The Washington times., 1902-05-08
Transmits Orders Sent to
and Issued by Generals
Bell and Smith.
cHAFFEE INDoRsES MEASURES
Says 1t Is Useless to Try to Convince
All Persons That Right Action Has
Been Taken = Personal Acquaintance
With Situation Needed.

Secretary Root sent to the Senate yes
terday reply to the resolution calling
for copies OF orders sent to General Bell
and General Smith. or Of orders issued by
| them.
| The reply opens with a copy of an or
der issued by General Bell at Batangas In
December, declaring that wherever
prisoners of war unarmed or defense
less Americans or natives friendly to the
| United States are murdered or assassi-
mated for political reasons and this fact
can be established. it will be his purpose
| to execute prisoner OF war. to be select
| ed by lot from officers or prominent citi-
| zens held as prisoners; this under the law
authorizing retaliation.
Secretary Root says this order is based
on general order 100, which he says was
approved by Abraham Lincoln. He adds.
''The orders mentioned in the resolution
and the above quoted order of December
Is. received at the same time. were In
strict conformity both with the letter and
the spirit of these instructions. The in
structions themselves were a contribution
to civilization of great and universally
recognized value and authority.
Conditions in Capitalization Camps.
within the present month the War De-
partment has received a report of the con-
diti0n OF the natives collected In the cen
tralization camps provided for by Geuer-
al Bells order of December s, 1901, show
ing by an inspection made by Col. Arthur
L. Warner. of the adjutant generals Of
hce. by which 1t appears that the natives
collected in these camps were well fed.
healthful, and contented.
From the fact that the report was for
warded by General Chaffee with the fol-
lowing Endorsements. infer that the or
ders referred to In the resolution had that
officers approval"
Secretary Root appends the Endorsement
Of General Wheaton as follows:
This report illustrates the conditions
existing in the towns where the inhabi-
tants have been assembled. This concen-
tecting the natives from the guerrilla
bands in the provinces of Laguna and
Batansas-
After more than two years occupa-
tion of these provinces, 1t has been
found impossible to exterminate these
bands or capture their leaders, owing tc
the reign of terror which they exercised
over the inhabitants. Their sy stematic as
neutrality-suspicious. BY burying alive
Of natives who refused to contribute to
the support Of the insurrection enabled
them to wiring a steady war revenue from
people presumably enjoying the privileges
Of free government and the protection of
the United States. This has now termi-
mated: nearly all the arms In the hands
Of guerrillas have been captured or have
been surrendered. and there is a prospect
'f an early termination of disturbed con-
itions in provinces under military con-
troll.
1T is expected that within sixty days,
people assembled in the towns can be re-
turned to their several places of former
lboGe"
General Chaffee's Defense.
Secretary Root also gives General Chat
ee's Endorsement as follows:
at is useless for me to make an at
empt to show the necessity for the
.ourse adopted in the Third and Sixth
3riEades to put an end to the active in
urrecticn existing there. in such way
hat all persons will agree that right
.ction has been taken; it is impossible
# course, for me to do this. | will state.
iowever, that personal contact with the
,eopIe. knowledge Of their methods and
entiments. a personal acquaintance with
he terrene and what may be done by an
nemy as by troops are all essential to
etermine what should be dcns before
ondemning what has been done. Ii Is
lso necessary that some other method be
and positive proof submitted
ha., had Ii been followed. more success
would have followed its
doption, than has been secured by the
resent course.
II do not understand that the authority
4 the United States in these islands can
e indefinitely disputed by armed forces
;ithout efforts to terminate the resist
nee to that authority. on the other
and. | understand that all means which
re justified by the laws of war are to be
pDIied in such form as will meet and de-
eat the method Of warfare adopted by
he enemy II desperate in the last case,
lore desperate must be the attack to
nd IL.
Every care has been taken that peo-
lie required to remain under military
urveillance shall not uRduly suffer for
bod. shelter. or medical attendance, il
eeded-' --..t.s
Secretary Root remarks:
THE War Department saw no reason
doubt that the policy quoted In the
bove- mentioned orders was at once the
lost effective and the most humane which
1uld possibly be followed. and it has so
roved.
within comparatively few weeks
fter this policy was inaugurated tho
uerril'a warfare in Batansas and La
una and the adjacent regions. with al.