The Holly chieftain., 1902-05-09
GENERAL SMITHS TRIAL ENDED.
Court VIII Forward Its Finding. to
Washington.

martial of Gen. Jacob III. Smith ended
yesterday. The findings Of the court
will be forwarded to Washington. The
general impression here is that he will
be acquitted.
The closing address of Col. Charles
A. Woodruff for the defense, was n
remarkable oratorical effort that drew
tears from his hearers. He dramatic
ally sketched General Smiths career
and declared he had conducted Il re-
markable and successful campaign in
a manner which reflected credit on his
yalor, humanity and kindness
Speaking in impassiOned tones,
Colonel Woodruff said that in olden
times victorious generals tied captives
to their chariots. In this case the gen.
eral finds himself tied. Sentiment was
an excellent thing, but there is no
place for it In war.
I'VE claim," continued the colonel,
that the Samar campaign, just
brought to successful termination.
while pushed actively, vigorously and
energetically, was ever conducted with.
in the limits of the rules of war. Dur
ing the last few months 1t has seemed
popular to critlcise 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 bayonets never flashed except
IN the defense of the law. Yet, to-day,
we are apparently disgraced Why?
cannot imagine that people at home
expect to gain glory and political nd
vancement by abusing the army. 1t
was tried after the Mexican war. 1t
was tried in the Civil War, with the
result that Grant, the butcher was
elected President, and died loved and
honOred by every American.
While the campaigns In the Phil
ippines have not been conducted to
meet the views of sentimentalists and
troublesome busybodies in the United
States, they have been conducted on
lines which have reflected credit upon
the yalor, pluck, humanity and kind
ness of American soldiers"
Colonel Woodruff reviewed the evil
dence at length, showing the necessity
for making Samar d ''howling wilder
ness and comparing the campaign in
that island with the strenuous march
to the sea, whose route was marked
by cloud of smoke by day and hy u
pillar of fire by night" :. ste
The colonel cited instances of Mill
tary law in behalf of the defense aud
dramatically portrayed general
Smiths career. Now" continued
Colonel Woodruff, "after wearing for
forty years the uniform Of the
United States with honor to himself
and to the benefit of the government,
at the close Of 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 of tsans-
port to face charges growing out of
the language used In giving instruc-
tlOns for the conduct of successful
campaign. The defense feels that the
Overwhelming public sentiment, b,,sed
on rumors fOstered for ignoble and Tn
known purposes, until hysteria was
produced. Then this gray, wounded,
victorious general was exposed to the
indignity Of trial, In deference to
hysterical public opinion"
Colonel Woodruff, continuing, said:
General Smith faces the conscience
Of the court and the people with the
foil knowledge that he did his duty as
an honorable commander"
The Judge advocate, Major Henry @.
CArbaugh, in closing for the pr0secu-
ton, declared the defense admitted ev-
erything and that 1t only claimed JUS
titicati0n. He said General Smiths or
ders, given to Major Waller on the
bloody battle ground at Balinyisa:
were such as to cause men to act
ruthlessly, In spirit of revenge.