Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-06
WAR HUMANITY CONDUCTED.
Prof. Dean G. Worcester Denies
Stories of Cruelty.

Prof. Worcester sends the following to
the Chicago Times-Herald under date Of
Manila, June 3: The statements made by
the New York Evening Post in an edito-
rial published April L. and similar state
ments published in the Springfield Republic
can, are in the main grossly exaggerated,
and in some cases they are absolutely
false.
An instance of the latter kind is the story
Of Anthony Michaea, who is reported as
saying that we bombarded a place called
Malabon, and then went in and killed
every native we met-men, women and
children.
l was personally present on the occasion
in question The truth of the matter is
that Ma abon was never bombarded, de-
spite the fact that 1t was in easy reach
from the fleet and the field guns. The
town had been abandoned by the natives
before our approach, except for lot of
SharpshOOters who had positions in a
swamp on the outskirts.
One Hotchkiss and one 32-inch gun were
fired on them. Our troops first moved to
the north without entering the town. The
insurgents were driven out the following
day while trying to burn the place. No
women or children were killed There were
none there to be killed.
l have personally inspected all battle
fields from Caloocan to Malolos. Once l
was on the field before the wounded were
removed, and repeatedly | was there before
the dead were buried. | never saw a single
woman or child wounded or dead. l have
found, on the contrary, wounded rebels
whose injuries had been dressed by Amer
lean surgeons before the firing had ceased,
and who had also been provided with food
and water.
The insurgent wounded were brought to
Manila and tended in our hospitals, or
even taken care of in private hospitals, the
government paying all the expenses.
w men cured the wounded hardly be
driven away. All the prisoners are well
fed and well treated, and many say they
are glad they have had the experience and
learned to know the Americans. The re-
leased prisoners and the recovered wounded
are our best missionaries but many of
them are unwilling to return to their own
people.
1t is absolutely false that any order was
ever issued looking toward the killing of
men who might be captured. The American
soldiers have repeatedly taken prisoners
unoer circumstances affording abundant eX-
cuse for killing, with the provocation very
strong. Know positively that the city
guards have been ordered to fire on SOL
diers caught footing if it was not practical
be to make arrests.
The natives themselves repOrt that the
troops have saved property and protect ted
life during the recent operations and the
erect of their conduct has been excellent
II Is great mistake to suppose we are
nshtlng the FflipinOs a whole At least
50 per cent of the population detests the
war, and the only serious trouble is in a
lew Iagalog provinces in Luzon Other
provinces In this island are now compelled
by the armed force of the insurgents to
submit to Tagalog rule. The people in
them are praying for the coming of the
americans The present rulers are hated
on account Of their robbery and oppres-
sion. and even among the Tagalogs the
common peop,e want peace
AguinaldO and his congress recently an
pointed a commission empowered to nego-
tate peace on the terms offered in our
proclamation. The military leaders inter-
lered, however, and dissolved the commits
sion.
The war is kept up by a few leaders,
ana only with the greatest difficulty The
heads OF the natives are constantly filled
with lies, and the widest tales are circu-
Iateu by The insurgent leaders. False and
Standtrous reports are manufactured in
Hong Kong and Singapore and scattered
broadcast
The accounts of alleged atrocities printed
in American papers are copied by the in
surgent press and cause incalcuIable harm
Ihey cost good American lives
Nevertheless, the situation IS steadily i'm
proving. me war is being most humaney
conducted; the hungry are fed, the families
OF the insSrgent leaders are granted pro-
tecuon IN Manila and even allowed to enter
through tfr lines. About 2Uu persons are
coming daiiy into the city from the insur-
gent territory, and thousands are eager to
come. Every one here is working in the
interest of justice, order and lasting ueace.
the country and the people To this end
ldW.esSness must be put down win a firm
nahu' ana armed oppression must be made
to cease