The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-16

Washington. April 15.--As a result of the consideration by the Cabinet today of the charges of cruel treatment of F'ilipinos by United States soldiers. Secretary Root has made public the following correspond ence:
 War Department.
 Washington, April 15. 1902
 My Dear Senator-I beg to acknowledge copy of the testimony of Sergeant Charles W. Riley and Private William Lewis Smith, late of the 26th infantry, taken before your committee yesterday. enclose copy of dispatch which has been sent today to Major General Chaf- fec, commanding the division of the Phil ippines. Directions have been given to the Judge Advocate General of the army to take proper steps in accordance with the dispatch. The War Department will be glad to receive the earliest practicable information of any further evidence which may be elicited by the committee tend- ing to fix responsibility upon any one in the military service of the United States for any violation of any laws of war or of the regulations or orders governing the operations of the army of the United States. in the field. Very respectfully.
 Elihu Root,
 Secretary of War. Hon. 1T. c. Lodge, U. S. Senator. Wash-
 ington.
 Chaffee Ordered to Act
 War Department.
 Washington, April 15. Memorandum for the Acknowledgement: Cable General Chaffee as follows: "On February i9 letter was sent you enclos- ing for investigation copy of charges made by Governor Gardner of Tayabas province. which contained general allega- tons of cruelties practiccd by troops on natives and generally of an insolent and brutal attitude of the army towards na- tives.
 .'On April 2nd cable dispatch was sent you urging action with all speed consist ent with thorough and searching investi- gatlon.
 ''on the 4th of March cable dispatch was sent you directing disciplinary meas ures to produce obedience to the Presi dents instructions subordinatng military officers to civil government in pacified provinces and instructing you to relieve Major Edward F. Glenn and Captain James A. Ryan from duty and order them to Manila to await investigation into their conduct in accordance with instruc- tions to follow by mail.
 "On the 24th of March instructions were mailed you containing statement of against these officers and General Jacob II. Smith as the basis of the inves- tigatio ordered by the cable, March 4. Further instructions in both matters are required by the following facts:
 Smith Gets in Trouble. Press dispatches state that upon the trial of Major Waller of tho marine corps, testimony given by Waller. cor robrated by other witnesses, that General Jacob II. Smith instructed him to kill and burn; that the more he killed and burned Inc better pleased General Smith would be: that 1t was no time to take prisoners and that when Major Waller asked Gem eral Smith to define the age limit for killing replied, Everything over ten.' "If such testimony vase given and the 'acts can be established. you will place General Smith on trial by courtmartial." Yesterday before the Senate Committee ,n Philippine Affairs, Sergeant Charles Riley and Private Lewis William Smith l ,f the 26th volunteer infantry testified | hat the form of torture known as the | water cure was administered to the | presidente of the town of Igbarras. Ilo- 10 province. Island of Panaya. by de- achment of the 18th United States infan- | ny under command of Lieutenant Arthur | .. Conger. under orders of Major Edwin | ?. Glenn, then captain 2t5h infantry, and | hat Captain and Assistant Surgeon Pal | ner Lyon, at that time contract surgeon, vas present to assist them. The officers named. or such of them as are found to De rsponsibIe for the act, will be tried therefor by courtmartial.
 Glenn Will Be Tried. Conger and Lyon are in this country. Both ths 26th volunteer infantry and 18th | infantry having returned to the United | States and most of the witnesses being | presumably here, the Secretary of War | irects that Major F. F. Glenn, 18th in- antry be directed to proceed to San Francisco and report to the General com handing the Department of California with d view to his trial by courtmartial nder charges alleging the cruelties prac- iced by him upon a native of the Phil ppine Islands at Igbarras on the 27th of une, 1900.
 If you can discover any witnesses still n the service in the Philippines who can estify in support of the charges, or if fajor Glenn desires the attendance of ny persons now serving in the islands as witnesses for the defense, you will direct hem to proceed to San Francisco for that urpose.
 As the two years allowed for the prose ution by the statute of limitation is early at an end. no time is to be lost ou will take such course in advancing r preparing the investigation previously rdered into the conduct of General Smith nd Major Glenn as shalr enable you to xecute these instructions.
 Roosevelt is Aroused.
 It is believed that the violations of law nd humanity, of which these cases, if .ue. are examples. will prove to be few nd occasional. and not to characterize ne conduct of the army generally in the but the fact that any such cts of cruelty and barbarity appears to ave been done indicates the necessity of most thorough, searching and exhaus- ve investigation into the general , harges preferred by Governor Gardner. nd you will spare no effort in the inves- I gation ordered into these charges, to ncover every such case which may have and brings the offenders ot lstice. The President desires to know in the illest and most circumstantial manner Il the facts. nothing being concealed,