The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-05
SEVEN WERE IN OUR ARMY
Declared Conscience Lid Them to Join
The Fllipinos.
WHO ARE COMPARED TO PATRIOTS OF '76
The War is Characterized as Cruel Invasion,
Which Sooner or Later Must
End in Dis1ster 10 the
Americans.
(By the Associated Press. J

Washington. Jan. 4.--The War Depart
ment has received from the Philippines
copies of remarkable proclamation,
signed with the names of nine Americans,
seven OF them stated as being in the
United States military service, inviting
Americans soldiers to desert and join
the ranks of the Filipino soldiery. The
text OF the document is as follows:
ITO Whom it May Concern:
Dear Fellow Countrymen-After many
months anon the Filipino people, study
ing their customs and characters, we,
the undersigned, have como TO the con-
clusion that the time has arrived for for
us to break the silence and let you know
the real truth so you will see the folly
of continuing fighting these people, who
are defending their country against the
cruel American invasion in the same
manner in which our forefathers did
against England in those glorious days
Of our grand and noble liberator, Gen.
George Washington.
Since the day We We're led by our
conscience (and) presented ourselves TO
the Filipino authorities we have received
the best of treatment and we are en-
ioying a life of luxury without having TO
put our lives in danger as you do who
still remain in the American ranks
fighting for an unjust cause which sooner
Or later must surely prove disatro as
il did to the Spanish, Notwithstanding
hat thev knew the country and customs
of the people (better) than the Ameri-
CARS do.
For above mentioned reasons, and
also that the war may soon end, we ask
the men OF the American army stationed
in these islands to present themselves to
the Philippine authorities as we did,
thereby shown yourself to be trtue Am
orleans ,lpholding the policy of Washing
ton and the Monroe doctrine against the
ambitious policy OF President Mckinley,
who for two years has carried on this
cruel war, spilling the innocent blood
OF thousands of American soldiers, and
with what object but to fill the pockets
of Mark Hanna and several other Am
erican capitalists, who have been for
years ard arc now ruling America today
or in other words, changing your blood
for gold and robbing many>a loving moth
er or wife CT son or husband-thereby
making many once happy home sad and
miserable.
Before we close let US tell you that
in nearly every town there are always
stationed forces of Filipino troops, to
whom should you so desire you can pre-
sent yourselves with or without your
rifles, and to avoid danger it is best to
hide in secure place and after you have
presented yourself inform the Filipino
officer Or chief of the guerillas and they
will recover it and pay you some money
in return.
with this we conclude, wishing you
the best of torture
I'VE remain yours most sincerely
fSigned) Harry Horal Almar, Company
X, Jim Blake, uumpeter Company B,
2Sth I. S. Infantry; Frank l.. Clark,
Company f, 2lst U. s. Infantry; j. Thom-
as Kreider, corporal 23th L. S. Volun-
teer Infantry; Charles Buchanan, Com
Jany b, 28th Infantry Volunteers; Har-
ry Richter Sixth U. S. Artillery; Charley
Wright Hospital Corrs; Fitzhugh Smith.
John Ryan, Fourth Reoiment.''
John T. Kreider, one the sgners Of
this proclamation, was tried recently by
military commission in the Philippines
II a charge Of treason and records of the
court martial have just been received at
the War Department. The preponder,
ance of proof. said Gen. Chaffee, N re-
viewing the case, was in favor of the
contention of the accused that he was
held ~ the insurgents as q prisoner and
took no part in operations against the
United States, gave no aid and comfort
to the enemy made reasonable effort TO
escape and was compelled by his captors
under legal duress sign the above pro-
e.amation by threats of violence in case
he refused The military commission
found Kreider guilty OF the charge of
treason and sentenced him to confine-
ment at hard labor for life, but Gen.
Chaffee, because of the absence of con-
elusive proof that the accused lad COM
mitted an ovet act (such an act being
Necessary to consummate the technical
offense of treason) disapproved the SEN
tence and ordered the prisoner set at
liberty.