Washington sentinel., 1901-03-23
A Filipino Romano e.

Secretary Long has apr owed
the action of the court martial in
the case Of Frederick H. Baker, a
private IN the Marine Corps, who
was convicted OF desertion and
treason in the Philippine Islands,
and sentenced to imprisonment Tor
life at hard labor. The military
prison at San Quentin, Cal, has
been designated as the place Of
confinement. 1t is alleged that in
fatuation for Filipino maiden led
Baker to desert to the insurgents
and aid them in their struggles
against the United States troops.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps
at Mare Island, Cal, in 1894, and
accompanied the cruiser Charles
ton to the Philippines. While the
vessel was at Cebu Baker made the
acquaintance OF a Filipino girl,
who, it is alleged, 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 Information
concerning the strength and opera
sions OF the American forces and
was rewarded by the appointment
as first lieutenant in the Philip
pine army. WhIe acting in that
capacity he metanother American
soldier who had also deserted and
joined the insurgent forces. a
strong friendship sprang up be-
tween the two men.
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 or
dered to command force that was
to ambush an interior party of
Americans. Notwithstanding he
was in the power Of the Filipinos
the man refused to shoot down his
own countrymen in that way.
Thereupon he was tried by drum
head 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 thar,
but 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 Tor
| AICdSOn. y ANihSN ~ OD~h NA~
order OF the FilipInos was certain
death unless he could escape from
them. Thus it became absolutely
necessary to return TO the Ameri-
cans from whom he had deserted.
He took flight at the first oppor-
tunity and entered The nearest
American camp, attIred in his Fill
ipino uniform ofa lieutenant ol in
fantry, and threw himself upon the
mercy Of the commanding officer.
He told his story and gave a thrill.
ing account OF the sad plight in
which he had left his American
comrade. A body oi troops was
Immediately dispatched TO the
camp OF the insurgents, but on ar
riving there it was found deserted.
Nothing was discovered to indi-
cate the fate OF Bakers companion,
and ii is possible he was carried
away by the Filipinos in their fight
into the interior.
The peuitent marine was turned
over to the lmmanding officer OF
the gunboat Castine. He was tried
by court martial and convicted of
the charge OF "deserting to the
rebel forces in time oil open insuf-
rection against the United States,
giving intelligence to and holding
intercourse with rebel without
leave from the proper authority,
and clearing arms against the
Government OF the United States
and aiding and abetting the rebel
lion against the supreme authority
thereof"
The prisoner undoubtedly es'
capped the death penalty simply on
account of his action in surrender.
ing in order to save the life Of Z
fellow American. He was sen
, tenced, however, to life imprison
ment at hard labor.
~-s-
= THE rapid growth of Germany
= and German cities is remarkabl