The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-17
smith RETIRED
BY THE PRESIDENT
last Act Growing Out Of Philip
pine Court Martial.
REGRETS TO cENsuRE= HIM.
sresident Laments Tha. After Distin-
guished Career He Should Have So
Acted as to interfere With
His Usefulness.
REGRETS TO CENsuRE HIM
nv Associated Press. $

WASHINGTON, July 16-secretary
Root brought back from Oyster Bay the
papers in the case Of General Jacob
Smith. tried by court-martial at Manila
on account OF orders issued to Major
Waller: General Smith was found guilty of
the charges by the court-martial and
sentenced to be admonished by the re-
Viewing authority. The President has
80 admonished General Smith and re-
tired him under the law which provides
that officers having reached the age OF
81 may be retired at will by the .Presi-
dent
Secretary Root supplements the repH-
mand by President Roosevelt in long
statement. in which he explains the con-
ditions which resulted in the court-1nar-
tial of General Smith and shows that al
though Smith issued the xiii and burn
order. as a. matter of fact very few per-
sons were killed as result of that or
der the cruelties being confined almost
wholly to the eleven natives killed under
Major Walters direction
THE PRESIDENT REVIEW.
Following is the text of the Presidents
review of the case:
White House, Washington.
July IA. 1902.
by the President: The findings and SEN
tence of the court are approved. / am
n.!l aware OF the danger and great diff
Guilty of the task our army has had in the
Philippine Islands. and of the well-ngh
irtcierable provocation 1t has received
from the cruelty. trea cherry and total dis
regard Of the rules and customs of civ
.lized warfare on the part OF its foes.
] also heartily approve the employment
IF the sternest measures necessary to put
a step to such atrocities and 10 bring
this war to a close. It would be culpable
to show weakness in dealing with such
Toes or to fail to use all legitimate and
honorable methods to overcome them: but
the very fact that the warfare is of such
a character as to afford infinite provo
cation for the commitment of acts of
cruelty by Junior officers and enlisted
men must make the officers in high and
responsible positions peculiarly careful
In their bearing and conduct. so as to
keer, a moral check over any acts of an
Improper character by their subordinates.
Almost universally, the higher officers
have SO borne themselves as to supply
this necessary check, and with but few
exceptions. the officers and soldiers of the
army have shown wonderful Kindness and
ftrbearance in dealing with their foes.
Eut there have been exceptions. There
lave. been instances Of the use Of torture
ard of improper heartlessness in warfare
on the part of individuals on small de-
I6C1eme01S. IN tne recent campaign or
-dered 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. because of Major Walters men
tai condition at nat time, this mental
condition being due to the fearful hard
shin and suffering which he had under
gcne in his campaign.
REGRETS TO RETIRE HIM.
It is impossible to tell exactly how
much influence language like that used
by General Smith may have il preparing
the minds of those under him for the
commission of the deeds which we re-
greet. Loose and violent talk by an Of
f1cers OF high rank is always likely to
excite wrong-doing among his subordi-
mates whose wills are weak or whose
passions are strong.
General Smith has behind him long
career, distinguished for gallantry and
on the whole for good conduct. Taken
in the full. his work has been such as
to reflect credit uPon the American army
and therefore upon the nation; and it is
deeply to be regretted that he should
have so acted in this instance as to- in
terfere with his further usefulness in the
army. I hereby direct that he be retired
from the active list.
tSigned) THEODORE ROOSEVELT.