Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-06-19
ON THE WATER CURE
An Ex-Sergeant Testifiss Before
the Senate Committee.
MEANS TO MAKE FILIPINOS CONFESS
An Order to Destroy All Native Huts Along
Coast to Force Natives to Come In
Kindness of Soldiers Regarded
~ Weakness

Washington, June 13.-Mark H.
Evans, of Des Moines, Ia, formerly
a sergeant of company F, Thirty
second volunteer infantry, yesterday
testified before the senate committee
on the Philippines concerning the
administration of the water cure to
Filipinos on four different occasions
during his service in the islands. He
also related the particulars of the
burning of several native villages,
He was questioned by Senators Pat
terson, Beveridge and McComas. All
these events occurred, the witness
said, during the year Of 1900, in the
province Of Batan, island of Luzon,
and in or near the town Of Orano,
where his headquarters were. Three
OF the cases Of water cure occurred
outside the town. In one case the
cure was administered by native
scouts, and in the .others by an
American soldier. The first case &C.
Cured at little town where there
were supposed to be some insurgents.
The scouts picked out the suspected
people, and taking one of them to
nearby creek, poured a quantity Of
water into his mouth from a can
teen. The purpose in this, as in 9TH
er cases, was to secure a confession.
On another occasion during an ex-
petition to neighboring islands, the
witness said that he had an Ameri-
can soldier take two suspected ma
tives into the water and duck them,
holding them under for perhaps half
q minute at q time. He secured a
confession as to the hiding of guns
In one case, but none in the other.
After the first case of ducking the
victim seemed, the witness said, to
have been quite disabled, being ap-
parently so weak that he was unable
to rise. In another case of tho ad-
ministration Of the water cure in
0rano, a tooth of the victim was
knocked out, but so far as he knew
no other injury was inflicted.
Mr.. Evans said he had been pres
ent at the burning of four or five
native villages, anu unat the destruc-
ton OF these places had been due to
the presence of insurgents. The or
ders were to destroy all the native
huts along the coast, near the noun
tains, for ten miles in Batan prov
'nce, so as to force the natives to
come in, and this, he said, was done.
Replying to questions by Senator
Beveridge, the witness said the or
ders to the troops were to treat the
natives humanely, and that with the
exceptions noted their treatment had
been In accord with those instruc-
tons. The natives had not, on the
other hand, shown any appreciation
Of this consideration. They refused
to divulge information in their pos
session, and in many cases they sub"
jected the American troops to In
dignities. In one case, he said, where
two soldiers were killed their ears
were cut off.
Edward J. Norton, of Los Angeles,
late private in company L, Eight
eenth United States infantry, was
the witness at the afternoon ses-
sion. He served two years in the
Philippine army. Answering ques-
lions by Senator Culberson, Mr.. Nor
ton stated that except in isolated
cases the treatment accorded the
natives by United States soldiers
was humane and all that could be
expected or desired" In the isolated
cases referred to he said the treat
ment was not consistent with hui
manity and the laws Of war. He
then related from hearsay the story
Of the administration of the water
cure to the vice presidente of San
Miguel and a native policeman, who
described one occasion where he had
assisted In water curing" q native.
The mans mouth, he said, was forced
open with a stick and the water
poured down his throat. The effect
of the treatment was temporary
strangulation. In this particular
case, he said, the native after receiv-
ing tie cure, delivered up a number
Of rifles and pistols. 1t was the
practice in marching through vii
lagos, the witness related, when
fred upon by natives to Immediately
burn their houses" He said that
the Filipinos regarded the kindness
Of the troops toward them as q
weakness, and became bold in conse-
quence; also that the general un-
derstanding in the army was that
the policy of Gen. Hughes was one
Of humanity and kindness. He took
issue with Senator Culberson on the
subject Of the burning of villages
and declared it to be military neces.
sity.
The committee then adjourned, ;
subject to tho call Of the chairman