The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-13
WATER.CURE TESTIMONY
TWO WITNESSES BEFORE THE SEN
ATE PHILIPPINE COMMITTEE.
Former Sergeant Evans and e. J. Nor
ton Tell of Efforts to Force Fill
pinOs to Confess.

WASHINGTON, June 12-Mark II.
Evans, of Des Moines, Ia, formerly a SER
geant OF Company +. Thirty-second Volun-
teer Infantry. to-day testified before the
Senate committee on the Philippines con-
corning the administration of the water
cure to the FiIipinos on four different oc-
casions during his service in the Philip
pines. He also related the particulars of
the burning of several native villages He
was questioned by Senators Patterson,
Beveridge and McComas. All of these
events occurred. the witness said, during
the year 1900 in the province of Batan,
Island of Luzon, and in or near the town
of Franc, where his headquarters were.
Three of the cases of water cure occurred
outside the town. In one case the cure was
administered by native scouts and in the
others by an American.
The first case occurred at a little town
where there were supposed TO be some
insurgents. The scouts picked out the sus-
pected people. and, taking one of them to
a nearby creek, poured a quantity OF
water in to his mouth from canteen.
The purpose in this, as in other cases, was
to secure a confession. On another occa-
sion, during an expedition to neighboring
islands. the witness said that he had seen
American soldier take two suspected
natives into the water and duck them.
holding them under for perhaps half a
minute al a time. He secured a confession
to the hiding of guns in one case, but
none in the water After the first case of
ducking the victim seemed. the witness
said. to have been quite disabled, being
apparently so weak that he was unable to
rise. In another instance Of the admins
tration of the water cure at the same
MIA nf fhD rffaff 1rraNf 1l-.-N
out, but so far as he knew no other injury
was inflicted.
Evans said he had been present at the
burning of four or five native villages, and
that the destruction of those places had
been due to the presence of insurgents.
The orders were to destroy all the native
huts along the coast near the mountains
for thirty miles in Batan province TO
force the natives to come in, and this, he
said, was done.
Replying to questions by Senator Bever-
idge, the witness said the orders to the
troops were to/treat the natives humanely,
and that. with the exceptions noted their
treatment had been in accord with these
instructions. The natives had not, on the
other hand. shown any appreciation of this
consideration. They refused to divulge in
formation in their possession, and in many
cases they subjected the American troops
to indtgnities. In one case, he said where
two soldiers were killed. their ears were
cut off. When Evans concluded his testi-
money the committee took recess until
d. m.
Edward ]. Norton, of Los Angeles. late
private in Company L. Eighteenth United
States Infantry, was the witness at the
afternoon session. He served two years in
the Island of Panay. Answering questions
by Senator Culberson, Mr.. Norton stated
that, except in isolated cases, the treat
ment accorded the natives by United States
soldiers was humane and all that could
be expected or desired" In the isolated
cases referred to he said the treatment was
not consistent with humanity and the laws
of war. He then related, from hearsay,
the story of the administration of the
water cure TO the vice presidente of San
Miguel and a native policeman. and de-
Scribed one occasion where he had assisted
in water curing a native. The man s
mouth. he said. was forced open with a
stick and the water poured down his
throat. The effect of the treatment was
temporary strangulation. In this particu-
lar case, he said the native, after receiv-
ing the cure. delivered up a number of
rifles and pistols. 1T was the practice in
marching through villages, the witness
related when fired on by the natives. to
Immediately burn their houses" He said
the Filipinos regarded the kindness of the
troops toward them weakness and
became bold in consequence; also that the
general understanding in the army was
that the policy of General Hughes was one
of kindness and humanity. He took issue
with Senator Culberson on the subject of
the burning of the villages and declared 1T
TO be a military necessity.
The committee adjourned, subject to the
call of the chairman.