Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-07-12
DISPUTES DEWEY.
Gen. Anderson's Version Of
Surrender of Manila.
Says Battle With the Spaniards Was
Real, Not Feigned.
No Agreement With Them to Yield
After Few Shots.

Chicago, July 11.-Gen. Thomas Nj.
Anderson has addressed to the Record
Herald a letter giving his version Of the
surrender of Manila in which he differs
materially from the statements made
by Admiral Dewey
Gen. Anderson's letter is in chief as
follows:
National Soldiers Home,
Erie County, O., July 8, 1902.
Editors:
admiral Dewey is quoted as saying
in his evidence before the Senate
Philippine commission that when
Manila was surrendered, it was in pur-
suance of a definite understanding be-
tween him and the Spanish governor
general. In concluding his statement
he said that his views did not coincide
with those expressed by Gen. Ander-
son in a magazine article, and closed
his testimony by saying:
1--WE differed very much from the
beginning
Admiral Dewey is a great naval Of
ficer. He did the state great service.
Yet must say, with all Difference that
lation to the surrender of Manila So
sincere is my regard for the admiral
that 1 would not make this assertion
but for the fact that such statements
when uncontradicted pass into his
tory.
Several days before the assault
made on the 18th of August, Father
Mckinnon, the Catholic chaplain of the
1st California Regiment was permitted
to pass our line and go into Manila. He
saw the archbishop and governor gen.
eral and when he returned he reported
that the latter told him he could not
and would not surrender without Il
fight, as he had to fight for the honor
of Spain. Subsequently Gen. Merritt
directed me to draw up the tactical
order for the attack and this was done
on the assumption that there would be
a bona fide resistance. In the attack
and the proceeding Skirmishes, we lost
122 killed and wounded. If the city
was surrendered as a result of a
definite understanding, what was the
understanding and how definite was it?
Was ii that American soldiers We're
to be sacrificed for the honor of Spain?
1.-The admiral says we differed very
much from the beginning. l hope our
countrymen will believe that we differ
ed very much about this. If there ever
was such an understanding l did not
know it and the army did not know 1t.
THE admiral is reported to have tes-
tilted that the Spanish authorities Of
fered to surrender to him the day he
destroyed the Spanish squadron. No
written proposals have come to light
and the probabilities are that ne was
deceived by misrepresentation of for
eign consuls who were endeavoring by
all means in their power to prevent a
bomDardment.
Il know learn for the first time that
my correspondence with Agunialdo was
not approved by the President. Permit
me TO remark that he had no occasion
for a correspondence. When he took
possession. of the Cavite navy yard he
doubled the wages of several hundred
FiIipinos working there. That did not
require any correspondence. Nor did
it require any correspondence to induce
Aguinaldo to start his insurrection. 1t
is not difficult to induce men to do
what they wish TO do.
Il wrote some letters to Aguinaldo
which seemed necessary at the time. He
had arrested some Of our officers for
entering the town Of Cavite without
his permission. He had forbidden his
people to supply US with lighters to
land our men and materials. We re-
quired land transportation and he hid
all the carts We could buy only fuel
and forage from him. Finally he for
babe US to land on the sacred soil of
Luzon. We did not pay any attention
TO this last impertinence, but in regard
to the other disagreements | thought a
correspondence was a justifiable expe-
dent. If. however, / had known as
much about him at that time as every
body seems to know now l might have
arrested MIN then without any COR
respondence.
Referring now to my original pro-
position that Admiral Dewey's state
ment in reference to the surrender Of
Manila was misleading / wish to say
that no doubt the admiral and Gen.
Merritt both thought that they had
made an agreement with the Spanish
authorities by which the city could be
taken without bloodshed. Yet the fact
remains that Capt. Gen. Augustin was
relieved before he was willing to make
such o capitulation, while his successor
refused TODD So AS to this both the
admiral and general commanding must
have been nlisinformed.
Speaking for the second division Of
the Eighth army corps permit me to
say that its attack on the defences of
Manila was not in the nature of an
opera bouffe demonstration
(SiEned)
THOMAS NJ ANDERSON"