Chapter 11- The Revolution Phase 2.docx

THE REVOLUTION: SECOND PHASE Aguinaldo deposited the ₱400,000 he received from Primo de Rivera in two Hong Kong banks. Only the interest of the amount was withdrawn and used for the expenses of the exiles. Meanwhile, Aguinaldo, with two companions, went to Singapore where the American Consul E. Spencer Pratt conferred with him. Pratt persuaded Aguinaldo to cooperate with Commodore George Dewey who was about to sail to Manila to destroy the Spanis navy. War was declared between the United States and Spain, and Dewey promtly sank the Spanish warships. Agiunaldo returned to the Philippines on board on an American ship and, soon after, raised the standard of revolt against Spain. The Filipinos who had surrendered or who had joined the Spanish army as volunteers immediately desserted to Agiunaldo camp. Governor-General Basilio Augustin made desperate attempts to win over theFilipinos to the Spanish side, but it was too late. Fighting on practically all fronts renewed. The Relief in Primo de Rivera – Whatever good intentions Primo de Rivera had with regard to the solution of the Philippine problem were frustrated when the Conservative Party of Spain was succeeded by one to which the gorvernor-general did not belong. The succeeding Liberal Party sent General Basilio Augustin to the Philippines as Primo de Rivera’s successor. This was unfortunate, for the new governor genral was ignorant of the actual conditions in the Philippines. Primo de Rivera wanted to reamin for some time because rumors were afloat that the serious Spanish-American relations might degenrate into shooting war. In such an eventuality. It was not wise to send a new governor-general to the Philippines. On April 9, 1898 hgowever, General Augustin arrived in Manila, and the following day Primo de Rivera turned over thereins of the Philippine government to his successor. Immediately upon his assumption of offce, the new governor announced that he would continue Primo deRivera’s work of pacification. With this announcement, he leaned back and waited for developments. American Designs in the Philippines – Meanwhile the Spanish-American relations were turning for worse. The Cuban revolution had drawn the United States to the side of Cuban rebels, for American economic interests in the island were paramont. At that time, Theodore Roosevelt, Sr., one of the influencial Americans wished that war betwwen Spain and nited States should break out in order to expand the navy. This statement was made to his sister as early as May 1896. Whe he bacame Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 1897, he conceived the idea of attacking Manila in the event that war should break out between the United States and Spain. To his militarist mind, there is only one man who could carry out the plan. It was Commodore Dewey. Taking advantage of the retirement of the commander of the American Asiatic Squadron. Roosevelt worked for the appointment of Commodore Dewey, to the position. On Febuary 25 1898, Roosevelt cabled Dewey, now commander of the Squadron, to make Hong Kong his base of operations. At the same time, he instructed Dewey to take offensive action the Spanish flotilla based in Manila in case of a war with Spain. Thus, when the war finally broke out, Dewey was in a position to rush immediately to to Manila to destroy the Spanish warships. The coming of the Americans, therefore, was not a mere accident of the Spanish-American War, but a planned action. Roosevelt himself made this clear when he confessed in 1899: “It has been said that it was a mere accident that Dewey happened to be in command of Asiatic Squadron when the war broke out. This is not the fact. He was sent to command it in the fall of 1897 because it was deemed wise to have there a man who could go to Manila if necesary. The Spanish-American War – In the face of Philippine and Cuban revolutions, Spain could not antagonize the United States. She therefore tried to heal the rift in order not to draw her into fatal war with a rising powerful nation. Unfortunately, however, Spain’s ambassador to the United States, Dupuy de Lome, wrote a friend in Havana, Cuba, in January 1898, stating that President William McKinley was a weakling and low politiacian. This letter was stolen and published in New York periodical. The result of its publication was that the Americans, who had been roused to anger by alleged Spanish brutalities and mistreatment of American Citizens in Cuba, demanded war against Spain. The relief of the Spanish ambassador did not