The Washington times., 1902-03-20

The Secretary of the Navy has received
a second report from Major Littleton ".
T. Waller. of the Marine Corps, dated
Basey. Samar. p l.. January %. continu-
ing the story of the march of Waller
column across the island of Samar. II,
which that officer and the men under him
experienced such terrible sufferings. IL
was during this march that Major Waller
is alleged to have committed the crueltles
against Filipino natives, for which he was
ordered to trial by a court-martial- Major
Waller recites the experiences of his COM
mand. telling of the frightful difficulties
encountered.
The phraseology, in some parts of the
report. is such as TO indicate that at the
time it was written he was laboring un-
der a severe mental strain. He says:
Hdqrs. sub-District. South Samar.
Basey, Samar, p. l., Jan. %, 1902.
Sir: l. In my last report carried the
movements Of the column up to and in
Guiding December %, at Pambuhan. On the
morning of the oath the Arayat, having
arrived with stores for me, which l had
sent to CUBAN from the mouth of the
ouinapundan River by the Arayat, on the
morning of the oath, taking Lieutenant
Lyles with me, ! went by the Arayat to
Lanang The mouth of the Lanang River,
just where it empties into the sea, is
very narrow, and the channel made
narrower by the presence of sharp
coral rock. The passage in is
very dangerous. because one rolls
in, driven by the heavy Pacific
swells, to be met and almost swung round
by the heavy flowing current moving into
the sea. We landed and saw Captain Pick
ering. of the Seventh Infantry. very
few minutes later Lieutenant Williams,
of the same infantry, came in from
twelve days trip locking for the Sojoton
Trail. He did not believe that the trail
existed.
Great Hardship Endured.
He spoke of the hardships OF noun
tain climbing, even when he had sup
ply camp and shelter for his men. Re
and Captain Pickering urged me not
to make the attempt, but remembering
the generals several talks on the subject,
and his evident desire to know the trail
and run a wire across, coupled with his
and my own desire for some further
knowledge of the people and the nature
Of this heretofore impenetrable country. l
decided to make the trial with fifty men
and the necessary carriers. Captain Pick
ering was only rationed until January ),
but he could give hard bread. bacon. and
coffee from savings. l told him / would
he with him on the morning of the 2Sth.
Left Lanang and returned to Pambuhan.
We spent the 25th at Pambuhan prepar-
ing for the task in front of US. Captain
Porter had begged hard 10 be allowed to
cross so took him and Captain Bearss.
| left it optional with Lieutenant Will
Jams, of ours. and Lieutenant Lyles. of
the Twelfth. Both wished order, !
gave them. Later Lieutenant Halford re-
quested that he BE allowed to go, so or
dered him, thinking that the presence,
bearing. and conduct Of four officers
would benefit the men. Our surgeon was
unable TO make the march, so was not
brought. J sent Captain Matthews in
charge OF all the officers and men, ma
tive scouts and carriers, to Balangiga, via
Omagongong and .Quinapundan, with spe-
cial instructions to use every effort and
artifice to kill the hidden rifiemen at
Omagongong. ! saw this detachment OFF
on the morning OF the 26th. and then
thanking Captain Ryther and his officers
and men for the uniform courtesy TO me
and mine. so pleasant because so evil
IDENTIFY heart-whole Ind pleasure giving
to them, we turned our faces north for
Herman. Lanang, and the unknown in
terror from east to west, between Lanang
and Basey.
Arrived at Hermann.
2. We reached Hermann at p. m, and
eamped There were numerous signs of
insurrectos, but we didn't find any bands.
We captured two prisoners and used them
es guides, also capturing fine pony.
We marched at a m, the 9th, and
reached Lanang about 4, having lost
much time waiting at the river looking for
a ford We fired a volley. which was
promptly answered by Captain Pickering.
who Immediately sent a banca, hauled by
a carabao. and got the men over without
casualty He had coffee all ready tor the
men, ana his men gave mine dry clothes
while theirs were drying. On the march
from Hermann we fired at one small band
of rebels watching us and a single man
This man was dressed in our uniform, and
wien challenged did not run, but stood for
moment, then turned and jumped 10
rover. Captain Pickering reports having
seen him several times.
3. As soon as possible on the morning
of the 28th we set out in bancas, going
up the Lanang River The personnel of
the expedition leaving Lanang was as fol-
lows:
Personnel of Expedition.
Major L. w T. Waller, U. S. NJ. c.
Capt d. d. Porter, L. S. NJ. c.
Capt. Hiram /. Bearss, L. S. NJ. c.
First Lieutenant A. s. Williams, L. S.
NC.
Second Lieutenant c. Dew. Lyles
Twelfth United States Infantry, aide sent
by General Smith.
Second Lieutenant i. Halford, U. S.
NC.
Fifty enlisted men. United States ma
rines, two native scouts. thirtythree ma
tive carriers.
4. The weather had been very bad for
days, but as we left the clouds broke and
the sun came out, giving us a promise OF
bright weather to come. We camped at
night where the south branch of the La
nang empties into the main river, marked