CABATUANANONS REFUSE TO TAKE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES DURING PHILIPPINE AMERICAN WAR (1900) They point to China's Boxer Rebellion © RMC, Cabatuan.com, 2013. All Rights Reserved On June 21, 1900, during the Philippine-American War, Gen. Arthur MacArthur, the Military Governor in the Philippine Islands and Headquarters Division of the Philippines, issued a Notice of Amnesty, as follows: (Note: Gen. Arthur MacArthur was the father of World War II Gen. Douglas MacArthur) By direction of the President of the United States, the undersigned announces amnesty with complete immunity for the past and absolute liberty of action for the future, to all persons who are now, or at any time since February 4,1899, have been, in insurrection against the United States in either a military or civil capacity, and who shall, within a period of ninety days from the date hereof, formally renounce all connection with such insurrection and subscribe to a declaration acknowledging and accepting the sovereignty and authority of the United States in and over the Philippine Islands. The privilege herewith published is extended to all concerned without any reservation whatever, excepting that persons who have violated the laws of war during the period of active hostilities are not embraced within the scope of this amnesty. All who desire to take advantage of the terms herewith set forth are requested to present themselves to the commanding officer of American troops at the most convenient station, who will receive them with due consideration according to rank, make provision for their immediate wants, prepare the necessary records, and thereafter permit each individual to proceed to any part of the Archipelago, according to his own wishes, for which purpose the United States will furnish such transportation as may be available either by railway, steamboat, or wagon. Prominent persons who may desire to confer with the military governor or with the United States Philippine Commission will be permitted to visit Manila, and will, as far as possible, be provided with transportation for that purpose. In order to mitigate as much as possible consequences resulting from the various disturbances which, since 1896, have succeeded each other so rapidly, and to provide in some measure for destitute Filipino soldiers during the transitory period which must inevitably succeed a general peace, the military authorities of the United States will pay thirty pesos to each man who presents a rifle in good condition. Included in the amnesty proclamation was a pro-forma oath of allegiance to the United States: I, (name), hereby renounce all allegiance to any and all so-called revolutionary governments in the Philippine Islands and recognize and accept the supreme authority of the United States of America therein; and I do solemnly swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to that Government; that I will at all times conduct myself as a faithful and law-abiding citizen of said islands, and will not, either directly or indirectly, hold correspondence with or give intelligence to an enemy of the United States, neither will I aid, abet, harbor, or protect such enemy. That I impose upon myself this voluntary obligation withoutany mental reservation or purpose of evasion, so help me God. That same week, following the Notice of Amnesty of June 21, 1900, a local election was held in Cabatuan, Iloilo under new laws laid down by the civil government, whereby the electors were compelled to take the oath of allegiance. However, no elector nor official in Cabatuan, Iloilo would take the oath. Their reason was plain. The insurgents have threatened to kill any one who should take the oath and the people do not believe that the Americans can protect them. News have been received recently about the trouble in China (the Boxer Rebellion), and that three American regiments in the Philippines were ordered to be sent there, which will reduce the American military capability in the Philippines. LCol. Joseph T. Dickman Indeed, it was later learned that Lt. Col. Joseph T. Dickman was to be the Chief of Staff of Gen. Chaffee in the China expedition. A native of Dayton, Ohio, Lt. Col. Dickman was one of the most aggressive officers operating in Panay Island and in Cabatuan, and had done more to suppress the insurrection than any other single man. His appointment to Gen Chaffee's staff, while an advancement for him, was a loss to the 26th Volunteer Infantry Regiment in Panay. Lt. Col. Dickman's biograpy (published decades later in a book featuring the major-generals of World War I) specially mentioned cabatuan: (during the Spanish-American war including the Philippine Insurrection,) "Dickman's ability to quickly learn the native language seems to have rendered most service to the U.S. government, but he did have an opportunity to lead his men daringly into action, notably at cabatuan, where his zest for battle won him the admiration of his officers and soldiers." Maj. Edward Anderson With the temporary absence of Lt. Col. Dickman from Panay, the Cabatuan post commander Maj. Edward Anderson, being the most senior major, assumed the functions of the Lt. Col. and moved to Jaro where the headquarters of the 26th Regiment was located. Before his temporary promotion, Major Edward Anderson was the commander of the 2nd Battalion 26th Volunteer Infantry Regiment headquartered in Cabatuan and concurrently the commander of the Cabatuan military post. He was relieved at Cabatuan by Capt. Alvin Arnold Barker, who then became the commander of the 2nd Battalion and the commander of the Cabatuan military post. Anderson's official USMA (West Point) biography published in 1941 after his death listed three battles in Panay that he participated, all three of which were Cabatuan-related. "From September, 1898, to June, 1899, he was instructor in Chemistry, Mineralogy, and Geology at West Point (United States Military Academy), and in July, 1899, he was commissioned major in the 26th Volunteer Infantry, this being one of the temporary organizations raised to take the place of the State Volunteers returning from the Philippines. He served with this regiment during the insurrection, participating in engagements at Sugans Ford, and at Agsarab and Cabatuan, Panay, and commanded the sub-district of Jaro. Returning to the (U.S.) mainland for the muster-out of his regiment in the spring of 1901, he performed routine troop and staff duties at Forts Sam Houston and Clark, Texas ..." The engagement at Sugans Ford took place in the Leon-Alimodian area during the Cabatuan offensive of November 1899 while four infantry battalions with attached scouts (mounted infantry), signal corps, and mountain artillery, were on their way to Cabatuan, the seat of government of the Estado Federal de Bisayas. This column was personally led by Gen. Robert P. Hughes and Col. Edmund Rice. When Cabatuan fell on November 23, 1899, Gen. Otis sent a cable to Washington D.C. regarding this capture of the rebel capital. President McKinley read the cablegram aloud to the press before handing it to them for publication. The engagement at Agsarab took place in Barrio Agsirab, Lambunao in April 1900. Maj. Anderson was the commander of the Cabatuan military post at that time. He took his two Cabatuan-based companies with him to Lambunao to recon a reported rebel encampment. The fighting was intense that they soon were about to run out of bullets. The supply train was sent back to Cabatuan to get more ammos and to request for reinforcements. In the meantime, the captain of Company H, Capt. John Bordman, led 12 men into a daring commando raid of the rebel stronghold and burned the barrio. For his action, Maj. Anderson recommended Capt. John Bordman for the Congressional Medal of Honor. Capt. Bordman also happened to be the first English teacher of Cabatuan. The engagement at Cabatuan most likely happened on June 9, 1900. At that time, Maj. Anderson was still the commander of the Cabatuan military post. The engagement on June 9, 1900 was one of two engagements officially listed by the U.S. Army to have happened in Cabatuan. The second one occurred on November 12, 1900, but by this time, Anderson was already in Jaro. © RMC, Cabatuan.com, 2013 All Rights Reserved (Bookmark this page for future reference) CABATUAN AIRPORT Cabatuan.com - Timeline 2008 Cabatuan.com