The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-02-20
.BASE AIR()C|0DS LIES
Root Answers Charges of
Cruelty to Army.
BACKED UP BY FUNSTON
water Cure" Story Was a
Filipino Pipe Dream.

Washington. Feb Corresponding to an
inquiry from Senator Lodge, the secre-
tary of war today sent to him 4 large
number OF papers bearing upon the
charge that cruelty is practiced by the
American troops on the natives CT the
Philippines. Senator Lodge presented the
documents in the senate. Among the
documents forwarded are the records Of
thirteen Investigations into such charges
and the secretary says that every re-
port or charge OF this description which
has at any time been brought TO the
notice OF the war department, has teen
the subject of prompt investigation"
He adds that in substantially every case
inquired into, the report has proved TO
be either unfounded or grossly exagger-
ated. He also says the department IS now
engaged in conducting an investigation
into the charge made in the senate last
week that the water cure is the fav-
orite torture of the Americans. especially
Of the Macabebe scouts, to force the
natives TO give information, and that
soldier who was with General Funston
had stated that he had helped TO admin
lister the water cure'' 10 leo natives. all
but twenty-six Of whom died. He encloses
a copy OF letter received from General
Funston dated February 2, 1902, in which
he declares thu statement 10 be an
"atrocious lie, without the slightest
foundation OF fact" and also letter
from Lieutenant Batson, the commend
Of the Macabebe scouts, to the same ef-
feet.
/ Copies of the army regulations prohibit
ing cruelty are also forwarded, as are
the memoranda ir forty-four cases of
officers, soldiers and camp followers who
have been tried and thirty-nine OF them
convicted. for violation OF these orders.
Presenting the other side Of the picture,
Secretary Root says:
The war on the part Of the Fil.2inos
has been conducted with the barbarous
cruelty common among uncivilized races.
and with general disregard TO the rules
of civilized warfare. They deliberately
adopted the policy Of killing ell natives.
however peaceful, who were friendly to
our government, and In literally thous-
ands OF instances these poor creatures.
dependen. upon our soldiers for plotec-
ton, have been assassinated. The Fill
Pine troops have frequently fired upon
our men from under protection OF flags OF
truce. tortured to death American pris-
oners who have fallen into their hands,
buried alive both Americans and friendly
natives. and horribly mutiliated the
bodies OF the American dead. That fhe
soldiers fighting against such an enemy.
and with their own eyes Witnessing such
deeds. should occasionally be regardless
of their orders and retaliate by unjusti-
fable severeties is not Incredible. Such
things happen in every war. even be-
tween two civilized nations and they
always viii happen while war lasts. That
such occurrences have been sanctioned
or permitted is not true; that there has
been any such practice is not true. The
cases have been few and far between.
scattered insrequently over a great area
of country along the course of three
years of active conflict. through thous-
ands Of engagements and among many
thousands Of troops. That these coca
sional cases have characterized our army
or its conduct. is not true. any more than
the deeds of lawless violence which con-
stantly occur in every large city, charac-
terize the people Of the city. The war
in the Philippines has oeen conducted
by the American army with scrup,Ilous
regard for the laws Of civilized warfare,
with careful and genuine consideration
for the prisoner and the non-combatant.
with self-restrafnt and with humanity,
never surpassed. II ever equaned, IN any
conflict. worthy only OF praises. and re-
fecting credit upon the American people"