Evening star., 1901-03-19
LOVE LED HIM TO TREASON
A MARINE DESERTED TO JOIN THE
FILIPINOs.
But Rather Than Execute a Country
man He Surrendered Himself to
the American Forces.

Secretary Long has approved the action Of
the court-martial in the case of Frederick
H Baker. private in the Marine Corps
who was convicted of desertion and treason
In the Philippine Islands, and sentenced to
imprisonment for life at hard labor. The
military prison at San Quentin. Cal, has
been designated as the place of confinement
1t is alleged that infatuation for Filipino
maiden led Baker TO desert to the insur-
gents and aid them in their struggles
against the United States troops. He en-
listed in the Marine Corps at Mare Island,
Cal lin 1894. and accompanied the cruiser
Charleston to the Philippines. While the
vessel was at Cebu Baker made the ac-
quaintance of a Filipino girl, who, 1t is al
legged, exerted such a potent influence over
him as to cause him to join the insurgent
forces. This was in June, 1899. He gave the
enemy informatio concerning the strength
and operations of the American forces and
was rewarded by the appointment as a first
lieutenant in the Philippine army. While
acting In that capacity he met another
American soldier who had also deserted and
Joined the insurgent forces. A strong friend
ship sprang up between the two men.
Refused to Fire ON the Flag.
One thing to their credit was that they
persistently refused to join in attacks upon
the American forces whenever they could
possibly avoid it. Last summer, however,
Private Bakers companion was ordered to
command a force that was to ambush an
inferior party of Americans. Notwth-
standing he was in the power Of the Fill
pinos the man refused to shoot down his
own countrymen in that way Thereupon
he was tried by drumhead court-martial
and sentenced to death.
Lieut.. Baker was very much wrought up
by the jeopardy of his friends position and
used all his eloquence and influence to save
his life He not only failed in hat h,,t
was actually chosen to give the order TO the
firing platoon which was to execute the
sentence. He was thus confronted with a
dreadful alternative. He must either kill
his friend or surrender to the Americans,
in which latter event it was almost certain
that he would be sentenced to death for
treason. To refuse to obey the order of the
Fflipinos was certain death unless he could
escape from them. Thus it became abso-
lutely necessary to return to the Americans
from whom he had deserted.
Escaped to the Americans.
He took flight at the first opportunity and
entered the nearest American camp, attired
in his Filipino uniform of lieutenant of
infantry, and threw himself upon the mercy
Of the commanding officer. He told his
story and gave thrilling account of the
sad plight in which he had left his Ameri-
can comrade. A body of troops was inn
mediately dispatched to the camp of the in
surgents, but on arriving there it was
found deserted. Nothing was discovered to
indicate the fate of Bakers companion. and
1t is possible that he was carried by
the Filipinos in their fight into the in
terioN ~. -e..' . ...-- -. - ...-..
The penitent marine was turned over to
the commanding officer of the gunboat Cas-
tine. He was tried by court martial and
convicted of the charge of "deserting to the
rebel forces in time of open iusurreetiop
against the United States, giving intelii-
gence to and holding intercourse with a
q lh01 vr-ith tho,,t
fty,' and bearing arms against the gov
eminent of the United States and aiding
and abetting the rebellion against the sII-
preme authority thereof
The prisoner undoubtedly escaped the
death penalty simply on account of his ac-
ton in surrendering in order to save the
life of fellow American. He was SEN
tenced, however, to life Imprisonment at
hard labor "