The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-05-08
.Sec'y Root Says
Policies We're Humane

4
Washington. May :. Secretary Root
submitted today 20 the senate an ans
wcr to the resolution OF May /, cali
ing for copies of any orders issued
! by General Bells RECOMMENDATION in
Batangas and of the orders issued by
| General Smith TO Major Waller, set
ur by the latter in his defense before
the coun rcartial. The secrtary also
was asked to state whether these or
ders we're approved by General Chat
! fee or by the war department, when
they were known in the department
and when countermanded
In reply the secretary submits two
orders by General Bell. dated De
cembcr 8 and Q, last In the first Cen
eral Bell refers to the treachery of the
natives, to their use OF Internal ma
chimes and to their constant violation
| OF all the rules OF civilized warfare. He
declared that he is reluctantly obliged
to avail himself of the right OF ratali-
atioB under the regulations and to deal
Iseverely with persons who commits the
acts denounced in general orders 100.
! The secretary explains that the or
| der referred to was approved by Abra-
| ham Lincoln, and that the orders men
IAlOilNN III AllN lAaQlNAlnll anu III bIlI s
order OF December G3. were in strict
conformity With the letter and spirit
| of this famous order which he says.
was a contribution to civilization of
great and recognized value.
! Another transmitted in one OF Major
General Lloyd Wheaton, dated Manila,
March p, 1902, upon the condition Of
1.-The natives collected in the concentra-
ftFt, -tt-l. q a
they were well fed. healthful and con-
tented. General Wheaton expresses the
ibeiiei that the camps can be broken
up within sixty days An important in
dorsement on this report is by Gcner-
al Chaffec in waich he says
1T is useless for me to make an at
tempt to show the necessity for the
lcourse adopted in the third and sixth
brigades to put an end to the active
linsurrection existing there, in such
a way that all persons VII agree that
fright action has been taken. Ii is i'm
possible, of course, for me to do this.
! will say however. that personal con-
tact with the people, a knowledge OF
their methods and sentiments, a per-
lsonal acquaintance with the Terrain
land what may be done by an enemy as
lby trops, are all essential to determine
lwhat should be done, before condemn
ling what has been done. 1t is also ne
Icessary that some other method be
Suggested and positive proof submitted
THAT had it been followed more sue
cess correspondingy would have fol
Ilowed its adoption than has been Sc
Icured by the present couse.
Il do not understand that the author
lity OF the United States in these is
lands can be indefinitely disputed by
armed forces without efforts to ter
inmate the resistance to that author
lity. On the other hand, | understand
that all means which are justified by
the laws of war are to be applied in
such form as viii meet and defeat the
lmethod of warfare adopted by the enc
lmy. Ii desperate in the last case.
more desperate must be the attack to
end it,
Every care has been taken that
lpcople required to remain under mill
tary surveillance shall not unduly suffer
for food, shelter or medical attention
If needed. -
! Secretary Root says there is no rea-
son 10 doubt that the policy embod-
led in the orders was at once abe most
| defective and humane which could be
POSSIBLY followed and, declaring that
so indeed has it proved, he submits
copies OF the kilograms announcing
1.-THE surrnder of Malvaran and the ter
Imination or organized resistance in the
northern Philippines
| The secretary denies the knowledge
OF any order issued by General Smith
to Major Waller, such as was refer
red to in the court martial, and he
IencloSes his orders for General Smiths
trial, based upon newspaper pubica-
tions, as confirmed by General Chat
fee He declared that al OF General
Smiths written orders relative tc Sa-
mar already have been printed by the
senate, and that all are in conformity
with general orders no. 100.
In conclusion the secretary submits
dispatches from General Chaffee of late
date reporting extensive surrenders OF
the insurgents and the Ye-opening OF
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