“Senator Patterson.  Do you believe in this proclamation he was uttering falsehoods to the Filipino people?

“Admiral Dewey.  Yes; I do absolutely.  I think he was there for gain—­for money—­that independence had never up to that time entered his head.  He was there for loot and money.  That is what I believe, since you ask me my belief; I believe that implicitly. [104]

* * * * *

“Senator Patterson.  And you found nothing to cause any doubt as to his loyalty up to the time until after Manila surrendered?

“Admiral Dewey.  His loyalty to whom?

“Senator Patterson.  To you and to the cause for which he was fighting?

“Admiral Dewey.  I began to suspect he was not loyal to us about the time our troops arrived, when he demurred at moving out of Cavite to make room for our troops.

“Senator Patterson.  Do you mean by that that you feared that he was commencing to think more of independence than the success of the American cause?

“Admiral Dewey.  Yes.” [105]

We have seen to what extent Aguinaldo cooeperated with the marine forces of the United States.  Now let us examine the claim that he cooperated with the land forces after their arrival.

One of the things which the Insurgents are said to have accomplished was the maintenance of an effective land blockade which prevented the entrance of provisions, and produced a very serious food shortage.  Both Otis and Dewey have stated that they did this, but we learn from the Insurgent records how erroneous was this conclusion. [106]

The landing of the American troops for the attack on Manila was not actively opposed by the Filipinos, but it was narrowly and distrustfully watched.

Necessary transportation requested by General Anderson was ultimately furnished by Aguinaldo, but only grudgingly after a three weeks’ delay, and as a result of threats that it would be seized if not voluntarily supplied.

The necessary positions in the trenches around Manila from which to make the attack on that city were, in part at least, yielded to the Americans by the Filipinos upon the request of the former.

The Insurgents twice informed the Spaniards in advance of projected American attacks.

They carried out their own attack on the city without regard to the plans, or the requests, of the Americans.  They secretly treated with the Spaniards in the endeavour to secure the surrender of the city to themselves.

After the capitulation to the Americans had been agreed upon, and on the very morning of the day of the surrender, they endeavoured to push home an attack.  Disregarding the request that they keep out of the final assault, they crowded into the city with, and after, the American troops.  They fired on Spanish soldiers on the city wall while a flag of truce was flying, provoking a return fire which killed and wounded American soldiers.