The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-16

WASHINGTON, April 15.-As a result of
consideration by the Cabinet to-day of the
charges of cruel treatment of Fflipinos by
United States soldiers, Secretary Root has
made public the following correspondence:
Washington. April 10.
MY Dear Senator-I beg to acknowledge
receipt of your copy of the testimony of
Sergeant Charles s. Riley and Private Will
liam l.. Smith, late of the Twenty-sixth
Infantry, taken before your committee yes
terday. l inclose a copy of a dispatch
which has been sent to-day to Major Cen
eral Chaffee, commanding the division of
the Philippines. Directions have been given
TO the judge advocate general of the army
to take proper steps in accordance with
this dispatch.
THE War Department will be glad to re-
ceive the earliest practical information of
any further evidence which may be elected
by the committee tending to fix RESPONSE
bility upon any one in the military service
of the United States for any violation of
any laws of war or of the regulations or
orders governing the operations of the army
of the United States in the field.
"ELIHU ROOT. Secretary of War
Hon. II. c. Dodge, United States Senate
Washington, d. G.
''War Department. Washington, April Is
Memorandum for the Adjutant GENERALLY
'Cable General Chaffee as follows: On
Feb 10 letter was sent you inclosing for
investigation a copy of charges made by
Governor Gardner, of Tayabas province
which contained general allegations of cru
elites practiced by troops on natives, and
generally of an insolent and brutal attitude
of the army towards natives. On April 2
a cable dispatch was sent you urging ac-
ton with all speed consistent with thor
ough and searching investigation.
ION the 4th of March a cable dispatch
was sent YOU directing disciplinary meas
ures TO produce obedience to the Presidents s
instructions subordnating military officers
TO civil government in pacifed provinces
and instructing you TO relieve Mai. Edwin
F. Glenn and Capt. James A. Ryan from
Guty and order them TO Manila to await
investigation into their conduct, in ac-
cordance with instructions to follow by
mail.
'On the oath of March instructions were
mailed you containing statement of charges
against these Officers and Gen. Jacob H.
Smith as the basis of the investigation or
dered by the cable of March 4.
Further instructions in both matters
are required by the following facts: Press
dispatches state that upon the trial of Mai
Waller. of the marine corps. testimony was
given by Waller. corrOborated by other
witnesses that Gen. Jacob H Smith in
structed him to kill and burn; that the
more ne killed and burned the better
pleased General Smith would be- that It
was no time 70 take prisoners. and that
when Major Waller asked General Smith
to define the age limit for killing he re-
Piled Everything over ten. If such testi-
mony was given and the facts can be es-
tablished you Will place General Smith on
trial by court-martial.
Yesterday before the Senate committee
on Philippine affairs Sergt Charles Riley
and Private William L. Smith of the
Twenty-sxth Volunteer Infantry. testified
that the form Of torture known as the
water cure was administered 10 presidentes
of the town of Igbarras. Iloilo province
Island of Panay. by detachment of the
Eighteenth United States Infantry under
command OF Lieut. Arthur l. Conger. un-
der orders OF Mai. Edwin r. Glenn. then
captain of the Twenty-fifth Infantry. and
that Captain and Assistant Surgeon Palmer
Lyon, AT that time contract surgeon, was
present TO assist them. The officers named
or such Of them as are found TO be re-
sponsible for the act viii be tried therefor
by court-martial. COnger and Lyon are
In this country. Both the Twenty-sfxth a
Volunteer Infantry and the Eighteenth In
fantry having returned 20 the United States
and most of the witnesses being presump-
lively here. ths-secretary OF war directs