The first volume of this historical study focuses on the origins of the American presence in the Philippine Islands, examining the intricate diplomatic and military maneuvering between the United States forces and the revolutionary government led by Emilio Aguinaldo. The author details the events following the destruction of the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay, exploring the fundamental question of whether Philippine independence was ever formally promised by American officials. Through careful analysis of primary sources, including secret insurgent records and intercepted correspondence, the narrative demonstrates that no such promises were made and that native leaders consistently pursued a strategy of tactical deception.
The text traces the escalating tensions between the American military command and the insurgent forces, highlighting the profound differences in objectives and expectations. While the United States sought to establish a stable colonial administration and fulfill international obligations, the revolutionary leadership aimed to utilize American military power to oust Spain before turning their own forces against the new occupants. The book provides a detailed examination of the complex political landscape within the revolutionary junta, revealing internal divisions between those favoring annexation or an American protectorate and those demanding absolute independence through armed struggle.
Particular attention is devoted to the military operations surrounding the capture of Manila and the subsequent breakdown of relations between the allied forces. The narrative reveals the extensive preparations made by insurgent leaders for a coordinated internal uprising and military assault against the American garrison, driven by the conviction that foreign troops could be successfully driven into the sea. The author documents the various clandestine orders, plans for urban warfare, and widespread abuses committed by insurgent soldiers against both Spanish prisoners and their own countrymen.
Concluding with the events leading directly to the outbreak of open warfare in February of eighteen ninety-nine, the volume exposes the deliberate nature of the aggression that initiated the Philippine-American War. By presenting the unvarnished documentary evidence, the author seeks to correct widespread popular misunderstandings and restore factual accuracy to the history of the period, demonstrating the formidable challenges faced by the early civil and military administration in establishing order across the archipelago.
