Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-07
REBUKED FOR
CRUELTY To
PRISONERS
WAR DEPARTMENT TELLS LIEU
TENANT ARNOLD HIS ABUSES
COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENT
ED IF HE HAD TRIED.

WASHINGTON, July 5--The war de-
partment made public his afternoon the
report of Colonel Crowder OF the Judge
advocate generals department In the case
Of Lieutenant F. T. Arnold of the Fourth
Cavalry, charged by Private Weir with
inhuman cruelty toward Filipino priso-
ners at Panay, p. /.
This is the case upon which General
Miles based his contention that cruelties
were being practiced ny American SOL
diers in the Philippines and led him to
apply unsuccessfully to the president for
instructions personally to take charge of
the military operations ii the archipelago
and which the latter brought down upon
his head unofficial conformation for his
alleged interference, with a partisan mo-
tive.
This also, but later, created profound
sensation In the United States senate
when Senator Culberson, Of Texas, read
on the floor verbatim copy of the char
ges in the case which previously had been
repeatedly officially refused by the sec
rotary of war.
War Department Reports.
The secretary OF war. IN passing upon
the finding officially notified Lieutenant
Arnold OF his action as follows:
"The secretary OF war, while concur
ring in the conclusion Expressed by the
inspector that the evidence acquits you
OF QkTeCL knOWAC0NEg. OAf NOtnpAANANy a.
the final action fTfiiction OF punishments
shown to have been practiced by members
of your command, is OF the opinion that
these abuses were preventable and could
scarcely have occurred lad you exercised
that high degree OF vigilance which was
imperatively demanded BY the United
States unusual conditions In which your
comamnd was operating that your failure
to do this Is only measurably excused by
the numerous and exacting civil duties
imposed upon you. and Justly exposes you
to official censure for neglect OF duty, the
direct result OF which has been that, be-
cause OF the few instances Of cruel treat
ment Of prisoners which were OF I'M
doubted occurrence within your COM
mand, the military service generally has
incurred unjust criticism.
THAT such neglect has not been made
the subject OF charges Is due to the con-
siderations above noted and to the fur
Their fact shown In evid snce that, I'm your
personal and official stations with the
natives, you uniformly exhibited Kindness
and consideration for Haen and worked
as arduously and with excellent results
for the betterment OF conditions among
them, particularly in the establishment Of
municipal government and In the main
tenance of public schools.
"In this connection, and as further In
fiuencing the action taken, the secretary
OF war is pleased to recognize the special
commentator for gallantry in action ex-
tended you by your regimental and divis-
ion commanders"
The department announces that the ev-
idence taken shows that the punishment
charged by Private Weir was admins
tered by three native policemen. directed
and assisted by Sergeant James c. Ed
wards, Troop II, Fourth United States
cavalry in the quarters OF the detachment
commanded by Lieutenant Arnold, and
was witnessed by several non-comrnis-
stoned officers and privates of the detach-
ment, six of whom testified In substantial
confederation of the more material allega-
lions preferred by Weir, but state that no
serious injury resulted from this punish
ment
1t appears that, with the exception of
Sergeant Edwards, none of these men had
anything to do with the administration
of the punishment.
Private Weir's allegations of severe pun
ishment resorted to by members of Lieu
tenant Arnold's command at Calaca. Luz
zon, were stated by him upon hearsay ev-
idence; he disclaiming all direct knowl-
edge as to these punishments. The EVIL
dence taken completely refutes these
charges, but does establish the fact that
punishments of lesser degree of cruelty,
/ but wholly unjustihable, were secretly IN
Hlcteu Dy sergeant EuW Jus "AAU 1AAO -
tive scouts in the quarters so separately
occupied by them at Calaca, and behind
closed doors.
THE evidence as to guilt of Sergeant
Edwards and of the native scouts, who,
under his direction, administered In
greater part all the punishments above
referred to, is reported as conclusive by
Col. Crowder, who expresses the view
that their trial, IL for no other reason,
would Of necessity be followed by convic-
ton and severe punishment. He further
reports that such action in the case Of
Sergeant Edwards cannot be had for the
reason that upon publication in the daily
press of the fact that such charges had
been made against him, and that an In
vestigation had been Instituted with pre-
liminary action looking 30 court-martial,
the sergeant fed from san FRANCISCO ana
cannot be located.