Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-07-19

Washington, July l7.-General Jacob
II. Smith, tried by court martial ut Ma
nila on account of orders issued tO
Major Waller, was found guilty Of the
charges by the court and sentenced to
be admonished by the reviewing au-
thOrity. The president has 80 admon-
ished General Smith and retired him
under the law which provides that Of
ticers having reached the age Of "
years may be retired at will by the
president.
The president wishes to use this
means Of emphasizing his displeasure,
as head Of the army, with methods Of
the general, which appear in the pres
ent case ridiculous, in view Of the very
fortunate fact that no such course was
taken, or could have been taken, by
Waller as the commanding officer or.
dered.
Secretary Root supplements the
reprlmand of President Roosevelt in 4
long circular in which he explains the
conditions which resulted in the court
martial Of General Smith and shows
that although Smith issued the "kill
and burn" order, as a matter OF fact
very few persons were killed as re-
suit Of that order. the casualties being
confined almost wholly to the IL natives
killed under Major Walters direction.
The demoralizing effect of work of the
Smith type is dwelt upon by both prcsi-
dent and secretary. Officers are usually
expected to give orders to their
subOrdinates in writing, covering
everything on which instructions are
believed to be needed; but Smiths
habit. 1t appears, has been to issue his
written orders only in the most con-
densed and diminutive form and to fol-
low these with verbal statements of q
radical kind
The luckless subordinate Is apt to
take the verbal order quite as seriously
as the written command. and then he
has nothing to show when he gets into
trouble by his conduct. Smith ad-
mitted giving the oral orders to Waller:
but the general practice is one to be
severely deprecated, as it might bring
unhappy results in its train if 1t be-
came widespread in the army, and in
any event it has enough Of the opera
bouffe character to bring the service
into contempt.
Since the truth has been discovered,
that Waller did not meet any enemy
to kill on his march and did not have
strength enough to do any killing If
he had met one. the administration has
desired to have this fact understood
throughout the United States, so as to
cOunteract the bad effect of the first re-
ports. This. of course. does not wipe
out the fact that after reaching a peace
ful haven Waller did what seemed a
His physical nervous condition at the
time saved him from condemnation to
a very bitter penalty. but this did not
excuse the manner in which he did the
cold-blooded killing of his bearers.
Secretary Root, in his review of the
court martial, says: ut is due to the
good sense and self-restraint of Gen
eral Smiths subordinates and their re-
gard for the laws of war, rather than
to his own self control and Judgment,
that his Incorporate and unjustifiable
verbal instructions were not followed
and that he is relieved from the in
delible stain which would have re-
suited from literal compliance with
them.
ut is the duty Of general officer
whose age and experience have brought
him to high command not to incite his
subOrdinates to acts of lawless viO-
lence, but to SO explain to them the ap-
plicatiOn Of the laws of war and the
upon their conduct as to
prevent transgressions upon their part
and supplement their comparative in
Experience by his wise control. In this
General Smith has signally failed, and
for this he has been just'- convicted.
Although the sentence imposed is ex-
ceedlngly light, it carries with it con-
which for an officer of his
rank and age is really a severe punish
ment.
For this reason and for the further
reason that General Smith has served
his country long and faithfully, has ex-
hibited high courage and good con-
duct in many battles, has been seriously
in the Civil war and in the
war with Spain, and is about conclud.
Ing long and honorable career as a
faithful and loyal servant Of his coun.
try, l recommend that the mild sen.
[ence imposed be confirmed.
SHOULD you approve Of the findings
and sentence Of the court in accordance
with this recommendation. feel bound
to say further that. in view of the find
ngs and sentence. and Of the evident
Infirmities which have made 1t DOS
,ible that the facts found should exist,
It is 10 longer for the interest of the
service that General Smith should con.
tinue to exercise the command of his
'ank-his usefulness as an example,
guide Md controlling influence for the
Junior officers of the army is at an end.
and as he is already upwards Of 81 |
years Of age, recommend that YOU
exercise the discretion vested in YOU
BY law and now retire him from active