The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-12
LOOK OUT FOR IT.
Robert Murphy Hints at More
Philippine Abuses.
Soldier Says People Have No
Idea of Conditions.
TELLS OF WATER CURE
No Secret About It Among the
Soldiers.
Backbone of the Rebellion is at
MalYar.
TELLS OF WATER CURE

"Other abuses relating to the war go
ing on in the Philippines viii be dis
closed some Of these days, things that
people in this country haven't any idea
about" said Robert Murphy, lately
private in troop B, First cavalry, Unit
ed States Army, which has just re-
turned from nearly two years service
an the little town of Santos Tomas, IS
miles west of Manila Mr.. Murphy has
arrived in Topeka for visit to his sis
ter. Miss Celia Murphy. 1872 Quincy
street. and other relatives.
Murphy does not say just what the
Irregularities are regarding the rebel
lion in the Philippine archipelago, but it
IS evident from suggestions that the
American army officers are blamable
for much mistreatment among the men
under them as we'll as against the Fill
ipinos; principally the former.
What about the water cure?" was
naturally the first Interrogation.
.Oh, yes, the water cure; wen, every
body over there knows that it is going
on. I never saw it administered my
self. but there was one fellow brought
into troop B that had to take it, He
just simply had the water poured down
him. and soon gave up the information
they wanted to know. But it is nothing
since before we got there. The way
they sometimes do it is to ram the gun
barrel in the mouth of the Filipino after
he has been bound and then pour water
through the barrel until he agrees to
tell what they want him to- Or other
times they use a bamboo instead Of
gun, with the same effect.
THE Filpinos are queer fellows about
talking. They seem to believe they
should suffer death rather than tell
anything to the soldiers, and some Of
them almost have to be brought to that
before they can be made to give up
what they know. Those few are as
bull-headed as a mule and often try to
get gay with the Americans. But the
rule is that they receive nice treatment
at the hands of our troops, and On the
other hand, they get friendly and will
tell some things after a while. The
water cure is used only with the stub
born ones and in nearly all cases it
seems to me it is justif1able, although it
may be carried too far
we captured quite number of ma
ttVes and shut them up in the guard
house. keeping them there several
months After a while the lieutenant
took an Interpreter up and talked to
them, and after treating them well got
about the information ne wanted. There
are great many interpreters who have
no trouble in making them understand
what is said.
THE plan Of conducting the war APP
pears to be to get them together in the
towns and hold them there until Nal
var, the present backbone Of the dis
affection to the United States, can be
captured. When they are confined
within the lines established by the Of
fcers they are well cared for, as there
is an abundance of fruits and rice. The
soldiers are sent out IN the country in
6QuadrOns to bring them in and to cap
ture whatever arms they can. This is
a hard matter for some of them back
in the hills are as wild as animals and
when they see the Americans fall to
their knees and pray to be protected.
They live in little bamboo shacks and
the instructions to every soldier are to
burn all of these they find In this way
they plan to get them to come into the
towns. But it takes only about fifteen
minutes to put up one Of these dwell
1ngs, SO it is not such a big job. 1t is
difficult to get hold of arms and ammu-
milton, because when the natives see or
to conceal them"
Murphy thinks that the trouble in
those islands might have been ended
long ago had the officers of the Ameri-
can army willed it. But he says they
consider it to their interest to have the
struggle drawn out in order that they
may have a greater opportunity to sat
isfy their own greed for money. Then,
IF TIE instruction would end, it is like
ly that many of them would be mus
tered out and compelled to seek other
means Of q livelihood. He believes,
however that as soon IS Malvar is cap
tured the unpleasantness will be prac-
tically over.
Murphy enlisted in the regulars in
June, 80 at Fort Russell, Wyoming.
and the regiment was soon ordered to
the Philippines. where it remained un-
til March. Though he IS in good health
to all appearances, he advises every