Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-06
bdilv nsnnebss Journal
IMPERTINENT QUESTIONS
Asked Gen. Hughes by Patterson, Dem.
Regarding the Philippines.

Washington. March 5.-General Hughes
was subjected to a series of questions by
senator Paterson and other minority
members of the Senate committee on the
philippines in the course of his testimo-
ny before that committee, today. In re
ply 10 these questions he said the Fill
lino FORCES would have been of but little
assistance If ii had been necessary to
capture Manila from the Spanards
The capture of that city was by pre-
arrangement between Gen. Merritt and
Admiral Dewey and the Spanish COM
mander, was it not?" Mr.. Patterson
asked.
Il know nothing about that responded
General Hughes.
AS a military man, what is your be-
lief, founded upon your conversation
with your superiors?' Mr.. Patterson
asked.
Senator Beveridge insisted that the
question was not proper, but Senator
Patterson insisted that it was
II would ask" said the witness. eff it
would not be much better to excuse me
from answering, in view Of the fact that
Gen. Merritt is in Washington and Won
can get the Information from him first
hand.
II prefer to ask you and you can ar
swer as you see fit
II don't think | ought to answer that
question" replied Gen. Hughes.
Continuing his testimony, in reply to
further questions the witness said the
Filipinos mad aided the Americans mate
and the accommodations they had sup
piled, but that the F'ilipinos have never
been considered a part of the fighting
force in the operations against the Span
ish forces. THE principal consideration
in connection with them was to keep
them out of the way" he said
In response to further questioning by
Mr.. Patterson, Gen. Hughes said he Ger
tainly would construe Gen otis remarks.
referred to in his report of Sept. 10. 1895,
that he would use force to compel the
inSursent troops to retire to the line deS-
ignated by Gen. Merritt. as meaning that
he would use the United States military
forces.
Senator Patterson was pressing Gen.
Hughes as to the motive of Gen. Otis
for requiring the insurgents to retire to
the lire designated. when Senators Bev
eridge. McComas and Lodge objected,
aging it was unfair to the witness to ask
the question. Gen. Hughes said. howev-
er that Aguinaldo complied with the or
der except as to one small outlying dis
trict, and that at that time there was no
indication of enmity on the part of the
Filpinos.
Senator Patterson, after reading from
the report of Gen. otis III which he had
stated that with the navy on one side
and the insurgents on the other, the
Spaniards had been bottled up in Manila
remarked that this statement did not CO.
incide with that of Gen. Hughes
why not?' sharply asked the general
Mr.. Beveridge vigorously objected to
| this line of questioning, tending, he said
| to put Gen Hughes in the attitude of
criticising a superior officer.
Gen. Hughes. showing some Impotence.
| said: There is no difference between us
| No civilized man would have left Manila
| to the Instructors"
| Senator Lodge. addressing Senator Pat
| tersen with some degree OF irritabiity.
said 'You must not ask Gen. Hughes
to critcise his superior officer, his re-
ports or anything else"
| Gen. Hughes: Gen. Otis is strong
| enough to stand criticism"
| Mr.. Patterson disclaimsd that he was
| criticising Gen. Otis. which brought a
| quick retort from Gen. Hughes, who re-
| marked: Then you are trying to criti-
else me-"
| Il am only trying to reconcile the diff
| ferences between you and Gen. OTIS an
| sWered Senator Patterson.
IF there are any differences between
| Gen. Otis ana myself and you will point
Ithem our. | will try to set them right
Treplied Gen. Hughes with some warmth
i of feeling.
| This ended the colloquy and Senator
| RaWlins asked few questions Of the
| witness to bring out admission that the
| initial outbreak occurred outside Manila.
| but Gen. Hughes insisted that it hap
pened inside the town.