Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-14
VICTIM OF DIETRIcH'S JOKE
Former Philippine volunteer Enjoys
Dish from Food He Previously
Condemns.

WASHINGTON, May IS. - George G.
Boardman. formerly of the Twentieth in
fantry, continued his testimony before the
senate Philippine committee today. He
said that the natives in Batangas, where he
was stationed, became very bold and
threatening after the Balangiga massacre
and intimated that the troops would be
served likewise. 1t needed an order such
as General Smith gave to make the natives
realize that the United States meant busi-
ness.
He said the men in the Philippines knew
that war was hell" and the boys were
going to give the F1lipinos hell" while II
lasted. He said the troops grew morose
and dissatisfied in the Philippines. They
were not given proper food, and he ex-
hibited two cans of food which he received
which, he said, were unit to eat He said
the soldiers did not like Governor Taft,
but did like General Chaffee.
Mr.. Boardman said that before the order
Of General Jacob H. Smith to kill and
burn, the soldiers of his company, being in
such constant fear Of massacre, would sud
denly awake and in their fright exclaim,
Get EN-, boys; get 'eml" After General
Smith issued his order. he said, the natives
for the first time understood that the
Americans meant what they said and the
troops felt safe. The dffhculty, he said,
was because a certain order by General
Otis for the killing of Outlaws never was
executed and this made the natives bold in
their resistance. "a
The conduct Of the American officers and
men toward the peaceful Filipinos. he said,
was humane. The men, however, he said,
were discouraged on account Of the food
they got and officers would not object when
the men we're hungry to their going into a
house and taking food.
The whole tendency Of the army" said
the witness, was to make the men any
thing, but pleasant toward the natives.
They used the gun to shoot with rather
than to preach the gospel with"
Responding to a question by Senator Car
mack, the witness said LAS for myself
will say l have less use for the United
Safes army than l ever had before, because
Of the way was treated"
After Mr.. Boardman had concluded his
testimony Senator Dietrich of the COM
mittee sent two samples of food which
Boardman had left in the committee room
and which he had declared that he would
not eat under any circumstances to the
senate restaurant, requesting that they
be prepared for the table. The canned
salmon, he said. had been made into a
salmon salad and the prepared food was
used in the preparation of a soup. Mr.,
Boardman was then invited to luncheon
with Senator Dietrich, Senator Beveridge
being a second guest.
The salmon salad and the soup made of
the compound supplied to the army were
the tWa principal articles on the bill of
fare and both appeared in very tempting
form when upon the table. Senators and
soldier guest we're all helped equally and
bountifully to both dishes and all ate
heartily of them. The senators were, OF
course, familiar with the ingredients. but
Mr.. Boardman did not know so much, nor
has he yet been told the seqfe at saf his. ipvi-
tation to lunch with the tive United States
senators.
The senators declare the food was very
palatable and they agree that Mr.. Board
mans objections to the ration appeared to
have vanished when the food was served
to him today.