New-York tribune., 1902-08-02
GEN. SMITH LEARNS FATE.
GETS FIRST NEWS OF HIS RETIREMENT
AS TRANSPORT NEARS SHORE.

San Francisco Aug. 1-Standing the bridge
of the transport Thomas eagerly waiting, with
the ships captain, for a glimpse of his native
shore General Jacob H Smith. who was tried
bv court martial for having ordered the 1siaho
of samar transformed into "a bowling wilder
ness was doomed this morning to learn that
the President had retired him from active duty.
The ptIot boat which met the Thomas just out
side the heads at o'clock this morning brought
to General Smith the first news OF the Fresi-
dents action In the falling light OF a DIN
nacle lamp the veteran read the message that
apprised him of his fate. An hour later the
dawn came and with it the sight of land, out
General Smith had retired to his cabin where
with his wife and chief aid, Lieutenant j. II.
Shields, of the 10Th Infantry, he discussed the
outcome of the long ordeal through which he
had passed Six hours later, when the Thomas
reached the quarantine station in the harbor,
Major Duval, Of the transport service boarded
the ship with his secretary and met poth Geh-
eraI Smith and Lieutenant Shields at the door
of the generals cabin A sealed document from
the War Department was handed to General
Smith. It contained the official notification OF
President Roosevelt's action, and upon reading
it General Smith retired. overcome with emo
ton.
General Smith not seen again Until tIe
United States Custom House tender Hartley
was ready to take him and his party ashore
He denied himself to all interviewers. who were
met by Lieutenant Shields. Together with his
wife and aid, General Smith proceeded to the
Occidental Hotel repairing thence to Army
Headquarters in the Phelan Building, where he
remained all the morning. Lieutenant Shields
said:
General Smith has absolutely nothing to say
for publication. He is not at liberty TO talk,
and Furthermore, has nothing to say He mas
been hopeful that the President would not take ~
action against him. and, of course, feels keenly
the force of the blow he has received Ihe gen
eral admitted to the court martial that tried him
that he had issued orders which, in effect, eX-
pressed his desire that the enemy If obdurate
and unconQuerable, be not spared-ln 1act that
the country be laid waste and no prisoners De
taken The literal construction of these orders
and their exact Interpretation made up the
bulwark of evidence against the general at the
court martial There is no doubt that General
Smith did not mean all he said he certainty
did not expect the action that the President has
taken.
appeared exceedingly nervous and worn. His
sixty-two years are plainly read IN his every ac-
tion and his intimate friends fear he is break
ing down under the severe strain to which he
has been subjected in recent months. 1t is not
vet known when General Smith will go East
His sealed orders require him TO report to the
adiutant general at Washington. and 1t Is like
" that he will lose no time in starting for the
national capital
Repeated efforts made to induce General Smith
to discuss his campaign in the Philippines and
his court martial failed entirely. He even de-
clined TO take up the subject with intimate
friends.
The transport Thomas brings portions OF the
25th and 26th Infantry regiments and the 10th
Cavalry.