Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-29
A SEVERE REPRiMAND
ARMY OFFICERS WHO TORrt RED
FILIPINO PRISONERS.
Gen. Macarthur Censures the Actions
of Capt. BrandIe and Lieut..
Perkins.

The adjutant general has received the rec
ord of the proceedings of the court martial
which convened at Camp Stotsenberg. Phil
ippine Islands, for the trial of Capt G. w.
Brandle and Second Lieut.. Alvin 8. Perkins
of the 9th Volunteer Infanry, on charges of
torturing Filipino prisoners. 1t was speci-
hed that while the command was at Mari
quina. Luzon, Capt. Brandle tortured two
native prisoners and Lieut.. Perkins tortured
five. The circumstances were the same in
each case the specifications alleging in
each instance that the accused officers "did
unlawfully. willfully and cruelty command,
direct and cause each prisoner Ito be hung
by the neck with a rope for a period of
about ten seconds. more or less inf1icting
wounds and causing great bodily pain The
sentence in each case was a reprimand by
the reviewing authority, Gen. Macarthur
who says in his review:
Cruel and Illegal Assault.
In the foregoing cases of Capt. George
w. Brandle and Second Lieut.. Alvin S. Per-
kins, 2Ith Infantry, United States Volun-
teers. the findings and sentences are ap-
proved, with the remark that the reviewing
authority Is of the opinion that in the case
or the former finding of guilty on each
of the specifications as laid without the ex-
ceptions and substitutions made by the
court would have been In full accord with
the evidence OF record and in the case of
the latter finding of guilty on each of the
specihcations would have been warranted
by the evidence with only a formal mod-
hcation In the second. third, fourth and
hftn specifications, to the effect that the
real names of the natives Therein referred to
We're unknown to the court, and without the
exceptions and substitutions made by the
court
1t is obvious that a cruel and Illegal as
sault was perpetrated by these accused
officers upon certain native prisoners. an
assault not only criminal in itself under
the laws OF war, but in remote conse-
quences we'll calculated to defeat q care
fully considered policy, and to infiict per-
manent injury upon essential interests of
the nation. The purpose of the United
states in these islands is to introduce and
plant republican institutions based upon
the benehcent principles of the Constitu-
ton. Success In this great and inspiring
undertaking depends largely upon secur-
Ing, through a sense of xelf-fnterest and
gratitude, the confidence and attachment
dispensabe to the true interests of the re-
public that Americans in the archipelago,
especially officers of the army. shall in all
transactions of business. war and admin
istration maintain the highest standards
OF American civilization by practicing dig
nifty, and deeorum in all Intercourse with the
natives. - ~.
In order to emphasize an important prin-
ciple It Is necessary to severely censure all
that Is contrary Ito it, this is more es-
pecially true when the vital interests of a
great nation are jeopa rdized by the thought
less and Illegal actions of these accused-offi-
GERS who for the time being We're exercis-
ing its authority.
1T is believed that the sentence of the
court Will be sufficiently executed by re-
minding Captain Brandle and Lieutenant
Perkins that by reckless defiance of the
ethics of their profession they have in
flicted incalculable injury upon the inter-
ests OF their country. and have also cast
an unwarranted aspersion upon the reputa-
ton of the United States army for senti-
ments of honor and humanity.
Captain Brandle and Lieutenant Eerkins
will be released from arrest and returned
to duty"