The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-20
Mr.. Root RefuteS Tales Of
Torture of the
FilipinoS.
SAYS REGULARS OBSERVE Law
Directs Strong Letter to Sen
ator Lodge.
FUNSTON HEARD FROM
FUNSTON HEARD FROM
Eiiipinos Declared to Conduct War
in Earbarous Fashion - Wound.
Nninl. and XIII in Reckless Mnn-
ner-Fire on Flags of Truce.

Senator Lodge yesterday presented IN
the Senate letter from Secretary Root
in which he characteIizes the reports of
the torture Of Filipirpa by the American
army as entirely unfounded or grossly eN-
aggerated. Papers accompanying the let
ter including one from General Funston,
are still more emphatic in their denials.
General Funston says that the water cure
story is AN atrccious lie. without the
slightest foundation
Secretary Roots letter is as follows:
Letter From Secretary Root.
In reply to your letter of Saturday
18th instant, asking information regard
ing the reports an charges in the pub
lie press of cruelty and oppression. exer-
cised by our soldiers toward natives of
the Philippines. | send you number OF
documents which think viii furnish the
information you desire
Every report or charge of this descrip-
tiCn which has at any time been brought
to the notice of the War Department has
been made the subject of prompt invesi
cation. Among the enclosed papers you
will find the records of thirteen such en-
quiries in which the results have been
reported. You will perceive that in sub
stantially every case the report has
proved to be either unfounded or grossly
exaggerated.
The particular report which was called
10 the attention OF the Senate last week,
the water cure is the favorite torture
n he nd oF
Macabebe scouts to force the natives to
give information, and that soldier who
was with General Funston had stated hat
he had helped to administer the water
cure to $50 natives, all but twenty-six
of whom died was already under investi-
cation, which is still in progress.
Denies Cruelty.
Il enclose copy of letter received
from General Funston, dated February 2
1892, in which he declares the statement
to be an 'atrocious lie, without the slight
est foundation OF fact and a letter from
Lieutenant Batson, commander Of the
Macabebe scouts, to the same effect
las to orders governing our soldiers in
the Philippines, | send you copy of the
instructions for the government of armies
of the United States. promulgated under
President Lincoln, by general order No.
100, of 1863.
These rules have been repUblished
from time TO time in separate form. and
furnished to every commissioned officer
OF the army, both regulars and volunteers.
and are today, as they have been at all
times since 1863, the practical and eff
fective guide and rule of conduct to which
every officer understands that he must
conform. Among these rules you will find
the following:
Rules of War.
- Rule IS. Military necessity does not |
admit Of cruelty-that is. the infiiction of |
suffering for the sake of suffering, or for |
revenge. nor of manning or wounding ex- |
cept in fight. nor of torture TO extort con- |
fession.
Rule II. All wanton violence commit |
ted against persons in the invaded coun- |
try, all destruction of property not com
nanded by the authorized officer, all rob-
berry, ali pillage or sacking, even after |
taking a place by main force all rape. |
Wounding manning, or killing of such in
habitants are prohibited under the pen
atty Of death, or such other severe pun
ishment as may seem adequate for the /
gravity of the offence.
Rule Sc. A prisoner of war is subject
TO no punishment for being public
enemy, nor is any revenge wreaked upon
him by the intentional infection Of any
suffering, or disgrace. by cruel imprison-
ment. want of food. by mutilation. death.
or any other barbarity.
Rule 10. Prisoners of war are subject
to confinement or Imprisonment. such as
may be deemed necessary on account of
safety, but they are to be subjected to no
other Intentional suffering or indignity
No Violence Used.
Rule so. Honorable men when can
tured, will abstain from giving TO the en-
envy information concerning their oRn
army and the modern law of war permits
no longer use Of any violence against pris-
oners in order to extort the desired in
formation or to punish them for having
given false information
Il send you also copies of eighteen or
ders, issued at different times and under
different commands III the Philippines. for
the observance and enforcement of these
humane rules, calling particular attention
10 the order in the department of South
ern Luzon, dated June >, 1900; in the de-
Partment of the Visayas dated June %
1890. and in the department Of Northern
l-uzon, dated July Il. 1900
Il send you a memorandum Of forty
four officers, soldiers and camp followers , /,
who have been tried. and thirty-nine o:
them convicted. for violation OF such Or q
ders as are above described.
FiIipinos Treachcrous
The war on the part of the Filipinos
mas been conducted with the barbarous l
'ruelty common among uncivilized races .
md with general disregard to the rules :
II civilized warfare. They deliberately e
adopted the policy OF killing all natives
however peaceful who were friendly 10 |
'ur Government. and literally in thou >,
ands Of Instances these poor creatures. i
dependent upon our soldiers for protec- ;,
ion, have been assassinated. The Fiji
ino troops have frequently fired upon our n
pen from under protection of flags of e
ruce. tortured to death American prison u
rs who have fallen into their hands 81
uried alive both Americans and friendly n
atives, and horribly mutilated the bodies Of
the American dead N
That the soldiers fighting against such | n
n enemy and with their own eyes wit ar
a..a..s-