The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-07
And Capt. ConneII Had Taken
Every Necessary PreCaution
to Prevent the Massacre of tho
Men of His Command
FEELING THROUGHPUT
THE ARMY INTENSE
Authors Of the Massacre Were
PaCificos, Most of Whom Had
Taken the Oath of Allegiance
and Many of Them We're ACtu-
ally Holding Office

Manila, Oct. 6.--Maj Morris G. Foote
of the Ninth United States Infantry,
who has just returned here from the
island of Samar, was in Balangiga the
day before the disaster to Company c.
He says Capt. Connell had been fully
warned, and had taken what he (Maj.
Foote) considered every necessary pre-
caution.
Information that a plot was brewing
among the Filipinos came to Mai.
Foote from a priest, who said 1t was
the plan of the populace at both Bal
angiga and Basey, to attack the garri-
sons, and that the Basey garrison was
to be attacked from cockpit In the
rear of the barracks. Orders were inn
mediately given to demollsh Ehe COCK
pit, and extra guards were stationed.
There is intense feeling throughout
the army because of the massacre
which would not be the case to any
such extent had it been the work OF
ordinary insurgents. The latter mignt
have been expected to commit such an
outrage. Feeling is particularly in
tense in military circles because the
authors of the massacre were paeificos,
most of whom had taken the oath or
allegiance, and many of whom, includ-
ing the presidente of Balangiga, were
actually holding office.
Some of the after effects are already
shown at many points, particularly at
Baulan and Calcocan, in the provinces
of Batangas and Manila, where disaf-
lection Is manifesting itself, although
It is not likely to be allowed to go far.
On the her hand, the officers and
troops at all the garrisons throughout
the archipelago feel that the disaster
conveys a lesson to themselves of the
necessity for increased vigilance.
Considerable interest attaches to the
case of Oakley Brooks, a military
prisoner ordered to be deported. The
Supreme Court recently issued a writ
of habeas corpus directing the produce
ton of the prisoner. but the military
authorities refused to produce him on
the ground that the only tribunal hav-
ing Jurisdiction over a military priS-
oner Is the federal court. While the
Philippine courts were established by
the war powers of the President, the
military authorities contend that they
are to be regarded as provost courts
until congress has acted.
The members of the Supreme Court
and a majority of the members of the
Philippine Commission hold opposite
views. bpt 1t is understood that the
military contention is correct.
Speaking of the matter today Gen
Chaffee said II am DESTROYS to sus-
tain the civil courts in every possible
way: but ! feel that it would be very
unwise in the existing circumstances to
allow the civil courts to interfere In
military affairs as 1t Is occasionally
necessary for the military authorities
to act in cases whore it would be UNI
wise, in the interest of the government
to make public at the time the reasons
for acting.
Should the claim now made by the
civil courts be allowed, 1t would be
disastrous to the influence of the army
In the island Every prisoner SEN
fenced by a military commission would
have recourse to habeas corpus pro-
ceedings. Even Howard (tbe alleged
deserter) is awaiting the decision in
this case in order to try to secure his
own release by writ of habeas cor
pus.