"_Admiral Dewey_. And he wanted me to assist him. He wanted me to tow one of his guns up into position. I knew he could not take the city; of course he could not.
"_Senator Patterson_. Did you urge that he should not make the attack?
"_Admiral Dewey_. I do not remember that; very likely I did.
"_Senator Patterson_. And was he not persuaded or restrained by you from doing so?
"_Admiral Dewey_. I do not remember; but it is very likely. I did not want to see a lot of them killed unnecessarily, because I knew they could not take that walled city. They had no artillery, and they could not take it, I knew very well, and I wanted the situation to remain as it was until our troops came to occupy it.
"_Senator Patterson_. But you found that whenever you expressed a strong objection to anything being done at that time that Aguinaldo yielded to your request?
"_Admiral Dewey_. Up to the time the army came he did everything I requested. I had not much to do with him after the army came." [101]
But Dewey's influence over Aguinaldo was not sufficient to prevent his looting, as the following extracts from his testimony show:--
"_Senator Patterson_. Is that what you mean when you say he looted--that he made reprisals for his army, took provisions and whatever was necessary? That is what you meant?
"_Admiral Dewey_. That is one part of it.
"_Senator Carmack_. This was taking provisions for the use of the army?
"_Admiral Dewey_. That is one thing he did.
"_Senator Carmack_. You said you did not object to that at the time?
"_Admiral Dewey_. No. It would have been useless; he got beyond me very soon--he got out of my hands very soon. [102]
"_Senator Carmack_. You said yesterday you suspected that Aguinaldo took the lion's share of the provisions that were gathered for the army. What was the ground upon which you made that accusation?
"_Admiral Dewey_. Because he was living in Malolos like a prince, like a king, in a way that could only have come about by his taking the lion's share. Then, in regard to his looting, I repeat what I said yesterday. He began within forty-eight hours after he landed in Cavite to capture and take everything he wanted. I know these things of my own knowledge, because I saw the loot brought in; and I know that every dollar that was taken from the workingmen at the navy-yard was taken at the threat of death. [103]