The Washington times., 1902-07-17
RET.I2<1...-NI FOR
GENERAL SMITH


'-s ...... sa,t.a ,:;h i5r Waller. was
alif- i-.s...ga. ...l,. iu-.ps'de.ata and
. .I1.-rf ,-.pt .-,--.. .,a.-h. il accepted
d .--,l1.-j. r..al grysa.. yio;-;e ,nc
'..-.ti.s iL..s -,"-. LiaS American
,. -.-. 81 ,... .--.I. ...1 .s- ...H gI ~oLiI
. --' .i-L;..i ..-...-g aIaE,dre ugCn tao
-l--,.-. --' '-.y O. .-- ta5i.d states.
-, ,41t.tIy IAs! utir r.i sa.,n .Ijcrai-
- .ua N,l, .-., l~i--y.,a. 40 women q
. ---,-'. 81 60 :..-J.,ss ., s.i, or hon coIa-
. -sy..l.. O.. j.. i.., a>.5 NCis lut 10 ueayu
. i. -! !aus-.-- + tan.
Az lAAulna.i.u cl the record ara
R-oe--7:-.ss - 81 tie t.'al "a NaIl
Waller, aai-i- ..Huga.-tei~ u.cceaed lnyl
gi C----,4 oL.l-. sn. "a i-al tEe IN
HtiJc.---.., Z. ,,- -s,t Is uoT' n relation 70
The ac-s tur which Major Waller was
lied. sIi E,ir Eot an.s,G Ds min as
D !.st l-.,-. ,,vl .at la.se a' >. A-aItt wall
- Nas .:I,I lGi cau>.Eg certain uaiIic-.
j." lad e.. sd g, u-a- e.a .. guides Il
ere a as ,Er d,tilus. - Dg lut To- Gcaln
Ter J-Ca,u.,. wiliJaJ proper trial; ana
nc ts--L.,I his ucti,n rut Ulon tue
Grot-.g q t..g c.ue.a received from Gen
eiGl .Latu, n... GF4u he EIGaaG that as
ccr.-i. ii-u..s s.IJ,. h. wga justified By
the i,Ns Il va.
'C,h,,a. smiths written ard printed
cfdtIa, Gud ,ac actual conduct Of mill
tSIy Z, ed lois in ~-m--'. were iastia-l|
ry thg -s.a., ard cold .ti. ag Of ,H,
"ar-are vii. TIRE cr"ol and t-eayhe.ous
aaSas "IU .i--.l-... "a, Island. ana
their 'E~.Ic sts -Es.I 90 jue laws Cf
wai; "eI" ah.I.y i-h:H The Limitations
Gf bCL-s..i D.G ~ -p6 cf 1855: ana
.i-6Atst aG.--o- .,y. i..Gs. in I1i9. Wash
-hEtGn 'Itr--d ugu-,=; sullivan an the
-.-ia.'- s.. Gaai.-s- ,Iy a.E Nations to seek
--te lG,.I a. s--Epl;. Il I'D 's,tlstatiCu oI
u II s".te-GtL;@. rio rr.te, Cut you
VIII not - an means listcl 10 over
lures q peace before the total ruin OF
their settlement is effected
Our future security viii be in their in
ability t. iniuTe US. the distance to
which jheT are driven ard in thc terrcI
with which tht severity Qi the chastise
ment they receive viii inspire them.
Ihe Fort Phil hea:nCy massacre in 1865.
for base treacheTy, revolving cruelty and
the conditions CT serious danger which
followed II, did not approach the mas
saCfe at Eai&HS "a IL Scmar IN Sentgu- /
Der. 1901. There tie natives had been
treated with kindness and confidence.
liberty and se,f-g1vernncnt had been
given to them. Captain Connel. the
American commander. was of the same /
faith and had been wolshipping in the /.
same church with them With an the as /
surance Of frienCship cur men were
seated at their meal unarmed among an I
apparently peaceful and friendly com /
munity, when they were set upon from /
0chird and hItch,Tcd and their bodies /
when found by heir comrades the next
dav. had been mutilatCd and treate.
with irdcscribahle in5iyi tiles yet there
was no such severity by American
soldiers IN Samar as General sherman
p-opcsed toward the Sioux after Fort
Phil keaTney
Owes Much to Subordinates.
1T is due. however. to the good sense
and self-restraint of General Smiths
subcrd.nstcs. and their regard for the
laws Of war. rather than to his own
self-control and judgment. that his in
temperate and unjustihable verbal in
structicns were not followed. and that
he is relieved from the ndellible stain
which would Eave resulted from a lit
eral compliance with them
1T is the duty of a general officer
VII lse age and experience have brought
him to high command not to incite his
aubcrdinates to acts of lawless violence
Lut 10 so explain to them the applica
tion of the laws of war and the limita-
Ulous upct their conduct as to prevent;
uansgressions upon their part and SUD-
Dle,nent their comparative inexperience
By his wise control. IL this General
Smith has signaIly failed. and for this
he has been justly convicted Although
the sentence imposed is exceedingly
light, it carries with ii a condemnation
wnlch for an officer Of his rant and age.
is really severe punishment For this
reason. and for the further reason that
General Smith has served his country
long and faithfully, has exhibited nigh
rurage and good conduct in many bat
lies. has been seriously wounded IN the
civil war and IL the war with SpsiI. and
is about concluding long AMI honorable
career as a faithful and loyal servant Of
MS country, | recommend that the mild
sertence imposed be confirmed.
should you al prove the findings and
of the ocurt in accord272a with
ais recommendation. l feel houn9 L"
So further that in view Of the findings
and sentence. and OF the evident infiTmi-
ties which have made it possible that the
facts found should exist, il 10 not longer 9
for the interest Of thc service that Gen
eral Smith should continue 10 exercise /
the command OF his rank. His useful a
ness IS an example. guide and ccntron- j.,
ing influence for the junior officers Of the
army is at an CaG. and as he is al
-eaGy upwards Cf siNty-two years CT age, c
! recommend that you exercise the dis S
cretion vested in you by law aad no" c
retire him from active service. ,
n