The evening Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1902-1902, 1902-07-28
AMERICANS BRUTAL.
Anti-imperialists Tell of De-
moralization In Army.
OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT.
Grave Charges Formulated Against
Our Troops In the Philippines on
Alleged Reliable Testimony.
Roosevelt Urged to Act.

| LAM HEOltbE, n. l., July ~
At meeting of representative antrim
perialists held in New York city last
spring committee was appointed to
investigate army conditions in the
Philippines. That committee has since
then been prosecuting its impulses.
President Roosevelt's recent review Of
the court martial of General Jacob II.
Smith seemed to the committee to de-
mand some reply. and at Il meeting
| just held at Lake George an open letter
to the president was adopted. The let
ter was signed by Charles Francis Ad-
ans, chairman; Carl SchurZ, Edwin
Burritt Smith, Moorteld Storey and
Herbert Welsh. 1t says:
I'VE desire to express the gratfich.
| ton afforSed us by your review of
| the 18th inst. as commander in chief
Of the findings of the court martial in
| the case of General J. II. Smith, TAX
Ell in connection with the previous
memorandum of April Is, that review
will, provided it be followed by CORE
spending general action, in bur opin-
ion, do much toward the re-establish-
ment of the national prestige and the
restoration CT the morale of the army.
Especially opportune, in our Judgment,
is your very commendable reminder to
officers in high and responsible posi-
tons that in a warfare with national
dependents, such as that recently
waged in the east, it behooves all such
officers to be peculiarly careful in their
bearing and conduct SO as to keep a
moral check over any acts of an i'm
proper character by their subordi-
nates.'
while thus, however, expressing
our sense Of obligation, we wish most
respectfully to call your attention to
certain conclusions which we have In
the course of our own inquiries found
ourselves compelled to reach. Coming
directly to the point and speaking his,
tOrically our investigations have led
us to conclude that the decentralization
of the officers and soldiers of our army
in the Philippines. including all
branches of the service and all grades
as pronounced than might be inferred,
from your review Of the court martial
findings in the case of General SKShh.
'Meanwhile we would respectfully
submit that the good of the army and
the future of our eastern dependencies
demand that investigation should not
stop at this point or with results al
ready reached
The letter then discusses the "kill
and burn" order and says, "As the not
unnatural result of military operations
so inspired an official report indicates
that out of total population in a sin
gle district of 100000 not less than i
100000 persisted"
The letter then alludes to the water
cure, saying that the first reports of
its practice met with denials while
evidences before the senate Philippine
committee proved conclusvely that
this and other forms of torture had
been used, and adds: FINALLY every Sc
verify known to the state of war. prac-
tices which have excited the special
reprObation of the American people
when reported as features Of the hos.
tilities in Cuba under the Spanish re-
gime or in South Africa during the
B0er war, have been Of undisputed
and frequent occurrence in the Philip
pines. From the early beginning Of
operations there it has been the gen.
eral practice. if not actually the Or
der, to kill those wounded in conflict"
The letter then quotes a commune
cation to the senate by Secretary Root
on Feb. II in which Mr. Root said,
"rhc war in the Philippines has been
conducted by the American army with
scrupulous regard for the rules of civ
flied warfare, with careful and gen.
uine consideration for the prisoner and
the noncombatant, with self restraint
and with humanity never surpassed, #
ever eQualed, in any conflict, worthy
only of praise and rejecting credit
upon the American people" '"These
words" continues the letter. "of sweep
ing commentator and unqualified in
dOrsement were written by the honor
able secretary when all the essential
facts since brought to light were with
in his official cognizancc The draft
on our credulity thus presented is
large, but we accept your assurance.
Meanwhile permit us TO point out that
such very sweeping and somewhat I'M
called for commentator and approval,
so far as we are advised altogether un-
precedented in character, coming di.
rectly in the midst of active operations
from the fountain head of military au-
thority, is scarcely calculated to keep
n moral check over acts of an improp.
pr character by suhordnates.'
"The allegations we make are grave
and the condition of affairs we de- ;
scribe serious. AS national record i
It is discreditable. The good name of ,
the country is implicated, as also is
The professional character of officers
Of the army. |
1--WE hold ourselves ready to direct
your attention to concrete cases, the {
of which would demon
strate the following criminal acts, con- ,
trary to all recognized rules and
nsages of war, on the part Of officers Q
md soldiers of the United States:
FIRST kidnapping and murder un-
Ter circumstances Of aggravated bru-
.ality.
"Sccond.-Robbery.
'"rhird.-TOrture, both Of men ard
and rape of the latter
Fourth. The infection of death on j
'ther parties on the strength of evi. {
leDce elected through torture {
SAVES A WOMANS LIFE.