Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-07-24
GENERAL SMITH
NOW RETIRED
President Announces Punish
ment for Kill and Burn
Order.
HIS CONDUCT IS CONDEMNED
President and Secretary Root Review the
Oase-Smith's Further Presence In the
Army Deemed a had Induence-Carser
Commended by President

Washington, July 17.-Secretary
Root brought from Oyster Bay the case
of General Jacob II. Smith. tried by
court martial at Manila on account OF
orders issued by Major Waller. Gen.
eral Smith was found guilty OF tho
charges by the court and sentenced to
be admonished by the re ,lewiag au-
thority. The president has so admon-
ished General Smith and retired him
under the law, which provides that Of
ficers having reached the age of 81
years may be retired at will by the
president. Secretary Root supple
ments the reprimand of President
Roosevelt in long circular in which
he explains the conditions which re-
suited in the court martial of General
Smith and shows that. although Smith
issued the kill and burn" order, as a
matter of fact very few persons were
killed as result of that order, the cas-
ualties being confined almost wholly
to the eleven natives killed under Ma.
jor Walters direction.
Following is the text of the presi-
dents review of the case:
White House. Washington, July IA.
1902.-By the president: The findings
and sentence Of the court are approx
ed. am well aware of the danger and
great difficulty of the task our army
has had in the Philippine Islands and
of the well nigh intolerable provoca-
tons 1t has received from the cruelty,
treachery and total disregard of the
rules and customs of civilized warfare
on the part of its foes. | also heartily
approve the employment of the stern
est measures necessary to put stSf to
such atrocities and to bring this war
to close 1t would be culpable to
show weakness in dealing with such
foes or to fail to use all legitimate and
honorable methods to overcome them.
But the very fact that warfare is of
such character as to afford mantle
provocation for the commission of acts
of cruelty by junior officers and en-.
listed men must make the officers in
high and responsible positions pecu.
liarly careful in their bearing and con-
duct so as to keep a moral check over
any acts OF an improper character by
,neir subordinates. Almost universal
ly the higher officers have so borne
themselves as to supply this necessary
check, and with but few exceptions
the caiccss and soldiers of the army
have ssiown wonderful kindness and
forbearaace in dealing with their foes.
But there have been exceptions; there
have been instances of the use of tor
ture and of improper heartlessness in
warfare on the part of the individuals
or small detachments. In the recent
campaign ordered by General Smith
the shooting of the native bearers by
the orders of Major Waller was an act
which sullied the American name and
can be but partly excused by Major
Walters mental condition at tl,-sipe;
this mental condition being due to the
fearful hardships and suffering which
he had undergone in his campaign. II
is impossible to tell exactly how much
influence language like that used by
General Smith may have had in pre-
pairing the minds of those under him
for the commissions of the deeds
which we regret. Loose and violent
talk by an officer of high rank is al
ways likely to excite to wrong those
among his subordinates whose wills
are weak or whose passions are strong.
General Smith has behind him a
long career distinguished for gallantr.
and on the whole for good conduct.
Taken in the full, his work has bee/S,
such as to reflect credit upon thu
American army and, therefore. on the
nation, and 1t is to be deeply regretted
that he should have acted thus in this
instance as to interfere with his fur
Their usefulness in the army. | hereby
direct that he be retired from the ac-
| tive list
4 (Signed) "Theodore Rooseyelt -