Show GEN HUGHES REPLIES TO SEN PATTERSON washington march 6 general further testimony before the senate philippine committee today mr patterson resumed his questioning which yesterday led to a sharp colloquy wiltho committee room between the witness and himself in an endeavor to establish the fact that the filipino army had helped to keep the spanish army within ita lines in manila previous to tho arrival of the american forces mr patterson referred to the surrender of 2000 spanish troop troops s to alie insurgent forces in july general said tho incident would only make him believe chilt the filipinos had cut off tho supplies from the interior senator quoted from a magazine article of general merritt published in july in which ac spoke of alio army under aguinaldo Aguin aldu which lie said had been an important factor in the situation and which and waged a desultory warfare against alie sli resulting in the capture ot prisoners docs that magnify your opinion asked mr patterson not at all said general alio followed his answer with the question docs he state these prisoners were soldiers r presume lie means soldiers was senator pattersons Patter sons response it was brought out that most of tho prisoners taken by the filipinos were not spanish troops senator again inquired as to the motive of general otis in requiring the withdrawal ot Aguina ldoa trompa from manila to alie line designated by general senator beveridge objected baying raying it was not fair to ask general what gen otis meant senator carmack and senator culberson claimed the right td ask the question and patterson Pat ferson insisted any senator has iw right to respectfully ask H witness any question pertinent to alie under discussion senator lodge ruled that personally he had no objection to the question but he did object to one officer superior i senator culberson Cul borson said ho wanted to announce his absolute dissent from alie proposition that a committee of congress is precluded from asking a question on this subject alie answer to which might be a criticism of a superior officer in answer to a further question by senator as to whether the would accept independence unless it was accompanied by a protectorate by the united slates gen hughes said that at a conference bield by him with representatives of alie insurgent army they would not commit themselves to a proposition of a protectorate ate by alie united states they first wanted independence he said and after that they would arrange for the protectorate america being considered along with the other powers the peace and good will general hughes declared which existed in the islands outside of manila from july 1893 to february 1899 were duo not to the filipinos Filip inoa but the Span isih padres to his conference genera hughes paid lie was unable to get agu ina ldoa representatives to define to him what concessions alicy desired short of absolute independence although they insisted that they must have something definite to take back to the men who were virtually investing tho city because unless they did they would bo unable to hold them in check you knew at that time inquired senator patterson that you could not grant what they were asking 1 I was unable to get them to decide what they wished responded general senator do you want committee to understand eliat these commissioners ners the fillipino Fill pino army did not want independence if it was by the withdrawal ol 01 tho american fleet V general 1 I want you to un deratany dera tand that they wished protection senator 1 I will ask you to answer my question yea or no aliis nettled general somewhat who turned to the chairman senator lodge and asked if ho waa bound to answer according to alic gentleman s dictations senator lodge with much emphasis no you can answer the question in your own way alic senator eaid the committee had no right to dictate to the witness how ho should answer senator latt crEon do I 1 understand der stand that however evasive a witness may be I 1 cannot ask for a more direct answer senator lodge you arc attempting to compel hia answer I 1 think his answer was direct 1 I do not think it was quickly responded senator iia then presented his question gen loughes explained that at the time of the conference the filipinos appreciated their inability to stand alone but insisted that they must first have absolute independence that is as definite an answer as you can give is itt asked senator ratter son general manifesting evidence of his irritation replied if it does not answer your question will you show me in what way it fails senator beveridge then asked general loughes if he felt that he had answered the question 1 I have answered it three times was the response senator patterson remarked that there were answers and answers the colloquy was abruptly ended by senator lodge who announced the hour of adjournment and further that commencing tomorrow the committee would sit in executive session take up hie philippine government bill and consider it further hearings would bo held later |