The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-05-09

Washington. May 7.-Secrciary Root
today submitted 10 the senate an an
swer TO the resolution OF May st, calling
for copies OF any orders issued by Gen
eral Bell relative to RECOMMENDATION IN
Batangas and OF the orders issued by
General Smith TO Major Waller. set Zip
by the latter in his defense before the
court martial. The secretary also was
asked to state whether these orders
were approved by General Chanee or
by the war department: when they were
known to the department and when
countermanded.
In reply the secretary submits two
orders by General Bell, dated December
Sth and 9Th last In the first General
Bell ~recount in detail the p~royocations
submitted to for three years by the
United States government in the Phil
ippines. He refers to the treachery OF
the natives. to their use of internal ma
chimes and to their constant violation
of all the rules of civilized warfare.
Therefore. he declares that he Is reluc-
family obliged to avail himself OF the
right of retaliation under the reguia-
lions n to deal severely with persons
who commit the acts denounced in gen
eral order 100. and whenever unarme1
| prisoners or defenseless Americans or
friendly natives are murdered for po-
litical purposes, he will execute a pris-
oner of war. chosen by lot from the
town where the murder occurred.
The secretary explains that the order
| referred to was approved by Abraham
| Lincoln and hat the orders mentioned
in the resolution and in General Bells
order of December Sth were in strict
conformity with the letter and spirit
of this famous order which he says:
WAS a contribution to civilization OF
great and recognized value"
Another order transmitted is ore b.
Major General Lloyd Wheaton. dated
Manila, March "a. 1902, upon the condi-
ton of the natives collected in the con-
centration camps. in which IL appears
that they were well fed. healthy and
contented. General Wheaton expressed
the belief that the camps can be broken
up within sixty days.
An important endorsement on this
report is by General Chanee, in which
he earnestly advises personal contact
with the people and acquaintance with
the situation in the Philippines befof.
c~ondemning what has been done. H.
understands that all the means just
fed by the laws of war are 20 be a
piled to defeat the methods of the .
envy, saying: IF desperate In the L
case. more desperate must be the = <
to end it."
Secretary Root says there was no.
reason to doubt that the policy embod-
led in the above orders was at once tn
most effective and humane which coul4
possibly be followed.
The secretary in fourther replying IN
the resolution denies knowledge OF any
order issued by General Smith to Major
Waller. such as was referred to In the
court martial. and he encloses his or
ders for General Smiths trial. based
upon publications, as con-
firmed by General Chaffee. He declares
that all of General Smiths written or
ders relative to Samar have already
been printed by the senate and they are
all in strict conformity with General
order 100.
Secretary Root has made the follow
ing response to the house resolution
calling for copies Of all orders sent to
General Smith and other officers re-
lative to the campaign in Samar:
mo orders OF Instructions nave been
forwarded to the commanding military
officers in the Philippine Islands reIat-
ing to the conduct OF militsT" opera
tons in the island OF Samar. or relat-
ing TO the campaign OF Genera! Jacob
H. Smith. In said island. except the in
structions for tn government OF
armies or the UH.les states n the field.
approved and Promulgated by COM
mand OF Pres!'sIt Abraham Lincoln
in General Orde No. 100. OF 1856, n copy
OF which is annexed hereto. and which
nave been followed and confof ned TO
by all orders made in the Philippines
In respect of that campaign 50 far as
the same have been received at the
war department.
1T has not been deemed wise or
practicable to interfere from Washing
ton with the conduct OF military opera
tons on the other side Of the world un-
der the conditions and exigencies which
he competent n faithful officers COM
handing the division OF the PHILIPPINES
necessarily understand far better thar