The Topeka state journal., 1899-11-21
FIVE COWARDS.
Gen. Funston Makes Sensation
al Counter Charges.
Says High Officers of Twentieth
Kansas Deserted Firing Line.

In an interview in San Francisco to-
day General Frederick Funston accused
several officers of the Twentieth Kan
sas regiment of having been the rank
est towards in the Philippine army.
The interview was in the nature of a
reply to the charges made by Lieuten-
ant J. T. Hall, Lieutenant Arthur M
Ferguson and Private H. o. Husky, as
printed in the State Journal Monday
evening.
Metcalf was guilty as charged and took
occasion to compliment him on his
bravery. He said:
Some of the rankeSt towards in the
army We're officers of the Twentieth
Kansas regiment and they were far
from being On-cOmmiSsiOned ofhcerS,
too. They left the firing line at battle
of San Fernando without PERMISSION
and went to town. There were five of
them, some who We're staff officers, and
it is this same class of sulkers now
making contemplate and underhanded
attacks upon Col. Metcalf and myself
1 refuse to give names now.
The staff officers were Lieutenant
Colonel Little, Majors Martin, Bishop
and Whitman, Adjutant Hull and the
surgeons staff.
Captain Edmond Boltwood of Ottawa
was reached by telephone this after
noon and asked concerning General
F'unStOn'S statements of cOWardlce
among the officers. He said;
I have no idea who General Funston
officers. 1 never knew of any of the
officers leaving the firing line at the
battle of San Fernando or any other
battle, and [ never saw anything that
was exactly cOWardice. If General
Funston includes me in his reference
his statements are false.
4 believe the charges made by Lieu
tenants Hall and Ferguson and Private
Husky against Col MetcaIf to be absO-
lutely true. In reference to General
FunstOn's playing to the grand stand,
Ton
ways had front seat in the grand
stand.
I know it to be a fact that Lieuten-
ant Callahan was present at the battle
of GuiguintO'
Statements made by Twentieth Kan
sas soldiers in Topeka seem to corro-
borate the charges of Lieutenants Hall
and Ferguson and Private husky.
Norman F. Ramsey, late private in
Co e said:
Il was not present when the killing
of this insurgent prisoner took place,
but from what l have heard from the
boys in my own company, and in the
regiment, I believe it to be a fact
There is no doubt in my mind that
the statements made by Lieutenant
| Ferguson and Private Husky are true.
I can not speak personally on this mat
| ter, as I was separated from my com
/ pany while at the battle of CalOOcan."
ThOs. NJ. Carlton, a former member
! of the Washington regiment band, and
afterwards with the Twentieth Kansas,
] said:
THE statements made by Lieutenant
/ Ferguson and Private Husky are true
/ to the best of my knowledge. / can
/ not speak from a personal standpoint,
! but I do know that the killing of the
| insurgent prisoners was the talk OF
! the regiment. and in fact was a matter
| of serious conversation in Manila
/ There We're several such instances
| as the one spoken of in connection with
! Colonel Metcalf, and there is no doubt
| that many inSurgent prisoners were
| shot down. I did not see any of this
| killing, but it was talked of frequently,
| and especially when the government
| started investigation
John Humbert, a member of Co. "A,
| Twentieth Kansas regiment, said;
| 4 was not present at the killing OF
| the insurgent prisoner, told of in last
! I have heard from various members OF
the regiment, I should say that the
! statements of Lieutenant Ferguson and
Private Husky are true.
| 1.-THE killing of the inSurgent prisoner
| by Metcalf was said to haVeV taken
| place as we were on our way to Calico
/ can When we got to MalOlOs the gov
| ernment held an investigation, but
! do not know how it came ont Wher
| we got back to Manila, some of the Off
! GERS held a sort of an investigation, but
it was soon over
''The people of Manila talked of the
shooting of insurgent prisoners and
! understand from what I heard from
| many of the boys, that many of the
| prisoners had been shot in about the
same way as Metcalf is said to have
shot one"