lessen the anger of the American public. This unfortunate incident was still fresh in the Merican mind when a tragic event led to the declaration of war against Spain. On Febuary 15 1898, the American warship Maine was blown up at Havana harbor, resulting in the death of 246 men. Roosevelt, seeing this accident an excuse to goad his government to war, said: “I would give anything if President McKinley would order the fleet to Havana harbor tomorrow. The Maine was sunk by an act of treachery on the part of Spaniards.” At a Little past noon, April 25, Dewey received a cable from Secretary of Navy Long, saying: “War has commenced between the United States and Spain. Proceed particularly against the Spanish fleet. You must capture vessels or destroy. Use utmost endeavor.” Secretary Long’s Cable to Dewey was an

offshoot of the Teller Resolution which the American Congress passed on April 21, 1898, declaring a state of war with Spain. Congress passed a formal declaration of war on April 25. The Battle of Manila Bay – With the receipt of Secretary Long’s cable announcing the declaration of war with Spain, dewey sailed from Mirs Bay, near Hong Kong, for the Philippines with seven heavily armed ships. In the early morning hours of May 1, 1898, his fleet entered Manila almost undetected by the Spanish shore batteries on Corregidor and Bataan. Dewey sailed straight toward the Manila Bay shore in the hope that he would find Admiral Patrico Montojo’s fleet there and give battle immediately. The Spanish fleet, meanwhile, was near Sangley Point, Cavite, waiting for the best opportunity to go into the fray. In the dawn’s light. Dewey saw the outl;ines of the Spanish ships far to his back and immediately ordered his men to turn back in the direction of Sangley Point. On the bridge of his flagship Olympia, Dewey calmly estimated the distanc between the two fleets and when he thought that his guns could hit the enemy ships effectively, he turned to the captain of Olympia and said calmly: “You may fire when you are ready, Gridley.” The naval battle that followed was one-sided; in fact it was a massacre. While it is true that the Spanish ships outnumbered those of the American, the fromer were, nevertheless, poorly armed. All in all, the American fleet had more tonnage than the Spanish flotilla. At 12:30 P.M., the destruction of Montojo’s fleetwas complete. The Spaniards, in face of absolute defeat, hoisted the white flag in Cavite in token of surrender. News of the victory of Dewey in Manila Bay electrified the Americans. Almost everywhere in the United States the rustling of the pages of geography books could be heard, for they were ignorant of the location of the Philippines. With that single event, the United Sates found gerself enmeshed in the coils of world politics and signalized her entrance into the “Days of Empire.” Aguinaldo in Singapore – As early as the middle of April 1898, rumored filtered through Manila and the provinces that the Spanish-American war was a matter of day or pherhaps a few weeks away. Many of the rebel leaders stopped their revolutionary activities pending the the determmination of the truth of the rumor. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, Aguinaldo and his Companions were following the trend of event on the other side of Pacific. To them it was an opportunity to oust the Spaniards from the Philippines. But there was a division in the ranks of exiles, for Isabelo Artacho wanted the ₱400,00 given to Aguinaldo to be divided among them. Aguinaldo refused and Artacho sued Aguinaldo in the Hong Kong Supreme Court. To avoid appearing in the court, Aguinaldo, accompanied by Gregorio del Pilar and J. Leyba, secretly left for Saigon where he took another ship to Singapore. In the afternoonof his arrival, April 23, Howard Bray, an Englishamn of long residence in the Philippines, contacted Aguinaldo and told him that the Amercan counsul, E. Spencer Pratt, wanted to have an interview with him. In the course of the interview, Pratt persuaded Aguinaldo to cast his lot with the Americans, adding:”You need not have any worry about America. The American Congerss and president have just made solemn declaration disdaining any desire to Cuba and promising to leave the country to the Cubans after having driven away the Spaniards and pacified the country. Cuba is at our door, while the Philippines is 10,00 miles away!” Aguinaldo expressed his eagerness to return to the Philippines to lead onece more the Filipinos in the fight against the Spaniards. Prattcabled Dewey, who was then in