Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05
States General Luna was Assassinated
by Direct order of
A~gutnaIdO.

WASHINGTON, Feb. A.-tioverner Taft
today continued his narrative before the
senate committee on the Philippines con-
corning conditions in the Philippines archi-
pelago.
Referring to his testimony Of yesterday
he said he feared that he had given a wrong
impression concerning the part the army
had played in bringing the insurrection to
an end, but II SO, this wal due to the fact
that he could not present g correct inn
preston OF the whole situation from one
point OF view. Then, in order to give the
army its Just dues, he took up and analysed
its work in the islands. He recalled that
as soon as General Otis had received rein
forcements sufficient for his purposes the
Philippine army had broken up and scat
tered into guerilla bands, On this point
Aguinaldo and Luna had differed. Luna ad-
v~ocating the continuance Of the war on the
old lines. So sharp was this difference, he
said, that Aguinaldo had directed and Sc
cured the assassination of Luna, thu leav-
ing the way open for the carrying out OF
his w plans. He would not, he said, re-
port the incident If It had not been posi-
lively reported to him by General Funston.
AguinaldO said that II he did not kill Luna,
Luna would kill him. Indeed, the custom
was to order a mans death in his absence
and have him killed upon his return. The
presence Of these guerilla bands rendered
1t necessary to place garrisons everywhere,
there being at one time as many as 500 OF
them. This made the work before the army
very arduous. and the activity, the skill and
bravery OF the American troops were such
as to soon render the enemy tired Of the
warfare.
Speaking of the military policy in the
Philippines, Governor Taft said: +
THE war has been all over In these
islands and that which remains is q crime
against clvilizationxivsI It is also a crime
agaAdTtgthe Fpipih5i people to- keepeur I
stafsiof war under the, circumstances. Thel
have worn out the fright to.any treatment
but that which is severe and within tn,
laws of war" -rs9r. !. 81.
Governor TAFT also said that the sreai
majority of the people Of the Islands desire
peace and that the insurrectionists wer,
by their acts preventing the mass of tn,
people from settling down and earning I
quiet Giving. Instead Of being allowed Il
do this they were kept under a system o
terrorism, which should be stopped.
THE activity continued until the last
presidential election in the United States
said the governor. 1.-The insurgents be.
lieved IL Mr.. Bryan we're. elected there
would be a change of policy and the islands
surrendered, placing those who, were In in.
surrection in charge; but when Mr.. McKin.
ley was elected there was a feeling thai
there would be an indefinite retention Of
the archipelago and that the system. ther
in force would be. continued"
Discussing the effect OF the guerrilla war.
fare, Governor Taft said 1t often resulted
in the murder of the Fillpinos themselves
/ venture to say that there is not a Filipino
general or commanding oficer who coult
not be convicted Of responsibility for tn,
killing Of their own people.
This led. him to speak of the characters.
tics Of the Filipinos. He had been told Of
many instances Of mutilation of the corpsei
Of our soldiers. This being true, II was
not surprising that there had been som,
retaliation on the part Of mall bands o.
American soldiers. He had heard OF M
charge Of mutilation, but there ,probabi,
were some cases OF unnecessary killing
some cases of whipping and some cases o.
what Is called the water cure" thb
method Of punishment consisting of pour
ing water down the threats Of men until
they would swell up and, becoming fright
ened. would tell what they might know. a.
for instance, as to where guns could b
secured.
In this connection he called attention Il
the orders OF General Macarthur as L
these practices. which he said were yer!
strict. II these infractions Of prophet!
had occurred he was sure they had been II
the face OF direct orders to the contrary.