History Tells Us

Why a part of the Spanish-American War fought in the Philippines?

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While Spain and the United Kingdom United States had moved toward the war in Cuba in the last months of 1897, negotiations very tentative nature began between officials U.S. and Aguinaldo in both Hong Kong and Singapore. When war was declared, Aguinaldo, a partner, if not an ally of the United States, was urged by Dewey to return to the islands as quickly as possible. Arriving in Manila on May 19, Aguinaldo reassumed command of rebel forces. Insurgents overwhelmed demoralized Spanish garrisons around the capital, and established links with other movements throughout the islands. In the eyes of the Filipinos, their relationship with the United States was that of two nations joined in a common struggle against Spain. As allies, Filipinos provided U.S. forces with valuable intelligence (for example, that the Spanish had no mines or torpedoes warships to sink into Manila Bay), and Aguinaldo's 12,000 troops kept a slightly larger force bottled inside Spanish Manila until American troop reinforcements would arrive from San Francisco in late June. Aguinaldo was unhappy, however, that the United States did not commit with a paper statement of support for Philippine independence. At the end of May, the U.S. Department of the Navy had ordered Dewey, newly promoted to Admiral to distance himself from Aguinaldo to not make commitments undesirable forces in the Philippines. The war with Spain was still going on, and the Philippine future remains uncertain. The immediate objective was to capture Manila, and was thought better to do without the aid of the insurgents. In late July, there were about 12,000 U.S. troops in the area, and the relationships between them and rebel forces deteriorated rapidly. In the summer of 1898, Manila had become the center not only of Spanish-American conflict and growing suspicions between the Americans and Filipino rebels but also of a rivalry that covers the European Union powers. After Dewey's victory, Manila Bay was filled with warships from Britain, Germany, France and Japan. The German fleet of eight ships, ostensibly in Philippine waters to protect German interests (a single import firm), acted provocatively – cutting in front of American ships, refusing to salute the flag of States United States (according to naval courtesy), taking soundings of the harbor, and landing supplies for the besieged Spanish. Germany hungry for the ultimate symbol status, a colonial empire, was eager to seize the opportunities of any conflict in the islands might afford. Dewey called the bluff of the German admiral, threatening a fight if his aggressive activities continued, and the Germans backed down. The Spanish cause was doomed, but Fermin Jaudenes, last governor of Spain in the islands, had to devise a way to save the honor of his country. The negotiations were conducted by British and Belgian diplomatic intermediaries. A secret agreement was made between the governor and U.S. military commanders in early August 1898 on the capture of Manila. In the assault, U.S. forces not bombard the city nor allow the insurgents to take part (the Spanish feared that the Filipinos were plotting to massacre them all). The Spanish, in turn, would only show of resistance, and in a prearranged signal, would surrender. In this way, the governor would save the embarrassment of giving without struggle, and both parties will save victims. The drill was staged on 13 August. The attackers rushed, and the later United States flag flying Intramuros, the old walled city that had been the seat of Spanish power for over 300 years. Jaudenes and Dewey agreement marked a curious reversal of roles. At the beginning of the war, Americans and Filipinos had been allies against Spain in all but name, now Spanish and Americans were in a society that excluded the insurgents. Fighting between U.S. and Filipino troops almost broke out as the former moved in to dislodge the latter from strategic positions around Manila on the eve of the attack. Aguinaldo was told bluntly by the Americans that his army could not participate and shot if they crossed over to the city. Insurgents were angered by the refusal of triumphal entry into their own capital, but Aguinaldo bided his time. Relations continued to deteriorate, however, as was show the Filipinos that the Americans were on the islands to stay