" said Senator Patterson,
people, did you have any doubt in your
mind tt. the hope Of the Filipino army
was independence"
"They never intended to secure indie
pendence, but to set up a government
under Aguinaldo,' was the reply.
WAS the Filipino army there for the
purpose of plunder?" asked Senator
Patterson.
Yes; and 1 think they We're going
to try to drive the Americans into the
sea-"
Gen. Otis said in money matters he
believed Aguinaldo strictly honest, and
then, bringing his fist down on the ia
BILE, and speaking with great emphasis,
said:
I'm duplicity he has few equals"
Asked by Senator McComas about the
assassination of Gen. Luna, Gen. Otis
said there was no doubt this was Agui-
naldo's act.
MORE ARRESTS AT BEAUMONT.