Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1902-02-07
WAR ACRINE
Governor Taft Denounoes Insur-
gent Policy Of Terrorism.
He DEFENDS THE SOLDIERS
Says Insurgents Have No Right to
Any Treatment But That Which Is
Severe and Within the Rules Of

Says Insurgents Have No Right to
Any Treatment But That Which Is
Severe and Within the Rules Of
War-opposed to Concentration.
washington, Feb. 5.-Governor Z
Taft yesterday continued his narrative
before the senate committee on the /
Philippines concerning the conditions /
in the Philippine archipelago.
In response to a question by Sena- /
tor Patterson as to the practices Of
the Maccabees, Governor Taft warned
the committee and others against &C
cepting without a great degree Of al
lowance the statements made in pri-
vate letters. He considered most Of
these as unreliable, Judging from what
be had seen of them. IN general it was
impossible to prevent retaliation by
private soldiers under all circum-
stances. AS a rule the witness said,
American prisoners we're treated well
BY the Filipinos. This. so far as he
knew, was uniformly true Of the Fill
pino officers who were high in com
mand. There were some cases to the
contrary on the part Of subordinate
! Filipino officers. He had not known
anything of the reports Of the killing
Of Filipino prisoners with the knowl-
edge Of General Metcalf, Of Kansas
Governor Taft said that notwith
standing he was not in an attitude Of
favor to military rule, it was still
his deliberate Judgment that never
had war been conducted in which
more compassion, more restraint and
more generosity had been exhibited
than in connection with the American
war in the Philippines"
In this connection, Senator Culber-
son made inquiry concerning the eff
feet Of the policy of concentration in
the Philippines. Replying. Governor
Taft said that General Bells order
for concentration had been published
since his departure from Manila. He
however, had talked with General Bel
on that point and had told him that h'
did not consider such an order neces
sary, because n was Of the opinion
' that a proper degree Of pressure
) brought to bear on the wealthy mel
/. Of Batangas would have the effect 0
: causing the province to yield withou
V making a sweeping order Of concer
r tration.
t After reading a part Of Genera
Bells order, Senator Culberson aske
e II he still entertained the same opir
/ ions previously expressed as to tn
/ military policy in the Philippines. 7
n this General Taft replied: The wa
n has been all over in these islands, an
" that which remains is a crime agains
', civilization. It is also a crime agains
d the Filipino people to keep up stat
S of war under the circumstances. The
t. have worn out the right to any trea
J; ment but that which is severe an
e. within the rules Of war"
Ic This statement led Senator Pate
son to ask whether the witness di
b. not consider that even a small nur
le Der of people who were waging a W;
le for independence do not deserve co
Dr. sideration at the hands of the Amer
Il can army. IN repsonse, Governor Ia
C. said that the great majoriy Of Il
Sc people of the islands desire peace al
that the insurrectionists by their &C
Id were preventing the mass Of the pc
OF pie from settling down and earniI
,e. a quiet living. Instead of being
is lowed to do this, they were kept u
he der system OF terrorism, whi'
er should be stopped.