The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-04
WILL ACQUIT SMITH
COURT-MARTIAL AT MANILA ENDED
YESTERDAY.
COL. WOODRUFF DREW TEARS.
REMARKABLE PRESENTATION OF
GEN. SMITHS CAREER.

He Declares That Americans Seem
to Have Forgotten the Army's
Magnificent Services in the Philip
pines-The Campaigns Not Con-
Quoted to Meet Views of Sentiment
talists and Busy-BOdies in United
States-Smith's Campaign in Sa-
mar Compared to Sherman's March
Through Georgia.
Manila, May S.-The trial by court
martial of Gen. Jacob H. Smith ended
to-day. The findings of the court will
be forwarded to Washington. The gen
eral impression here is that he will be
acquitted.
The closing address of Col. Charles
A Woodruff, for the defense, was a
remarkable oratorical effort that drew
tears from his hearers. He dramatical-
ly sketched Gen. Smiths career and
declared he had conducted remark
able and successful campaign in a
manner which reflected credit on his
vaIor, humanity and kindness.
Speaking in impassioned tones, Col.
Woodruff said in olden times victorious
generals tied captives to their chariots.
In this case the general finds him
self tied. Sentiment was an excellent
thing, but there was no place for it in
war
1--WE claim" continued the colonel,
that the Samar campaign just
brought to a successful termination,
while pushed actively, vigorously and
energetically, was ever conducted with
in the limits of war. During the last
few months it has seemed popular to
criticise the army in the Philippines
People seem to have forgotten its mag
nificent services for Americas honor
and glory, through sun, rain, mud and
dust, across rivers and over noun
tains, through tangled underbrush, in
sickness and in health, which have re-
fected nothing but glory upon our
flag and country. We have Deen
worthy members of the army whose
bAyonets never flashed except in de-
tense of the law, and whose tramp
has carried comfort to those in dan
ger Yet to-day we are apparently
disgraced Why? 1 cannot imagine
that people at home except to gam
glory and political advancement by
abusing the army. 1t was tried after
the Mexican war 1t was tried after
the Civil War with the result that
Grant, the butcher was elected Pres
ident, 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 busy bodies in the United
States, they have been conducted on
lines which have reflected credit upon
the valor, pluck, humanity and kind
ness of American soldiers, many of
whom have freely laid down their lives
on their eountry's altar"
Had to Make Samar Wilderness.
Col. Woodruff, during his address,
reviewed the evidence at length, show
ing the necessity for making Samar a
wilderness and comparing the cam
paign in that island with the ''strenu-
Gus march to the sea, whose route was
marked by a cloud of smoke by day
and a pillar of fire by night"
The colonel said it had been proved
by the evidence that native boys 8
years of age were capable of welding
bolos. He cited numerous instances
of military law, Roman, English and
American in behalf of the defense, and
drama tically portrayed Gen. Smiths
military career from the time he en-
listed in 1851 to 1901, when he was APP
pointed brigadier general, and dee"riH-
g wounds, heroism and devotion
to duty.
Col. woodruff also quoted Gov.
Taft's speech at Dagupan, eulogizing
Gen. Smith, and added:
Nov, after wearing for forty-one
years the uniform of the United States,
with honor to himself and to the ben
eft of the government, at the
close of a remarkably sue
cessful campaign in which he
to do in 200 years. while returning, as
his friends thought, covered with
glory, he was halted and taken off
transport to face charges growing out
of the language used in giving instruc-
tions for the conduct of a successful
campaign. The defense feels that the
government has only done this in def
erence to overwhelming public senti-
ment, based on rumors fostered for un-
known and ignoble purposes, until
hysteria was produced. Then this
gray, wounded, victorious general was
exposed to the indignity of a trial, in
Difference to hysterical public opinion"
Col Woodruff alluded to the Balan-
giga massacre in Samar as furnishing
splendid testimony to the soldiers
heroism, and concluded with saying:
Gen. Smith faces the conscience of
the court and people with the full
knowledge that he did his duty as
an honora BILE soldier"
The Judge Advocates Reply.
The Judge advocate, Maj. Harvey c.
Carbaugh, in closing for the prosecu-
ton, declared the defense had admit
ted everything and that it only claim
ed justification. He said Gen. Smiths
order, given to Maj. Waller on the
bloody battle ground of Balangiga, was
such as to cause men to act ruthless
" in a spirit of revenge.
The court was crowded during the
closing arguments. The judges of Ma
Mia suspended the sessions of their
courts in order to attend the last sit
ting of the court-martial. There were
many ladies present.
-e-9-S-
& NY ~TrnE- AnMINISTVRE