Waterbury Democrat., 1902-01-04
RE REMARKABLE PROCLAMATION
Americans Said to Be at the
 Back of 1t.

Soldiers Invited to Desert From Amer
 ican Army and Join With | 4.ipinos- Tired of Fighting With q People
 Who Are Defending Their Own Country.
 Washington, Jan 1.-The war de- partment has received from the Phil ippines copies of q remarkable procla- nation signed with the names of nine Americans of them stated as being ill the United States military seryice-inyiting American soldiers to desert and join the ranks of the Fili- pinO soldiery The text of the docu- ment is as follows:
 To whom it may concern:
 Dear Fellow Countrymen-After many months among the Filipino peo- pie, studying their customs and char acters, we, the undersigned, have come to the conclusion that the time has arrived for us to break the silence and let you know the real truth so that you will see the folly of continu- ation of fighting these people, who are defending their country against the cruel American invasion i'll the same manner in which our forefathers did against England i'll those glorious days of our grand and noble liberator, General George Washington.
 '.Since the day we were led by our conscience and presented ourselves to the Filipino authorities we have re- ceiyed the best of treatment, and we are enjoying q life of luxury without
 having to put our lives in danger as do you, who still remain in the Anieri-
 can ranks fighting for an unjust cause which sooner or later must surely prove disastrous, as it did to the Span
 ish, notwithstanding that they Knew the country and customs of the people
 better than lne Americans do.
 Before we close let us tell you that in nearly every town there are station
 ed always forces of Filipino troops to whom, should you so desire, you can your rifles, and to avoid danger it is best to hide it in a secure place, and after you have presented yourself, in form the Filipino officer or chief of the guerrillas, and they will recover it
 and pay you some money i'll return. With this we conclude, wishing lyou the best of fortune.
 We remain yours most sincerely, 1 HARRY HORAL ALMAN, Company l k,
 JOHN BLAKE, Trumpeter, Company B, 2Sth U. s. Infantry,
 l FRANK l.. CLARK, Company F, Fist U. s. Infantry,
 1 J. THOMAS BREEDER, Corporal, 3Sth U. S. Volunteer Infantry, CHARLES BUCHANAN, Company 1 B, 2Sth Infantry Volunteers, 1 HARRY RICHTER, 9th O. $. ArtiI- 1 lery,
 1 CHARLEY WRIGHT, Hospital Corps,
 FITZHUGH SMITH,
 JOHN RYAN, 4th Regiment"
 John T. Kreider, one of the signers
 of this proclamation, was tried recent l ly by a military commission in the | Philippines on a charge of treason, and the records of the court-martial have just been received at the war de partment The preponderance of proof, said General Chaffee in review ing the case, was in favor of the con- 1 tention of the accused that he was held by the insurgents as 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 to sign
 the above proclamation, by threats of violence in case he refused. While no reasonable intent or overt act is es- tablished against the accused by com petent evidence" said General Chaffee,
 it. however. remains to be remarked that it is the duty of every American soldier to face impending death rather
 Ian sign a reasonable proclamation, even if it be prepared, as was the one l in this case, by the enemy. Nor should he do any other act that might have a seeming of giving the enemy. encour-
 agement. The true soldier not only takes the risks of battle but all other risks of life growing out of any and all incidents of war and accepts the chance of life or death rather than do aught to injure his country's cause or
 dishonor the uniform he wears" The military commission found
 Kre1uer guilty of treason and sen fenced him to confinement at hard la
 Dor for life, but General Chaffee, be-
 cause of the absence of conclusive proof that the accused had committed an overt act (Such an act being neceS-
 sary to consummate the technical of fense of treason) disapproved the sen tence and ordered the prisoner set at IihartV