Hong Kong, regarding Aguinaldo. Dewey answerd:”Tell Aguinaldo to come as soon as possible.” Pratt arranged for Aguinaldo’s departure, and on April 26, Aguinaldo and his two comapnions sailed for hong Kong. Unfortunately, however, Dewey had already sailed for Manila Bay when Aguinaldo arrived. Aguinaldo and Consul Wildman – Aguinaldo was naturally disappointed upon finding that Dewey had already sailed for Manila. Nevertheless, the American consul at Hong Kong, Rounseville Wildman, promtly met him and informed him that Dewey had left instructions for him to make arrangements for the return of Aguinaldo to the Philippines. In the succeeding conferences with Aguinaldo, Wildman suggested that upon his return in the Philippines Aguinaldo should establish a dictatorial government which was necessary in the prosecution of the war against Spain. However, Wildman said, after the warand after the Peace had been restored, Aguinaldo should establish a government similar to that of the United States. Preparatory to his return to the Philippines, Aguinaldo asked Wildman to purchase arms and ammunition for the Filipinos. He gave Wildman ₱50,000 for 2,000 rifles and 200,000 rounds of ammunition. Before his departure, he gave Wildman ₱67,000 for another shipment of arms. With uncommon energy, Wildman took charge of the purchase of the needed arms and ammunition. The first arm shipment was consummated, but the second shipment, for which Aguinaldo gave him ₱67,000, was never realized. Nor did Wildman return or account for the huge sum entrusted to him by Aguinaldo.

Aguinaldo and the Hong Kong Junta – In the wake of Dewe’s victory, the Filipinos who compsed the Hong Kong Junta met on May 4 to discuss the steps to be taken in the face of the new developments. Present during the deliberation were felipe Agoncillo, temporary President; Doroteo Lopez, temporary Secretary; Teodoro Sandico, Anastacio Francisco, Mariano Llanera, Miguel Malvar, Andres Garchitorena, Severo Buenaventura, Maximo Kabigting, Faustino Lichauco, and Anotnio Montenegro, Agoncillo informed the Committee of the arrival of Aguinaldo and suggested the temporary suspension of the meeting to give Aguinaldo and Galicano Apacible time to enter the session hall. Once inside, Aguinaldo related his dealing with Pratt and Wildman. Since the situation on the Philippines was critical, Aguinaldo asked the members of the Junta to advise him on what to do. After an exchange of opinions, the Junta unanimously decided that Aguiunaldo should return to the Philippines to lead the Filipinos against the Spaniards. Aguinaldo Returns – Aguinaldo was convinced of the wisdom of the Junta’s ecision and so he prepared for his return to the Philippines. On May 7, the revenue cutter McCulloch arrived in Hong Kong, but thye master of the ship notified Aguinaldo that Dewey did not instuct him to take Aguinaldo aboard. On the revenue cutter’s second return to Hong Kong, however, Aguinaldo was notified that Dewey had given instructions to the captain to have Aguinaldo return on board the McCulloch. Consul Wildman made the arrangements for Aguinaldo’s passage and suggested that he and his companions board the ship at night to avoid the suspicion of the Spanish consul in Hong Kong. The McCulloch left Hong Kong at eleven in the morning of May 17 and arrived at Cavite on May 19. Soon after, Dewey’s launch took him to the Olympia where he was given honors due a general. Aguinaldo alleged that in his conference with Dewey aboard the latter’s flagship, he was told that the united States needed no colonies and that there was no doubt that the United States would recognize Philippine independence. Dewey, however, denied he made much a statement to Aguinaldo and asserted that he treated the Filipino general in a personal manner without committing the government of the United States. There is no sufficient evidence to back up Aguinaldo’s contention. It is more probable that he mistook the personal attentions of the admiral as those of the American government. Renewal of the Struggle – As soon as Aguinaldo had landed the war materials he had brought from Hong Kong, rebels from Bataan came to see him. Aguinaldo handed them copies of his proclamations urging the people to rally once more to Filipino flag in the struggle against the Spaniards. The news of his return spread throughout Central Luzon. A number of Filipino volunteers in the Spanish army defected to the Filipino forces. Aguinaldo ordered them to occupy Dalahikan, the Cavite shipyard, to prevent the enemy from occupying it. Army were