Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-06-13
CRUELTY TO FILIPJNOS.

Mark II. Evans, of De5 Moines,
Iowa, formerly a sergeant OF Company
E, Thirty second Volunteer Infantry,
yesterday testified before the senate
commit .ee on the Philippines concern.
ing the administration OF the water
cure to Filipinos on four different oC-
cssions during bis service In the islsnds.
On one occ zion, during an expedi-
tion to neighDoring islands. the witness
said that he mad seen an Amer ,can SOL
der take two suspected natives into
the watsr and duck them, holding them
under for perhaps half a minute at
time. He &c ecured confession as to
the hiding OF guns 10 one case, but none
in the other.
After tbe first csse of dnckiDg the
victim scent !, the witne' said, TO have
been quite disabled. being apparently
so weak that he was unable to rise.
Ia another instance of the sdmiDis'
tTation of the water cure in OraDo o
tooth of the victim was knocked out.
Mr.. Evans said he had been present OF
the burning OF four or FIVE native vii.
laQes and that the destruction OF those
places bad zen due to the presence OF
''iusurget IT," The orders were To de-
stroy ell tne native b ts along the coast
near the mountains for 80 miles 10 Ba-
tan province, so as to force the natives
to come 10, and this, he said, was dooe.
Replying t) questions by Senator
Beveridqe, the witness said the orders
to the troops were to trest the native
humaDely and tntt, with the excep-
ions not d, their Treatment had been
10 accord wit these instructions. The
natives had net, on the tt1er hand,
shown any appreciation OF this { Jnsid'
GRAFTON. They relLsed to divulge in
.ormstion in their possession and in
many jts they subjected the Ameri-
can troops to indigpi,ies. In one clse,
said, where two soldier were killed,
their ears were cut of.
Edward J. MOI t1n, OF Los Angeles.
late private In Company L. Eighteenth
United States Infantry, served two
years 10 the Island OF Pansy. Answer
ing questions by 6enstor Culberson, he
It ited tlat except in isolated cases the
treatment accorded the natives by
Uuited States soldiers twas humane
and all that could be expected or de.
sired"
10 the isolated cases referred to he
said the treatment was not consistent
with humanity and the laws OF war.
He then related from hearssy the
story of the administration OF the waite
cure to the vice-presidenta of San
Miguel and native policeman,
and described one occasion where be
bad assisted 10 "water-curinG" a ma
tive. The mans mouth, he said, was
forced open with q stick and the water
poured down his throat. The effect oi
the treatment wss temporary strsnRu-
lation. Ia this particular case, be said,
the native, latter receiving the cure. de
liyered up q number OF ri1ec and
pistols. at was the practice in march
ing through villages" the witness
related, "when fred on by the NIT yea,
to imme edistely burn their houses"
He said the Fillpinos regarded the
kindness OF the troops toward them J
a weakness and became bold 10 conse'
quence; also that the general under
standing 10 the army was that the
policy OF General Hughes wss one oi
kindness and humanity.
He took issue with Senator Culber'
sou on the subjec> of tie burning o.
villages and declared 1t ID be q mill
tAry necessity.