The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-08-07
81 KIE" SHED TEARS
General Smith Has Arrived Home
From the Philippines.
IS APPRISED OF HIS SAD FATE
When Shown Order ct President Retir.
Ing Him From the Army, Grix.
zled Veteran of Many Battles
Succumbed to Emotion.

A San Francisco special says:
Standing on the bridge of the Thomas.
eagerly waiting with the ships cap
tain for a glimpse of his native shore,
General Jacob H. Smith, tried by court
martial for having ordered the island
of Samar transferred into a bowling
Wilderness, was doomed Friday morn
Ing to first learn that the president had
retired him from the active list.
The pilot boat which met the Thorn
as just outside the heads at o'clock
a, m, carried to General Smith the
first news of the presidents action.
In the light Of a pinnacle lamp, the
veteran read the message apprisins
him of his fate. An hour later the
dawn came and with it the sight Of
land, but General Smith had retired
to his cabin, where, with his wife and
chief aide, J. H. Shields, of the 18th
infantry, he discussed the outcome OF
the long ordeal through which he had
passed.
Six hours later, when the Thomas
reached the quarantine station in the
harbor, Major Duval, of the transport
service, boarded the ship with his Sec
retary and met both General Smith
and Lieutenant Shields at the door OF
the generals cabin.
A sealed document from the war de-
partment was handed General Smith.
1t contained the official notification Of
President Roosevelt's action, and upon
reading it General Smith retired, over
come with emotion.
General Smith was not seen again
until the United States custom house
tender, the Hartley, was ready to land
the party ashore. He denied himself
TO all interviewers, who were met by
Lieutenant Shields. Together with his
wife and aide, General Smith proceed
ed to the Occidental hotel. repairing
thence to army headquarters in the
Philian building, where he remained
during the morning.
General Smith has absolutely moth
ing to say for publication" said Lieu
tenant Shields to representative or
the Associated Press. "He is not at
liberty to talk and furthermore has
nothing to say. He has been hopeful
that the president would not take &C.
ton against him and, of course, feels
keenly the force of the blow he re-
ceived.
"The general admitted to the court
martial trying him that he had issued
orders which in effect expressed his
desire that the enemy if obduGate and
unconquerable, be not spared-in fact
that the country be laid waste and no
prisoners be taken. The literal con-
struction of these orders and exact in
+erpretation made up the bulwark OF
evidence against the general at the
courtmartial. There is no doubt but
that General Smith did not mean all he
said. He certainly did not expect the
action which the president has taken"
General Smith, who is wearing CIV
lillian attire, appeared exceedingly ner-
vous and worn. His siXty-two years
are plainly read in his every action
and his intimate friends fear he Is
breaking down under the severe strain
to which he has been subjected in re-
cent months
General Smiths sealed orders require
him to report to the adjutant general
at Washington and it Is likely he will
lose no time in so doing.
Repeated efforts made during the
day to induce General Smith to discuss
his campaign in the Philippines ane
his courtmartial failed entirely. He
even declined to take up the subject
with intimate friends.
The transport Thomas also brought
portions of the Twenty fifth and TWen-
ty-sixth infantry regiments and Tenth
cavalry.