The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-22
GEN. J. H. SMITH TO BE TRIED
WAS IN COMMAND OF AMERICAN
TROOPS IN SAMAR ISLAND,
And Is Alleged to Have Given the Or
der That Led Major waller TO
Shoot TreacherOus Natives.

WASHINGTON, April 21.-The Senate
committee on the Philippines to-day re-
sumed the examination of witnesses in con-
nection with the investigation of affairs in
the Philippine islands. Grover Flint, of
Cambridge, Mass, who served as first lieu
tenant in the Thirty-fifth Volunteer In
fantry testified that early in May. 1900, he
had been a witness to the water cure as
administered to the natives by the Maca-
bebe scouts, and that it was done to get
information as to the whereabouts of their
guns. The guns were delivered. The fol-
lowing day some men of his own regiment
applied the cure. but their act was without
the authority of their commanding officers.
The Macabebes at the time referred to were
not under command of a commissioned Off
Ger, but under sergeant of the United
States army. Flint had been, he said
witness to at least twenty cases of water
cure" He never had seen any one die as
result of the cure, but had seen a hospital
corps man working on a woman who had
been rendered unconscious 1t also had
been reported TO him that one Filipino died
from the effects of the water cure" The
witness then described the method of ad-
ministering the cure and said that in some
cases where It was given to old men he haG
seen their teeth fail out.
Mr.. Flint in response to a question by
Senator Dietrich said he was present upon
these occasions ito draw the line on ex-
cesses." He did not recommend to his
major that the practice cease nor did he
give any orders TO his men to stop the tor
ture.
Answering a question by Senator Bur-
rows, the witness declared that the effect
Of the cure was immediate, the victim in
variably turning in his gun or a bolo and
giving information as to the whereabouts of
others. He said IL was impossible TO Judge
whether the victims were insurgents SOL
diers or peasants, but they appeared to be
peaceable barrios or villagers. Some of
them were thrown down by force, others
who were timid would submit readily, while
those who resisted were simply held the
more tightly. The treatment, he said never
got to the point of brutality
Replying to question by Senator Lodge
the witness said that he had been refused
a commission in the regular army because
his colonel had accused him of using In
tOxicating liquors to excess. The witness
deplored the raising of this question but
Senator Beveridge said it had an important
bearing upon the case. Flint denied that
upon any of the occasions when he had
witnessed the water cure was he under
the influence of liquor. He insisted that in
| justice TO himself he ought to state he was
not drunk. but had been a careless drinker
He had, he said, released several men who
did not appear to him to be nsurrectos
Major Geary, of his regiment, was always
| near, but had not interfered in the admins
tration of the cure. simply assigning COM
missioned officer to see that the men did
not go too far. After considerable question:
ing he finally admitted that he approved of
| the water cure" and responding to a
query by Senator Beverage said that il
was not an American invention, but was
as old as the chronicles of NeWgate'
! Asked concerning Filipinos in guardhouses
| he said they were treated exactly Amer
| lean prisoners except that they were sup
/ piled with food which they were accustomed
! TO and not with the army ration.
The witness described the burning of
| small villages, the idea being, he said, 10
/ drive the people to the woods or to the
/ towns and concentrate them
| 'Who did the army borrow that from %
/ inquired Senator Culberson.
81 saw it in Cuba" answered the witness,
| under the authority of General Weyler."
| The witness was then excused.
! The committee in executive session re-
! fused to call Edward Atkinson. of Boston,
/ as a witness. but directed that subpoenas
| issue for a number of sergeants and prI-
Yates who were witnesses of the water
| cure" The matter of calling Sixto Lopez
/ Mablnin and Aguinaldo was left for future
/ determination. The committee then ad-
| journed until Tuesday, April % on which
| day General Macarthur will again be heard.