Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-12-20
WAR TRAITORS.
Gen. Chaffee on the Treachery
Of the Fi|ipinos.
Unparalleled Case Of Practically
Whole People in the Plot.
Their Cunning and Secrecy Are Wonderful. but
Will Not Prevail.

WashIngt IN. Dee 19.-"History al
fords no parallel Of a whole people. thus
practically turning war trait ,rs. and in
thc genius Of the people was never
such masterful powers Of secrecy and
Discrimination; but it is needless TO say
that no powerful statue was ever erect
60 or ever can be erected on such i'm
moral and uneniightened conditions"
Ihls statement is made by General
'hafee. military governor Of the Phil
lppines. in a review Of one Of a num-
Der Of courtmartial cases in the islands
the records of which have been received
II the war department.
The case which brought forth this
comment from Gen. Chaffee was one.
wherein seven natives We're tried Joint
~ on . charge Of murder The accused
Wer" soldiers in the insurgent army
ana. after defeat by the American
army in the field. abandoned even the
chow Of opposition, such as the half
uniformed guerilla bands make, and
took UP their residence at Taytay in
Luzon. place protected by an Ameri-
can garrison. Then, following the
proclaimed policy of the insurgent
I chiefs. they proceeded to organize Sc
cletly bolo band. When authorize
ton had been given to esta blish civil
government. the band came forward
Under the leadership of a resident padre
and Were elected municipal officers Of
Taytay
Ihen ensued Il remarka Bile attempt to
serve two masters. In all lawful mat
ters they served with due appearance
Of loyalty the American government.
while at the same time they labored Sc
crely and diligently in the interests Of
the insurgents. This dual form of gov
eminent. says Gen. Chaffee. existed
everywhere, in strongly garrisoncd
cities ike Manila as we'll as the small
est barrio. The municipal officers Of
Taytay next entered upon series of
murders and continued until the grow
lnG number Of mysterious disappear
anceS led lo the discovery of the per
petrators by the American authorities.
One undeniable truth says Gen.
'haffee stands out in this case as in
hundreds of like cases of murder that
the average native of these islands has
not more than the merest rudimentary
conception Of his individual rights and
duties as a man
SIX of the seven natives We're sen
fenced to b. hanged but Gen. Chaffee
Commuted the sentence of three of
them TO imprisonment at hard labor for
life.
The seventh native. Leonardo De
Posoy, a regularly ordained priest, ask
ed Tor and was granted separate trial.
v hen Taytay was given n permanent
garrison of American troops De Posoy
was found there in the regular Durs,lit
OF MS calling as Curat of the Pueblo
Through his advantages of education.
his spiritual relations with the people
ana his active interest in their secular
affairs. he was easily the most influen-
tial man in the community. He cul-
tiNated the good will of the American
officers and promised to aid them i'm
Keeping peace. But when the elections
10 American civil government offices
We're held he put forward and caused
TO De elected as prcsidente Caledonia
JaNler. whom Gen. Chaffee describes
rs an Illiteratc ana bigotted man"
whom De Posoy well knew was an Of
hcer OF insurgents and whom he com.
mended to the people as the best man
Tor the office because he was bold
At mis- trial De Posoy. who was hold !,
be the chief agent in The tilIyti murders
TOOK advantage Of tho loophole when
appeared to b" afforded by his nositior
as priest. by contending that. while IN
Iiar arlnipaIts IN the wholesale murders in
iaytaH would confess the sam" at CON
i"sslonai. ne WAS compelled b. his "a
cred office TO keep silence.
zen thaffec pronounced this defence
= ~ Na'ue' saying that the confession
Continued on page 81