secured from the captain of the American warship Petrel and distributed among the large number of Filipinos coming in to offer their loyalty and services to Aguinaldo. On May 21, assured that his people would not desert him, Aguinaldo issued a proclamation, saying: Everything appears favorable for attaining independence… I urge that we strive to unite our efforts, and let us fire our hearts with the idea of vindicating out country. Many nations are on our side. On the last day of the present month, at noon, we shall be able to rise all at once, and in case our enemies are aware of it, start doing so openly. When you hear that we are bombarding any of the towns of Salinas [Rosario], Noveleta, Naic, Tansa, Cauit, Bacoor, Las Pinas, and Paranaque, you may begin to move and follow up the enemy on his retreat; notwithstanding, it would be better if you could come one so as not scatter the arms too much. Day after day, Aguinaldo’s headquarters was besieged by the patriotic rebels. By the end of May, Aguinaldo’s forces had captured about 5,000 prisoners. Imus, Paranaque, Bakoor, and Las Pinas were captured from the enemy within a week. In Pampanga, San Fernando and Macabebe were captured by the rebels, forcing Spanish general, Monet, to run for his life. Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Tayabas (Quezon), and Camarines were up in arms and declared their loyalty to Aguinaldo.so sweeping were Filipino victories that practically the whole of Luzon except the port of Cavite and Manila, were in rebel hands by June 1898.

Spanish Attempts to Win Over Filipinos – The effect of Aguinaldo’s return on the Spanish authorities was demoralizing. A few days after the event, Governor-General Basilio Augustin found himself betrayed by the Filipino soldiers who volunteered to the Spanish army. To counteract its total effect on the Filipino civilians, some Spaniards with the consent and, perhaps, inspiration of the governorgeneral, circulated a handbill entitled Viva la Autonomia! In which they stated that the ”salvation of the

unity of the islands, the unity of its liberties, and the unity of its local and central government.” Lay with Spain. Pedro A. Paterno, the negotiator of the Truce of Biyak-na-Bato, was behind this circular, for he confessed at the time that he still loved Spain and was hostile to the United States. On May 28, General Augustin called the first and, only Consultative Assembly and appointed prominent mestizos to sit in it. His purpose in calling the Consultative Assembly was to win over to his side the wealthy and influential segment of the Filipinos, namely, the mestizos, and to make it appear that he has the welfare of the Filipinos at heart. Actually, however, the Consultative Assembly was nothing but a decoration, for its function was purely advisory and did not have the right to initiate reforms. Augustin’s attempts to win over Filipinos to the side of Spain failed.

The Siege of Manila – What was then known as the City of Manila was the Walled City of Intramuros. The districts outside the City were called arrabales or suburbs. Soon after the destruction of the Spanish navy, Dewey blockaded Manila to prevent Spanish ships from entering or leaving the bay. Though helpless in the face of a powerful enemy, the Spaniards nevertheless continued hoping for a miracle. Dewey had so far not invaded or bombarded the city, where thousands of Spaniards had sought refuge. Dewey thought that it was useless to conquer the city by arms, for he did not have enough men to occupy it. He waited for reinforcements from the United States. Meanwhile, the Filipinos forces under Aguinaldo besieged the city in an attempt to starve out the enemy within its walls. The suburbs, like Tondo, Santa Cruz, San Juan del Monte, and as far north Kalookan, teemed with Filipino soldier. To make the siege effective, Aguinaldo cut off the city’s food and water supply. So effective was the strategy that the people inside the city – Spaniards, as well as Filipino and aliens – suffered from hunger and thirst. It was only a matter of weeks before the Spanish authorities would surrender to Aguinaldo. On June 6, and again the following day, Aguinaldo offered Governor – General Augustin honorable surrender. But Augustin, thinking more of Spanish honor than his life, stubbornly refused to accept surrender, for in the Spanish code of honor the word surrender was non-existent. With this refusal, Aguinaldo continued the siege in the belier that hunger and thirst would finally compel the governor to give up the struggle.

