The Red Cloud chief., 1902-07-25
SMITH IS GUILTY
Court Martial Findings Against
the Veteran Soldier
"howlNG WILDERNESS" ORDER CAUSE


Gen. .lcob Smith, who Is RESPONSE
BILE for the burn and kill" order in
Samar, will be placed on the retired
list, compulsorily. II was given out
at Washington Wednesday that the
court-martial finding in his case was
that he was guilty Of reprehensible
conduct and violation Of the articles of
war and the sentence was that he be
publicly reprimanded by the president
of the United States. The presidents
reprimand has been received by the
val department. and is a follows:
white House, Washington, July IA,
BOBBY the President:
THE findings and sentence of the
court are approved. am well aware
OF the danger and great difficulty of
the task u army has had in the
Philippine islands and OF the well nigh
intolerable provocations 1t has re-
ceiyed from the cruelty, treachery and
total disregard of the rules and GUS
toms OF civilized warfare on the part
Of It's foes. | also heartily approve the
employment of the sternest measures
necessary to put a stop TO such atroci-
ties and to bring this war to a close.
IL would be culpable to show weak
ness in dealing with such foes or to
fail to use all legitimate and honorable
methods to overcome them. But the
very fact that warfare Is of such char
acter as to afford infinite p~rovocation
for the commission of acts Of cruelty
by Junior officers and the enlisted men,
must make the officers In high respon-
sible positions particularly careful In
their bearing and conduct so as to keep
a moral check over any acts Of an i'm
proper 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 kind
ness and forbearance in dealing with
their foes.
But there have been EXCEPTIONS;
there have been instances of the use
of torture and improper heartlessness
In warfare on the part of individuals
or small detachments. In the recent
campaign ordered 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 mental condition at the
time, this mental condition being due
to the fearful hardship and suffering
which he had undergone in his cam
paign. II is impossible to tell exactly
how much influence language like that
used by General Smith may have had
I'm preparing the minds OF those under
him for the commission Of the deeds
which we regret. Loose and violent
talk by an officer OF high rank Is al
ways likely to excite to wrong doing
those among his subordinates whose
wills are weak or whose passions are
strong.
General Smith has behind him a
hong 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 II Is deeply to be re-
GREETED that he should have so acted
In this instance as to interfere with
his future usefulness in the army.
hereby direct that he be retired from
the active list. (Signed.)
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"