The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-19
MUTILATION OF THE DEAD


Chicago. June Is-tsuecial London cable
20 the New York Journal and the Chicago
Tribune.)-The reports OF ire mu5uation
Of the bodies OF American soldiers slain
inCuoa have stirred Europe more deeply
than any other even OF the war Despite
the enormous armies of the powers aud
the many wars that have ACCUSTOMED the
people 10 bloOdsAed. the thought of bar
barous outrages on the dead causes .
thrill Of horror and revulsiou OF feeling.
II is the boast of the powers that 10
matter how bloody their war & Is always
conducted honorably and N a so-cal!ed
civilized manner
The brutal conduct OF the Spanish SOL
diers IS discussed and denounced today u
all army ceters OF Europe. This one act
has done more 10 lose Spain the sympathy
Of other nations and possible assistance
in saving something out OF the wreck than
anything else. Despite the defeat At Ma
Mia and the inefficiency OF her army and
navy, there was considerable friendly feel
ing for Spain in military circles in Europe
on account of her recognized weakness as
the under dog in the struggle; but this has
been dlspelled by the acts of bSTbarity,
Soldiers of England Germany. France
and Italy despise a dishonorable coward.
Correspondents IN continental capitals
interviewed today the heads of the great
armies of the powers. all of whom express
surprise and horror at the acts charged
against Spain. Minister Of War at San
Mariana, commander OF the Italian army,
said in Rome:
IF tho reports of the mutilaGon Of
American soldiers are true the conduct
of the Spanish authorities will be de-
nounced by the whole civilized world
With similar proceedings Spain will lose
all the sympathy of Europe. However, /
do not wish to believe such enormities.
] hope Spain will either disproye the facts
or punish the guilty"
Germany's war minister. Gossler, gave
the following sentiment in reply to the
query Of the Berlin correspondent:
Il can as yet express no opinion about
1t, for in spite Of Admiral SIMPSONS off,
cial statement I can not believe that SOL
ders of an old European civilized state
physically maltreated the bodies of dead
enemies after the fashion of wild beasts.
Ia remains to be seen whether born Span
iards or Cuban Spaniards were the evil
doors. The latter can not be judged after
a European standard. Should it, however,
have been really Spaniards II would dis
play proof of barbaric savagery. Alas,
horrible acts OF this kind have occurred
in isolated cases in ali the more recent
wars"
General Billot, who has just resigned as
minister of war, with the rest Of the
French cabinet said to the Paris CORE
spondent:
THE facts connected with alleged mu-
tiIation of bodies of dead soldiers should
first be ascertained before useful judgment
can be pronounced upon this shocking
charge. Admiral SIMPSONS official state
ment is sufficient evidence that the mutt
lation took place, but I can not believe
that Spanish officers or the Spanish army
are responsible for this ghoulish work 1t
might have been done by some disreputa-
bic men, few of whom are found in every
army Spanish officers and the Spanish
people would be the first 10 denounce
the mutilauon. II would be hardly fair TO
hold the nation responsible for the das-
tardly deeds Of a few Of her citizens. and
these not representative. Neutral powers
can not do otherwise than accord to Spain
the same treatment as is given all civil
tied nations. The Spaniards are a mill
tary people of sufficient bravery not to
spend time Staying the slain"
Field Marshal Lord Wolseley, Comman-
der-in-chief OF the British army. inform
ed me that, while he fully understood the
strong feeling which had arisen over the
matter, his position made II impossible
for him TO express an opinion