The Spanish – American Secret Agreement – The first American reinforcements Dewey had been waiting for arrived on June 30,1898, under the command of General Thomas Anderson. On July 17, the second reinforcements, headed by General Francis V. Greene, arrived. With fresh troops, the Americans were confident that they could easily dislodge the Spaniards from the City. Hope of an easy victory filled their hearts when the third reinforcements, headed by the General Arthur MacArthur, arrived on July 31. Preparations were immediately made for the battle that would determine the fate of Manila. For several night, some Spanish soldiers outside the city skirmished with the Americans, resulting in a few casualties. Meanwhile, Dewey made use of his inborn diplomatic skills. He thought that the surrender of Manila could be affected without the use of arms. Consequently, he started negotiations with Augustin, through the Belgian consul, Andre, regarding the surrender of Manila. But when the Peninsular Government heard of Augustin’s plan to surrender, it relieved him as governor and appointed General Fermin Jaudenes in his stead. Jaudenes, like Augustin, believed that the Spanish position was hopeless in the face of a superior enemy and in the face of the Filipino rebels. To save face, he insisted that to satisfy the Spanish code of honor there should be a mock battle, after which the Spanish armed forces would surrender. He further insisted that the Filipino rebels should be excluded from participating in the surrender of Manila, that is ti say, they should not be allowed to enter the city. Dewey and General Wesley Merritt accepted the terms even if it meant treachery to their ally, General Aguinaldo. Dewey went so far as to promise to hold back the Filipino troops while the mock battle was being enacted. This agreement between Jaudenes, on one hand, and Dewey and Merritt, on the other, was so secret that no one else in either camp knew of its existence.

Beginnings of the Filipino – American Rift – At the time that Dewey was waiting for reinforcements, Aguinaldo and his forces were laying siege to Manila. This situation was favorable to the Americans, for they did not have to be on the lookout for any hostile Spanish maneuver since the job of watchdog was being done by their Filipino allies. It was Dewey’s policy not to provoke an armed conflict with the Spanish until after the arrival of the reinforcements. When, finally, the latter arrived, General

Merritt decided that the offensive against Manila should be conducted along the bay side. Since this position was occupied by the Filipinos, he instructed General Francis V. Greene to ask for Aguinaldo’s cooperation in the drive against their common enemy. By “cooperation”, Merritt meant the evacuation of the bay side area by the Filipino troops so that the Americans could occupy it. Aguinaldo demanded that the request for the evacuation be made in writing. Greene promised he would after the evacuation. With this verbal promise, Aguinaldo withdrew his troops to give way to the Americans. Greene, however, did not honor his word. The continuous stream of American reinforcements worried Aguinaldo no end. He wondered why, in spite of the fact that the Spaniards were then at the mercy of the Filipino troops, American reinforcements continue to pour on in numbers. His suspicious of ultimate American intentions, however, he kept to himself. But other Filipino military leaders were harboring the same suspicions. General Artemio Ricarte, for example, expressed his doubts as to American intentions and warned Aguinaldo “to be careful because it seems that the Americans want to fool us.” General Pio del Pilar also unburdened himself of the same feeling to Aguinaldo and suggested that batteries be mounted in certain places to prevent the Americans from passing through them. Meanwhile, the Americans began to improve their positions. With this advantage and the fact that Dewey and Merritt had already made a secret agreement with the enemy regarding the exclusion of the Filipino troops from the Walled City, the Americans became more and more secure in their improved positions. So secure were they that on the eve of the mock assault on Manila. General Anderson had the insolence to telegraph Aguinaldo; “Do not let you troops enter Manila without permission from the American commander. On this side of the Pasig River you