The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-16
AFTER TRUTH.
President Roosevelt Orders
Trial by Court Martial
Of Officers Charged with Cruel
ty in Philippines.
EVIDENCE is ENOUGH.
Ne Thinks to Warrant Such
Proceeding.
Number of Cases VIII Be Tried
in United States.

Washington. April l6.-As a result of the
consideration by the cabinet of the charges
of cruel treatment of Fiipinos by United
States soldiers, Secretary Root has made
public the following correspondence:
WAR Department, Washington. Aprn 10,
19O2.-My Dear Senator: / beg to acknowl-
timony of Sergeant Charles 5. Reilly and
Private William Lewis smith late of the
Twenty sixth infantry, taken before your
committee Yesterday. ! inclOSe copy of
a dispatch which has been sent today TO
Major General Chaffee. commanding the
division of the PHILIPPINES. Directions have
been given to the judge advocate general
80 take proper steps in accordance with the
'.'rhe war department win be glad TO re-
ceive the earliest practicable Information
of any further evidence which may be ellie
ssponsibilitv uDon anyone in the military
service of the United States for any viola
tioHs Of any laws of war or OF the reg
uiations or orders governing the operations
Of the army of the United states IN the
..ELIHU ROOT. Secretary of War
'.HON. H. c.. LODGE. United States Sem
atOr. Washington. d. c.
War Department Washington, April Is.
cable General Chaffee as follows On tep-
ruary 19 letter sent YOU enclosing
hv Gov. Gardner Of Tayabas province.
which contained general allegations OF
ana generally Of ar insoient and brutal at
titude of the army towards natives
ON -AtEH = Il tdDiG tiS1dtGi was SEN
you urging action with an speed consistent
with thorough and searching investigation.
Cu the 4th of March a cable dispatch was
sent yoa directing disciplinary measures 70
produce obedience to the presidents in
struetlons subord1natlng mllilary oiIleers
10 eiNu soNernHent IA p3etneu provinces prov. 4s5
from duty ard ordered them TO Manila to
await investigation into their conduct in
accordance with instructions to follow by
s7On the 24th of March instructions were
mailed you containing statement OF
Jacob II. Smith as the basis Of the investi-
cation ordered by the cable of March g.
Further Instructions in both matters
are required by the following facts.
Press dispatches state that upon the
trial of Major Waller OF the marine corps
testimony was given by Waller, c0rr0bo-
rated by other witnesses. that General ia
cob II Smith instructed him to kill and
burn: that the more he killed ana burned
the better pleased General Smith would be-
That it was no time TO take prisoners and
that when Major Waller asked Gen. Smith
10 define the age limit for killing he re-
piled; everything over ten:
If such testimony was given and the
facts can be established. you will place
General Smith on trial by court-martial.
On Philippine affairs Sergeant Charles Ri
ley and Private William Lewis Smith of
fed that the form of torture known as
the water cure, was administered to the
province, island of Panay, by detachment
of Eighteenth United States infantry un-
Consef, under orders OF Major Edward
Glenn. then captain TWenty-sixth infantry.
and that the captain and Assistant Sur
Beon BalmeFlyon. at that tune a contract
surgeon, was present to assist him. The
found TO be responsible Tor the act, viii
be tried therefore by court-martial. Con-
ger and Lyon are in this country Both
The Iwenty-sixth volunteer infantry and
Eighteenth infantry having returned to
the United States and most of the wit
resses being presumptively here, the sec
rotary of war directs that Major Glenn be
directed to, proceed to San Francisco and
report 20 the genera commanding the qe-
partment of California. with view of his
trial by court martial under charges al
q native of the Philippine islands at Ig-
barras, on the 9th of June, 1909. If You
can discover any witnesses sttll in the ser
vice in the Philippines who can testify in
support of the charges. or if Major Glenn
desires the attendance OF any persons now
defense. you VIII direct them to proceed
TO san Francisco for that purpose As the
two years allowed for prosecution by the
statute of limitations is nearly at an end.
no time is tQ be lost You viii take such
course in advancing or preparing the in
FCstigati0us previously ordered into the
conduct of General Smith and Major Glenn
as shall be required to enable you to exc
cute these Instructions 1t is believed that
the Violations Of law and htTna nitv Of
which these cases are examples. viii prove
to be few and occasional and not to char
at.terfze 3he conduct of the army general
~ in the Philippines but the fact that any
such acts of cruelty and barbarity appear
to have been done Indicates the necessity
"a
tive investigation int0 the general charges
preferred by Gov. Gardner and you will
spare no effort in the Investigation already
ordered under the charges to uncover ev-
cry such case which may have occurrad
and bring the offenders to Justice.
THE president desires to know in the
fullest sense and most eircumstantial man
uer all the facts, nothing being concea led
and no man being for any reason favored
or shielded For the very reason that the
president intends to back up the army in
the heartiest fashion on every lawful and
legitimate method of doing its work. he
also intends to see that the most rigorous
care is exercised to detect and prevent any
cruelty or brutality and that men who are
guilty thereof are punished.
Great as the provoeation has been in
dealing with the foes who have habituaI1y
resoTted to tFeacherN- murder and torture
against our men. nothing can justify or
win be held to justify. the use of torture
or inhuman conduct of any kind on the
part of the American navy.
E5LIdI ROOT, Secretary Of War
April Is. 1902
Boycott is Lifted.