Crittenden press., 1902-01-09

| DuFcnns
Washington, Jan. 4.-rhe war de-
partment has received from the Phil
ippines copies of a remarkable proc
lamation, signed with the names of
nine Americans--seven of them stated
as being In the United States military
service-inviting American soldiers
20 desert and join the ranks OF tho
Filipino soldiery. The text of the
document is as follows: aaGa 90.
The Proclamation.
"ro whom Il NAV concern:
Dear Fellow Countrymen-After many
| months among the Filipino people, study
ing their customs and characters, we,
| the undersigned, have come to the con-
clusion that the time has arrived for us
| TO break tho silence and let you know the
| read truth 20 that You WIN see the folly
OF continuation of fighting these people
| who are defending their country against
| the cruel American invasicn In tho same
| manner In which our forefathers did
| against England In those glorious days OF
four grand and noble liberator, Gen.
since the day we were led by our con-
/ science and presented ourselves TO the
rhilipplne authorities we have received
| the best OF treatment, and we are enjoy
| Ing a life OF luxury without having to
put our lives In danger as do you. who
| hllii III tne american ranks uEnt-
| ing for an unjust cause, which, sooner
or later must surely prove disastrous,
as Il did TO the Spanish, Notwithstanding
| that they knew the country and customs
OF the people better than the Americana
do. l7 |N
For aforementioned reasons and also
| that the war may soon end we ask the
men Of the American army. stationed In
/ these Islands to present themselves to
the philippine authorities as we did.
| thereby showing yourselves to be true
1 Americans. unfolding tha nnliCV nf XQah-
| ington and the Monroe doctrine against
the ambitious policy OF President Nc
on this cruel war, spilling the innocent
blood OF thousands OF American soldiers
and with What object? To- fll the pockets
OF Mark Hanna and several other Ameri-
can capitalists. who have been for years
| and are now ruling America to-day, or. In
other words, changing your blood for
or wife OF son or husband. thereby max
my many a once-happy home sad and
before we close let us tell you that
near every town there are always sta
| tloned forces of Filipino troops to whom
should you so desire. you can present
and, TO avoid danger. Il is best to hide
II in secure place, and after you have
or ceS os rSsSa the of
recover it and pay you some money in
With this we conclude, wishing you
I'VE remain yours sincerely.
Isignedl HARRY HoRAE ALMAN.
.yOHN BLAKE,
Trumpeter. Co b, Twenty-eighth U. 8.
FRANK l.. CLARK.
Co. II, Twenty-first u. S. infantry
81 THOMAS KRETDEk
Corporal Twenty-eighth u. S. volun-
"CHARLEs BUCHANAN,
Co. Il, Twenty-eighth u. s. volunteers.
HARRY RICHTER,
A :, 2; ScHARLks WRIGHT.
''FiTzHUGH SMITH.
JOHN RYAN.
Fourth regiment
How Gen. Chaffee Views IL.
John T. Kreider, one of the signers
of this proclamation, was tried re-
Gently by military commission in the
Philippines on a charge of treason,
and the records of the court martial
have just been received at the war de-
partment. The preponderance of
proof, said Gen. Chaffee, in review
ing the case, was in favor of the con-
tention of the accused that he was
held by the insurgents as a prisoner
and took no part in operations
against the United States, gave no
aid and comfort to the enemy, made
reasonable effort TO escape and was
compelled, by his captors, under
duress TO sign the above proclama-
tion, by threats of violence, in case
he refused. "While no treasonable
intent or overt act Is established
against the accused by competent
evidence" said Gen. Chaffee, 'it, how
ever, remains 10 be remarked that is
the duty of the American soldier to
face impending danger of death rath-
er than sign reasonable proclama.
ton, even il IL be prepared, as was
the one in this case, by the enemy.
Nor should he do any other act that
might have even a semblance of Civ
ing the enemy encouragement. The
true soldier not only takes the risks
of battle, but all other risks of life
growing out OF any and all incidents
of war, and accepts the chance Of life
or death rather than do aught TO in.
jure his country's cause or dishonor
the uniform he wears"
The military commission found
Kreider guilty of the charge of trea-
son and sentenced him to confne-
ment at hard labor for life, but Gen.
Chaffee, because of the absence of
conclusive proof that the accused
had committed an overt act (such an
act being necessary to consummate
the technical offense of treason). dis
approved the sentence and ordered
the prisoner set at liberty.