The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-05-27
NATIVES DESERVE
NO CONSIDERATION
Their Warfare Is Barbarous In
the Extreme q nd TO Be- Con-
quered Must Be Met
BY Same Tactics.

street, Canton, who was a soldier in
the Philippines and also saw service
In China, was with General Jacob
Smith, who is at present being investi-
gated for having permitted cruelties to
the natives by American soldiers.
Mr.. Smith was a member of the
Ninth regulars and was on the island
of Samar, where it is claimed many
of these atrocities were committed,
and where the provocation was great
est owing to the character of the ma
tives. The Cantonian takes the ground
that war Is not child's play and that
while May things were done, perhaps,
that would not be permitted in time
OF peace, they were absolutely neces-
sary under the circumstances.
IL am very much interested in the
Investigation" said Mr.. Smith to a
News-Democrat reporter, "for the rea-
son that | was there and know exactly
what occurred and what the provoca-
tion was. it Is rather surprising to
me that a man who went out and did
such good service for the American
cause had to be Investigated because
perhaps, under his direction or with
his knowledge, these acts that are
complained of were done.
A SAVAGE FOE.
ITO fully understand the situation,
people must remember that we were at
war with the worst tribe in the whole
Philippine group of islands. The ma
dves of Samar were the most cruel Of
all the natives. We were killing and
being killed. Spies were constantly
coming into our camp and represent
ing themselves to be friendly to our
cause, yet they were leading us into
ambush. picking us off on sight, and
doing everything possible to make life
miserable for us.
"They did not take prisoners, but
IL one of our men was caught out of
camp, he was set upon and butchered
without mercy and his body mutilated
The trails in that island are narrow
fOotpaths through the jungles, and
along these trails the natives would
dig pits with sharp spear heads set
up in the bottom, so that when SOL
dlers walked along them they would
fall in and be impaled upon the spears.
"Nooses or snares were set along the
paths that would catch a man about
the neck and jerk his life out if he
happened to get into one of them.
THE WATER CURE.
"It is little wonder then that when
we found armed men, it was generally
understood that we were to shoot them
upon sight. If we attempted to give
them time to surrender, they would
hide their arms and pretend that they
were not even soldiers.
"As to the water cure, which was
practiced there, | never saw an Amer
lean soldier administer it to a ma
tive, but the natives who were friend
ly toward as were allowed to admins
ter the cure to the native spies whom
they captured in the hope of extorting
confession or information from
them.
"In all our wars, and in modern
civilized warfare, it Is the custom to
shoot all spies. This is done without
any protest. The water cure is not as
bad as shooting, for / never knew of
q case proving fatal They fill them
pretty full Of water and suffer consid-
erably, hut the after effects are not
serious
A HOME EXAMPLE.
General Smith undoubtedly had
but gave no specific orders fol- such
acts, so far as / know. People got
very much excited over the occurrence
in the workhouse, few days ago,
where one life was lost. There was
lots of talk about lynching Gigantic.
Every one seemed glad he was shot
Of course terrible affair, yet our men
nht,ph nd
were losing lives constantly, yet some
Of the stay at home critics think we
should have treated the Samarans like
we would a guest in our homes.
There is one thing that surprises
me. and that is that the people imagine
that the American soldier is such a
bad fellow when he gets away from
home. The Americana who were in
the Philippines wefe Ine same class of
people that are all over this country,
no better, no worse. They did not
become fiends Just because they be-
came soldiers, and they had the same
character Of the majority of men who
remained at home.
WOMEN WELL TREATED.
Their duties as soldiers compelled
them to shoot to kill and often commit
acts that in private life they would
hesitate to perform, but all was done
because OF duty. and not from wanton
desire or devilishness.
"One thing that do know, and
that In that while was in the Philip
pines never knew soldier to as
nault q woman. That charge Is made
generally against the soldiers. but II
p not true. The penalty was death To
TIE soldier, and the soldier knew that
~ could not escape the penalty.
"The men who were there bear.
lng arms and taking the chances ol
"a were not any more liable to as
\ nsult Z defenseless female than thu
>nyeraGe American In at home. ever
1kcuGh the women we're natives o.
1hat VIA country"