New-York tribune., 1902-12-25

Inquiries ON Charges Of Cruelty an
Pkikppines.

Manila. Dec 24.-severaI official Inquiries into
charges of alleged cruelty to natives by soldiers
are at present going In the islands some
Of these cases have been investigated previously.
When General Miles was at Lipa. in the
province of Batangas. Luzon. certain natives
laid charges before him that. in the campaign
of Recommendation. American soldiers had COM
mitted acts OF cruelty and violence General
Miles referred the matters to General Davis. and
the latter detailed Colonel Morris c. Foote,
of the 18th Infantry, to investigate them Colo
mel Foote found the charge OF violence to be
untrue, but II is believed he found in some
cases that the water cure had been admins
tered. His report will be sent TO Washington
While General Miles was in the islands Major
George K Hunter. OF the 18th Cavalry. repeat
ed TO him certain charges which had been
brought against Captain Robert L. Howe. OF
the 9th Cavalry. when in command at Laoag,
North Tocos, Luzon. in 1900. AT the time
specified Captain Howe was lieutenant colonel
of the 34th Volunteer Infantry-l Major Hunter
said that native officials of Laoag had whipped
certain prisoners, two of whom died from the
effects of this treatment. At the time Of this
alleged occurrence Major Hunter serving at
Laoag; he reported the matter In letter TO
Governor Taft who informed General MacAr-
thur. Captain Howe denied the charges An
investigation was ordered and the bodies OF the
two prisoners who died were exhumed- In their
report the investigators held Captain Howe TO
be bIameless General Miles brought Major
Hunter to the north OF Luzon and landed him
at Laoag before leaving the islands for China
At present Major Hunter is IN Manila He
says the investigation into the charges against
Captain Howe has not yet been completed.
After leaving Manila General Miles sent a
cabegram TO General ]. Franklin Bell directing
him to report what cases of misconduct on the
part OF the enemy had led him 10 issue Circular
No g. in which it charged that the enemy
had boloed American wounded men, had made
use OF American uniforms. had planted Internal
machines. shot poisoned arrows. violated their
paroles. assassinated friendly natives. accepted
office under the Americans for the purpose Of
obtaining information. and had entered the
American lines by deceit General Bell has
written an extended report enumerating the In
stances which justified his action
The inquiry into the causes which led TO the
death OF Father Augustin has been completed
and forwarded 70 Washington The water cure
was administered to Father Augustin at Ba-
nate Panay Island; the priest died from the ef-
fects Of this treatment. 1t Is alleged that
large sum OF money has been raised among the
natives of the southern Islands and been sent 70
Boston to aid in the private prosecution OF the
Augustin case The claim has been made that
this money was intended for use against Major
Edwin F. Glenn. OF the 9th Infantry, who is
charged with unIawfuly and wilfully killing
seven prisoners OF war. and whose trial will be
continued here in January. Major Glenn how
ever, was it is said, IN way connected with
the Augustin case.
The allegation was made by the anu-inperial-
list committee, at the Lake George Conference.
that Father Augustin was killed by the water
cure in the Philippines. The War Department
had the matter investigated