The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-07
THE CHARGES OF GARDENER Lodge Hands Papers to
 Committee. NATIVES MALTREATED
Lieutenant Catlin Seems the
 Main Offender.
Also Alleged That Five Filipino Wo- men Were Assaulted by United States Soldiers-Former Pri-
 vate R. V. Hughes Testifies

pine Committee met today. Senator Lodge presented cablcgram from General Chaffec giving the charges and specified. tions of Major Gardener relative to Tayabas province. These consisted of allegations that troops had burned build- ings. i'll treatment of natives by Lieuten- ant George deG. Catlin and the rape of five women by soldiers. Senator Lodge stated to the committee that Catlin had been under treatment for deranged mind The witness before the committee today was R. V. Hughes of Philadelphia. for merly private In Company I. Sth infantry. He testified to seeing the water cure ad- troops were searching for information He also saw one native knocked down twice by order of Lieutenant Merchant and another beaten on the chest with a stick to make them give information. He said the insurgents engaged in similar work and gave an instance of an Ameri- can soldier being cut to pieces with bolos. He testified that the native prisoners were well treated. the sick cared for and the food furnished very nearly the same as that furnished the American troops. Answering question by Senator Culberson. the witness admitted that only in one instance had he witnessed the water cure. and said that he had not seen a Filipino subjected to harsh treat ment aside from the water cure.
 Prisoners as Chair Bearers. He qualified this statement by saying tlIst Filipino prisoners were. on one occa- sion, utilized to carry officers wives in bamboo chairs seven miles from Santa Cruz to Magdalena. He told of the burning of native houses in one of which was a crippled native woman. The order to burn was issued by Lieutenant Mer- chant. He said that the insurgents en- gagged in similar work
 The witness said that Filipino prisoners where well treated by the American sol diers and with the exception of roast beef occasionally issued to the soldiers they had practically the same food. The sick among the Filipino prisoners were also well cared for.
 The cablcgram from General Chaffec submitted to tho committee by Senator Lodge was received at the War Depart ment May {. and Is as follows
 Reference to .cable 3rd-Secretary Of wsr-to send the following: .-
 Major Cornelius Gardeners first letter contained no specified tion on which l could act. From his second letter. how ever. in order to comply with the present instructions. I submit in the form of charges the following data which are as complete as possible under the conditions in which I am at present situated:
 Charge-The trooy$ that succeeded the volunteers did nov keep up the scouting and patrolling system.
 Specification--That the troops stationed .T Ix..- tn tEFif Tn Lucban Tayabas, Lucena and Saviayo did in the spring of 1901. for about three months. fail to scout or patrol the coun- try except as escort to wagon trains on the main roads.
 Burning of Villages.
 Chargc-Burning of bsrrios or villages.
 Specified tion--That troops during the fell of 1901. burned number of barrios belonging to Dolores and adjacent towns.
 Charge-Torturing natives.
 Specification That certain United State, troops coming from San Pablo in or near the town of Dolores. tortured native by the water cure. This during the summer of 1901.
 Specification 2-That the commanding of ficer of LaGuimanoc during the summer of 1901. tortured or maltreated a native boy.
 Specification 3-That troops coming from Lucena or Tayabas on several occasions tortured natives belonging to the Pueblo of Pagbilao. This during the summer and fall of 191.
 Charge~-Harsh treatment of natives.
 Specified ton That men belonging to a detachment Of soldiers stationed at Csndelaria footed a store in that town about the month of November. 1901
 Specified ton 2--That detachment of troops took away from a peaceful citizen of Dolores q pony. This about the month of September, 1901
 Specification 3-That the house of na- tive of CandeIaria was forcibly taken for a smallpox hospital and afterward burned by order of the surgeon at Sa riaya that the said native was not re- munerated This in Candeiaria in July, 1901
 Lieut.. Catlin's Transgressions.
 Specification f-That First Lieutenant George de G. Catlin did strike with his fist natives of Lucena for failing to take 1 off their hats to him, and did forcibly, 1 with threats. compel native to deal l cards for him. This about September ] 1901 1
 Specification 5--That First Lieutenant | George de C. CatIin at Calanayuan. did | keep in the guard house for three days d native without food or water. This | a bout September 1901.
 Specification 6-That First Lieutenant | George dc G. Catlin did strike natives in | the face for failing to remove their hats. | This while he was in command at that | post, Specification 7-That party of soldiers attacked with pistol three natives work | ing on the roads near Lucena This | about November, 1901. Specification S-That certain soldiers be- | longing to a troop of cavalry stationed . in Tayabas pueblo did violate Ave wo- 1 men of that town by force. This in the month of January or February, 1901.
 These dates are approximate. and the facts from complaints made to me stated . to the best of my recollection.
 ChaffcC ! Senator Lodge also laid before the com | mittee q list of over three hundred off | cers and enlisted men in the United | States army who have been tried by | for f.ffcnsez arrainSf natives .