will be under fire.” Such as attitude served to increase Aguinaldo’s suspicious of American intentions. What began as a friendly alliance worsened into silent hostility. The Mock Battle of Manila – The assault on Manila was to have begun on August 10. Bad weather, however, delayed the planned action. On August 7, Dewey and Merritt issued a joint ultimatum to Jaudenes telling him to evacuate the non-combatants to safe place as the American land and naval forces would start operations “against the defenses of Manila.” Jaudenes asked the opinion of high Spanish officials, including the Archbishop, on what to do. Since there was no unaminity of opinion, he waited till the next day to give his answer. Another ultimatum was issued to him on August 9 asking him to surrender the city and his forces. Jaudenes asked for sufficient time to consult with this government, but Dewey and Merritt turned down the request. The morning of August 13 was dark and heavy with clouds. Then the rains poured and drenched the soldiers. The Filipino troops, armed to the teeth, positon themselves on the right flank of General Arthur MacArthur, ready to rush into the fray. Despite requests from General Anderson not to advance his troops when the attack commenced, Aguinaldo stood pat on his decision to participate in the assault on Manila. The plan of attack was for Dewey’s ships to bombard Fort San Antonio Abad. General Greene was to advance from the direction of Malate, while General MacArthur was to attack from the direction of Singalong. At 9:30 in the morning. The Olympia began the bombardment of the Spanish positions in the fort, followed a little later by the other warship. Greene began his advance almost an hour later, while MacArthur commenced his advance about 11:00AM. The Filipino troops then moved in closer to the walls of the city. There was a short display of fireworks on the side of the enemies. The Spaniards hoisted the while flag of surrender at the southwest bastion of the walls at about 11:20 AM but it was until 12:00 noon that General Greene noticed it. Manila had “fallen.” Terms of Capitulation –General Greene, upon seeing the white flag, rushed into the open Bagumbayan Field, followed by a handful of soldiers. Traversing what is now the City Hall, Greene, accompanied by his chief of staff, Captain Bates, took a carriage and entered the city at the Puerto Real. He was on his way to the Ayuntamiento to confer with General Jaudenes. Meanwhile, Admiral Dewey sent his flag lieutenant, Brumby, as his representative to the surrender negotiations. Merritt, on the other hand, personally went to the Ayuntamiento to negotiate the surrender of Manila. It was about five in the afternoon when the terms ofcapitulation were agreed upon by the both sides. By the terms of agreement, the Spanish authotities agreed to surrender the Spanish troops and the Filipino volunteers found inside the Walled City. The Americans, on the other hand, agreed to safeguard the city. Its inhabitants, its churches, and religious worship. The following day, Sunday, August 14, the document containing the terms of surrender was formally signed by the representatives of both parties.

The Protocol of Peace – Before the mock assault on Manila, Spain and the United States were negotiating for the cessation of hostilities. On August 10, Secretary of State Day submmited to the representative of Spain, Jules Cambon, the French ambassador to Washington, a draft of the protocol with provided for the appointment of not more that five commissioners on each side to discuss the peace treaty. The peace commossioners were to meet in Paris not later than October 1. Moreover, the draft also provided for the cessation of the Spanish-American hostilities. Spain agreed to sign there terms. Consequently, on August 12, Washington time, President McKinley issued a proclamation directing that “all military operation against the enemy be suspended.” The proclamation was cabled to General Merritt on the same day, but because Dewey cut the cable between Manila and the outside world after the battle of Manila Bay. Merritt did not receive the proclamation until the afternoon of August 16, when the mock battle of Manila had already been “fought” and the terms of capitulation signed. Thus, the mock battle of Manila would not have been “fought” and Spanish honor would have been saved had not Dewey cut the cable earlier.