Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-04-12
Awfnl Cost Of The philippines war.


Awful Cost of the Philippines War.
Administration organs have dcsper
ateiy attempted to discount, and even
deny. the reports OF the prevalence OF
insanity among our soldiers in the
Philippines. But the reports are true
and cannot be denied. So grave is tho
eyil. that It has attracted the attention
of Congress, and yesterday Representa-,
tive Levy OF New York introduced the
following preamble and resolutions re.
ferrinG to the subject:
Whereas. The records of tho War De,
partnent show What since December
LIST, 1899, thirty officers and men of the
United States army have been driven
to commit suicide by the hardships of
the campaign in the Philippines and
more than four hundred officers and
soldiers are now confined to various in
sane asylums because of the same hard
ships, and
Whereas, Charges of serious nature
have been made against the officials
who have purchased and operated army
transports and
Whereas, Similar charges have ap-
peared in the public prints concerning
the purchase of tnesa and other COM
missary and quartermasters' supplies;
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Secretary of War
be and is hereby called upon to furnish
to the House OF Representative all in
formation he may possess bearing upon
the subject; and be it
Resolved, That should further inves.
tigation he deemed necessary by the
House of Representatives, committee
be and is hereby authorized to be- APP
pointed by the Speaker to make such
an investigation.
1t will be noticed, from the language
Of the opening section of the preamble,
that the figures given--thirty suicides
and over four hundred insane officers
and soldiers-are taken from, the records
Of the War Department. They are
therefore official, and must be accepted
as true. 1t is further stated that there
are two hundred insane soldiers at
st. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington,
one hundred at hospitals in and near
San Francisco, and more than one hun
dred more at Manila and on their way
home. Only email minority of these
men. it is said, have had their minds
wrecked by wounds.
These facts are appalling, and iude
ing by the latest reports from the
Philippines, there are more horrors to
follow. The war seems no nearer an
end now than it was year ago, and
the cry of the commanders is for more
troops to 60 there and incur the awful
danger Of becoming maniacs
The casualties of the American forces
In the Philippines since August 9th,
1898, are as follows: Killed, 456; died
of wounds and accidents. 2s3; died OF
disease, LOIS; total deaths, 1,Sl4;
wounded, 2,o7S; grand total, 3, 1892.
And to this must be added the hun
dreds who are worse than dead.-de-
prived of reason and robbed of every
opportunity to enjoy life.
| This is terrible price to pay for
war. and for such a war as this govern
ment is prosecuting in the Philippines
it amounts to monumental folly. Nc
vital principle is involved in the COZ
test for the United States. On tho con.
trary, it is a war that reflects actual
diseIedit upon out country, as it is
a war of conquest and oppression
against people who have long beer
fighting for independence and self-gov.
eminent. Every instinct of humanity
and freedom cries cut against il,