Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-05-09
GENERAL SMITHS TRIAL ENDED.
cour. VIII Forward Its Findings to
Washington.

Manila. May 1.-The trial by court
martial OF Gen. Jacob II. Smith ended
yesterday. The findings Of the court
will be forwarded to Washington. The
general impression here Is that lie VIII
he acquitted.
The closing address Of Col. Charles
\. Woodruff for the defense. was
remarkable oratorical effort that drew
tears from his hearers. lie dramatic.
ally skctciicd General Smiths career
and declared lie had conducted n rr-
mnrknblc and successful campaign In
u manner which reflected credit ON his
yaior. humanity and kindness.
Speaking In impas.ioncd tones.
Colonel Woodruff said that In olicn
times victorious generals tied captivcs
to their chariois. In this case the Icn-
crnl finds himself tied. Sentiment was
an excellent thing. but there Is no
place for II In war.
1--WE claim" continued the colonel.
"that the Snmar campaign. Just
brought to u successful termination.
while pushed actively. vigorously and
cncrIctically. was ever conducted with
In the limits OF the rules of war. Dur
Ing the last Few months II Inns seemed
popular to criiicisc the army In the
Philippines. People seem to have for
gotten Its magnificent services for
Americas honor and glory. We have
been worthy members Of the army.
whose ,bayoncts never flashed except
In the defense OF the law. Yet. to-day.
we are apparently disgraccd. Why: l
cannot Imagine that people Mt home
expect to gain glory nnd political al.
vnnccment by abusing the army. II
was tried after the Mexican war. II
was tried In the Civil War. with the
result that Grant. the butcher. was
elected President. and died loved and
honorcd by every American.
while the campaigns In the Phil
ippincs have not been conducted TO
meet the views OF scntimcntnlists and
troublesome busybodics In the United
States, they have been conducted on
lines which have reflected credit upon
the valor, pluck, humanity and kind
ness OF American soldiers"
Colonel Woodruff reviewed the evil
dencc mt length, showing the necessity
for making Samnr a ''howling wilder
ness and comparing the campaign In
that Island with the strenuous mnrch
to the sea, whose route was marked
by n cloud OF smoke by day and by
pillar OF fire by night"
The colonel cited Instances Of mill
tary law In behalf OF the defense and
dramatically portrayed General
Smiths career. "Now. continued
Colonel Woodruff. after wearing for
forty-one years the uniform Of the
United States with honor to himself
nndsto the benefit OF the government,
nt the close of Il remarkably success
full campaign, In which he accom-
plished what Spain was unable TO do
in 200 years, while returning. as his
friends thought, covered with glory,
he was halted and taken or a trans
port to face charges growing out Of
the language used In giving instruc-
tions for the conduct Of successful
campaign. The defense feels that the
overwhelming public sentiment, based
on rumors fostercd for ignoble and un-
known purposes, until hystcria was
produced. Then this gray. wounded,
victorious general was exposed to the
indignity OF trial, In Difference to
hysterical public opinion"
Colonel Woodruff. continuing, said:
General Smith faces the conscience
Of the court and the people with the
full knowledge that he did his duty us
an honorable commander"
The judge advocate, Major Henry c.
Carbaugh, in closing for the prosecu-
ton, declared the defense admitted ev-
erything and that It only claimed JUS
tifcation. He said General Smiths or
ders, given to Major Waller on the
bloody battle ground ut Balingiga,
were such as to cause men to act
ruthlessly, In spirit Of revenge.