The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-27
DEWEY AND AGUINALDO The Admiral Tells of
 Their Relations. CONTRIBUTION TO HISTORY Filipino Government Was Never Recognized. The American Naval commander in Ignorance of the Fact That the
 Natives Were Desirous
 of Independence.
CONTRIBUTION TO HISTORY

Wasnington, June zb.-Admtral Dewey made statement before the Senate Com- mittee on the Philippines today concern- ing the early operations at Manila when he was in command of the American forces in Philippine waters The Admit rars statement contributed an important addition to the history of the surrender of the city of Manila. These consisted of a positive statement by the Admiral to the effect that the city had been surren- dered to him at the time that the Span- ish fleet was sunk and that when thA city did surrender 1t was in pursuance of definite understanding between himself and the Spanish Governor General.
 The Admiral was questioned by Senator Lodge. He said he had first heard from Aguinaldo and his friends about April 1. 1s9S a month before the battle in Manila Bay, when it became certain that there was to be war.
 'I then heard that there were a num- Der of Filipinos who desired to accom- pany the fleet to Manila" he continued.
 ''AIl of them were young and earnest. did not attach much importance to them or to what they said. The day before we left Hong Kong I received telegram from Consul General Pratt. located ak Singapore, saying that Aguinaldo was at Singapore and would join me at Hong Kong. replied all right; tell him to come aboard. but attached so little iTn- portance to the message that I sailed without Aguinaldo and before he arrived.
 Many Filipino Promises.
 There was then many promises as to what the Filiplnos would do, but I did ftnSsS assured me that upon our arrival ana the firing of the first gun 5000 Filiptnos would rise. None did rise and frequent- ly joked him on this point
 Admiral Dewey said that the Spanish Governor wanted to surrender the city to him after the destruction of the feet. that he Dewey) would have accepted the formal surrender If he had had 5,oo0 troops to garrison the city. He told about Aguinaldo's arrival. saying that he put him ashore and told him to organ ize his people. Aguinaldo came back dis couraged and wanted to go to Japan, but he paid no attention to Aguinaldo's first proclamation of independence of the FiIipnos Speaking of Aguinaldos mili- tawV operations, he said he did wonder fully in whipping the Spaniards.
 Admiral Dewey said emphatically that he never had recognized Aguinaldo's government. nor did he salute Aguinaldo's flag He never called Aguinaldo Gen. eraI." but addressed him as Don Enn- lie"
 The Admiral said he had never given the Philippine republic the slightest rec ognition; that he had no authority to do so and did not consider 1t an organized Government. He said the Spaniards were fearful of the Fflipinos entering Manila and, therefore. surrendered to him in advance. He said there was no need for the loss of man in the capture of the city No gun would have been fired. but for the desire of the Governor. who said his honor demanded that a few shots be fired. 'so I had to fire and kill few people, said the Admiral. but the Span iards did not fire because he Dewey) had V armed them not to do so.
 Spanish Were Demoralized,
 He did not believe the Filipinos could have taken the city unaided, but the Spanlards were greatly demoralized. The Admiral said he never received a letter from Consul Fritz telling him he must cooperate with Aguinaldo He said that Pratt wrote a number of foolish letters about that time.
 Admiral Dewey said he had written the Navy Department that the Filipinos were more capable of government than the Cubans because he saw that the United States intended to give independ- ence to Cuba and he knew America had little information concerning the Philip pines
 In explanation of his statement that the city of Manila had surrendered on the day of the destruction of the Spanish fleet Admiral Dewey said that during the naval engagement several guns had been fired at him from the shore batteries and that as soon as the Spanish squadron was destroyed he steamed toward the city sending word to the Governor that if an- other shot was fired from the shore he would fire upon the city.
 '"rhe Governor replied" the Admiral went on, that if I did not fire upon the city the short batteries would remain si- lent. The Spanish flag was not taken down, but white flags were raised. It was d surrender and if l had had with me 5000 troops with which to occupy the city I could have taken it and held 1t. anchored my ships under his guns 2@O yards and lay there twenty-four hours. During that time the Governor General sent word to me several times that he wanted to surrender to me--to the navy. I could not entertain his proposition of a formal surrender, because of the lach of troops to take possessian of the city.
 The Admiral said that after AguinaldO got his forces organized he occupied Ca- vlte but when he CDewey) learned that American troops were expected to arrive soon, he asked the Filipinos to retire. They at first demurred, but ultimately consented.
 Aguinaldo's Proclamation
 It was after this time, July l5 that AguinaldO sent to him from Baccoor his first proclamation Of the independence of the Philippines.
 That proclamation" said the Admiral was the first intimation ] had ever re- ceived of the aspiration of the Philippine people for an independent government. Aguinaldo had never told mo that the in- dependence of his people was hts aim But when the proclamation came thought nothing of il. Indeed [ attached so little importance to it that I did not cable 1t to Washington, but left it's trans
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