Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-16
GRANT AND SMITH
CLASH OF AUTHORITY IN THE
PHILIPPINES.
Secretary Root Transmits to Senate
Committee Report on the
Differences.

The Secretary of War has transmitted to
the Senate committee on the Philippines a
report made by Captain j. II. Grant civil
governor of the province of Leyte, Z. l.,
concerning differences of underst antiing be-
| tween himself and General J. II. Smith
concerning the control of affairs in that
province.
The report begins with a complaint OF
the arrest of several native presidentes of
villages by the military authorities, which
action Captain Grant gives accounts in a
letter to the civil authorities at Manila,
dated October 26 last
In this letter he says: Unfortunately for
the peace and tranquility of the people of
this province. the military authorities here
have sustained a severe fright since the
Balangiga affair, and have done many
things that are calculated to hinder the
process of civil government and make the
people inquire what benefits they are to de-
rive from civil government"
The most important of these incidents
are described by Gov. Grant follows:
Immediately after the receipt of the news
of the massacre at Balangiga the military
authorities began patrolling the town from
ABOUT o clock p. m. until the next morning,
challenging and arrestng every one who
could not satisfy the patrol that they were
good men.
On the night of September 30 a sentry
shot and instantly killed a man who did
not hear, or at least did not heed, his chal-
ienge. or course, the people do not under
stand why these things should take place
under civil government
Following this on the afternoon of the
9TH instant, orders were sent out from dis
trict headquarters direct to the presidente
SO he says, to arrest and take to the tribu-
nal every MAJ in Tacloban who came from
Samar. The result was that $50 men were
rounded up, without warrant or other pro-
cess, and subjected to some kind of an in
vestigation, which, being incompleted at a
late hour at night, quite number of them
were confined until next morning when
the investigation proceeded and all of them
were given their liberty except six
~ am informed that detachment from
Ianauan recently fired into party of la
borers from Dagami, killing one and
wounding two. according to military re-
ports. but l think there were more men
wounded. This happened in the day time
and the soldiers were commanded by an
officer. From all the information obtain
able 1t was purely case of nervousness on
the part of the officer in charge"
The correspondence also includes a per-
sonal letter from Capt. Grant to Acting
Governor Wright of the Philippines, dated
December IA last, in which the captain
complains of the removal of troops by or
der OF Gen. Smith from various towns in
IeNte. which he indicates was done in
order to make it appear that he could not
properly administer the affairs of the is
land and that it should be restored to mill
tary control.
Speaking of General Smiths achievements
in the island, Captain Grant said:
Since General Smith has been in com
mand here there has not been single sur
render of arms or men, nor has there been
single capture, to my knowledge The
only thing he has accomplished, to my
knowledge, was the arrest OF few men on
Biliran and along the straits on the con-
fession of one of IIukbans officers. ~
truth of. whose statements is yet to 10.
established.
$50, general all the sensational newspaper
reports that have reached Manila from re-
porters travelling with Gen. Smith are abso-
lutely without foundation and have had
but one object in view, the return of this
province to military control"
The report shows also that Capt Grant
made protest to Gen. Smith against the re-
moyal of these troops.