The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-01-07
SEVEN WERE IN OUR ARMY
Declared Conscience Lid Them 20 Join
The Filipinos.
WHO ARR COMPARED ToPAIRoTS or 10
The War is Characterised as Cruel Invasion,
Which Soonfr or Later Must
End in DIS ,stee 10 The
Americans
Americans
tBy the Associated Press

tBy the Associated PrCsSA
Washington. Jan. THE War Depart
ment has Received from the Philippines
copies OF a remarkable proclamation.
signed With the names OF nine Americans.
seven OF them stated as being IN the
United States military service. inviting
Americans soldiers 10 desert and Join
the ranks OF the Filipino sold.ery. The
text Of the document is as follows.
ITO Whom il May Concern:
Dear Fellow Countrymen-After many
months among the Filipino people. study
ing their customs and characters. w..
the undersigned, have come to the con
clusion that the time has arrived for
US 10 break the silence and let you knew
the real truth so you viii see the folly
of continuing fighting these people. who
are defending their country AGAINST the
cruel American invasion in the same
manner in which our forefathers did
against England in those glorious DAYS
Of ou~ grand and noble iiberator. Gen.
George Washington.
Since the day We were led by our
conscience (and) presented ourselves to
the Filipino authorities we have received
the best of treatment and we are en-
joying a life Of luxury without having t.
put our lives in danger az you do. who
still remain in the American ranks
Fighting for an unjust cause which sooner
or later must surely prove disatrous. as
it did to the Spanish, Notwithstanding
that they knew the country and customs
of the people (better) than the Amerl-
cans do.
For above mentioned reasons, and
also that the war may soon end. We ask
the men Of the American army stationed
IN these islands to present themselves to
the Philippine authorities as We did,
thereby showing yourself to be true m
orleans upholding the policy OF Washing
ten ard the Monroe doctrine. against the
ambitious policy Of President Mckinley.
who for two years has carried on this
cruel war, s~pilling the innocent blood
Of thousands Of American soldiers. and
with what object but to fiji the pockets
of Mark Hanna and several other Am
erican capitalists, who have been FOR
years ara ire now ruling Amcrlca. todly.
or in other words. changing your blood
fer gold and robbing many q loving Moth
er or wife Of son or husband-therebv
making many i once happy home sad and
miserable.
Before we close let US tell you that
in nearly every town there are always
stationed forces OF Filipino troops, to
whom should you 50 desire YOU can pre-
. sent yourselves with or without your
rifles. and to avoid danger il j. best to
hide in q secure place and after you have
presented yourself inform the Filipino
officer or chief Of the guerillas and they
will recover it and pay you some moneT
in return.
with this We conclude, wishing YOU
the best Of fortune.
W remain yours most sincerely.
fSigned) Harry HoraI hllEar. Company
*. John Blake. trumpeter Company y.
28th L. S. Infantry: Frank l.. CLARK.
Company r. 21st L. s. Infantry; J. Thorn
as Kreider. corporal 2Sth L. s. Folun-
teer Infantry, Charles Buchanan. Com
Iany b. 28th Infantry, Volunteers: Har-
~ Richter, Sixth L. s. Artillery; Charley
Wright. Hospital corIs, Fitzhugh Smith.
John Ryan. Fourth Regiment
John T. kreidcr. ore T the signerS q
this proclamation. was tried recently ~
military commission in the Philippines
on a charge Of treason and records Of tn"
court martial have just been received at
the War Department. The p~reponder>
ance OF proof, said Cen. Chaffee, IN re
viewing the case, was in favor OF the
contention OF the accused that he was
held hy the insurgents as 2 prisoner and
took no part in operations against the
United States, gave no aid and comfort
TO the enemy. made reasonable effort 10
escape and was compelled By his captor5
Under legal duress to sign the above pro-
c,amation, by threats Of violence in case
he refused. Tho military commission
found Kreider guilty Of the charge Of
treason and sentenced him TO confne-
nent at hard labor for life. but Gen.
Chaffoe. because OF the absence Of con
elusive proof that the accused bad com
mitted an overt act (such an act being
necessary to cOnsummate the technical
offenSe Of treasonl dis~apprOved the sen
tence ard ordered the prisoner ret a.
liberty.