Path To War
Path To War
Path To War
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The First Philippine Republic was declared on January 21, 1899. [100] Lack of
recognition by the United States led to rising tensions and, eventually, to hostilities.
On January 31, 1899, the Minister of Interior of the Republic, Teodoro Sandiko,
signed a decree saying that President Aguinaldo had directed that all idle lands be
planted to provide food, in view of impending war with the Americans. [101]
On the evening of February 4, Private William W. Grayson fired the war's first shots
along Sociego Street towards a sub-post of blockhouse 7 located at the turn towards
the blockhouse.[102][d] A study done by Ronnie Miravite Casalmir places this spot at
the corner of Sociego Street and Tomas Arguelles Street, not at the corner of
Sociego-Silencio.[102] According the National Historical Commission of the Philippines,
two unarmed soldiers were killed.[104] According to Grayson's account, his patrol
ordered four Filipino soldiers to "Halt!" and, when the men responded by cocking
their rifles, they fired on them and then retreated. [105][e] The outbreak of violence
triggered the 1899 Battle of Manila. Later that day, Aguinaldo declared "That peace
and friendly relations with the Americans be broken and that the latter be treated as
enemies, within the limits prescribed by the laws of war." [107]