The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-17
Roosevelt Retires Famous Gen.
sraI With Light Rebuke
ROOT PUTS ON WHITEWASH
Admits That He Issued the Notorious
"Howling Wilderness Orders,
But Offers Excuses Which
Let's Him Off Light.

tial at Manila on account of orders is
sued to Major Waller. General Smith was
found guilty Of the charge by the court
and sentenced to be admonished by the
reviewing authority. The President has
so admonishel General Smith and re-
tired him under the law which provides
that officers having reached the age of
81 may be retired at will by the Presi-
dent.
Secretary Root supplements the repri-
mand of President Roosevelt In a long
circular In which he explains the condi-
tions which resulted in the courtmartial
of General Smith and shows that all
though that Smith issued the kill and
burn" order, as a matter Of fact very few
persons were killed as a result of that
order, the casualties being confined al
most wholly to the eleven natives killed
under Major Walters direction
Following is the extent of the Presi-
dents review of the case:
White House, Washington, July 1e, 1902.
by the President-The finding and SEN
terce of the court arc approved. I am
well aware of the danger and great diff
hculty of the task our army has had in
the Philippine Islands and well nigh in
tolerable provocations it has received from
the cruelty. treachery and total disregard
of the rules and customs of civilized war
fare oil the part of the foes. 1 also
heartily approve the employment of the
sternest measures necessary to put a
stop to such atrocities and to bring this
war to a close. 1t would be culpable to
show weakness in dealing with such foe
or to fail to use all legitimate and honor
able measures 10 overcome them, but
the very fact that warfare is of such
a character as to afford irfnite provoca-
ton for the commission of acts of cruel
ty by junior officers and the enlisted
men; must make the officers In high and
responsible positions particularly care
full in their bearing and conduct, so as
to keep a moral check over any acts Of
improper character by their subordi-
mates. Almost universally the higher Of
ficers have so borne themselves so as
to supply this necessary check, and with
but few exceptions the officers and sold
iers of the army have shown wonderful
kindness and forbearance in dealing with
their foes.
Have Been Exceptions.
But there have been exceptions; there
have been instances in the use of the
torture and of improper heartlessness in
warfare on the part of individuals or
small detachments. In the recent cam
paign ordered by General Smith the
shooting of the native bearers by the
orders of Major Waller was an act which
sullied the American name and can be
but partly excused of Major Walters
mental condition at that time, this men
tai condition being due to the fearful
hardship and suffering which he had un-
dergone In his campaign. 1t is impossi-
BILE to tell exactly how much influence
language like that used by General
Smith may have been in preparing the
minds of those under him for the COM
mission of deeds which we regret. Loose
and violent talk by an officer of high
rank is always likely to excite to wrong
doing those among his subordnates
whose wills are weak or whose passions
are strong.
General Smith has behind him a long
career distinguished for gallantry, and
on the whole for good conduct. Taken in
| the full, his work has been such as to
reflect credit upon the American army
| and therefore upon the nation, and 1t Is
| deeply to be regretted that he should
have so acted in this instance as to in
| terfere with his further usefulness in the
| army.
II therefore direct that he be retired
| from the active list.
(signed) THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
The following is the review of Secre-
tary Root:
War Department
Washington, July Is, 1902
Secretary Roots Review.
To the President.
1 transmit herewith the proceedings
-. &.f.T 80 I1.frx lfa.-C n ,.TI To
Smith, by courtmartial convened under
your orders. dated April q. 1902. and now
brought before you as reviewing author
ity:
General Smith was found guilty of con-
duct to the prejudice of good order and
military discipline in that he gave in the
fall of 1901 to Major j. w. T. Waller of
the marine corps, then serving with
battalion of marines under his orders as
commander of the sixth separate bril-
gade in Samar, the following oral instruc-
tions
II want no prisoners. L wish you to
kill and burn; the more you kill and burn
the better you will please me- and fur
ther than that he wanted all persons kill
ed who were capable of bearing arms and
In actual hostilties against the United
States, and did in reply to question by
Major Waller asking for an age limit
designate the age limit as 10 years of age.
THE court SenlenCtu nlfi W pe du-
monished by the reviewing authority and
the court appended to the sentence the
following explanations: The court is
thus lenient in view of the undsputed
evidence that the accused did not mean
everything that his unexplained language
| implied; that his subordinates did not
| gather such a meaning and that the or
| ders were never executed in such sense,
| notwithst anding that a desperate strug-
gle was being conducted with a cruel and
savage foe.
Conviction Was just.
| An examination of the evidence has
| satisfied me that the conviction was just
and that the reasons stated for the very
light sentence imposed are sustained by
the facts. General Smith in his CONVEX
sation with Major Waller was guilty of
Incorporate, inconsiderate and violent
expressions which, If accepted literally,
would grossly violate the humane rules
governing American armies In the ned,
and II followed would have brought last
CONTINUED on Second Pase)