Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-24
WATER CURE CAUSED
TEETH TO DROP
FROM VICTIMS
NEW TESTIMONY DELIVERED YES
BEFORE THE SENATE CON-
MITTEE ON FILIPINO
TORTURE.

WASHINGTON, April 22.-The senate
committee on the Philippines yesterday re-
sumed the examination of witnesses In
connection with the investigation OF al
fairs in the Philippine islands.
Governor Flint, of Cambridge, Mass,
who served as first lieutenant in the
Thirty-fifth volunteer infantry, testified
that early in May, 1900. he had been
witness to the water cure as admins
tered to the natives by the Maccabebe
scouts and that 1t was done to get infor-
nation as to the whereabouts OF their
guns. The guns were delivered. The fol-
lowing day some of his own regiment ap-
piled the cure. but their act was without
the authority of the commanding officers.
The Macabebes, at the time referred TO.
were not under command of commits
stoned officer, but under a sergeant OF
the United States army,
The witness had, he said, been witness
to at least twenty cases of water cure.
He had never had seen any one die as a
result. but had seen a hospital corps man
working on a native who had been rend-
cred unconscious. It'had also been report
ed to him that one Filipino died from the
effects of the water cure. The witness
then described the method Of administer
ing the cure and said that in some cases
where it was given to old men, he had
seen their teeth fall out.
Mr.. Flint, in response to a question by
Senator Dietrich. said he was present up
on these occasion ito draw the line on ex-
cesses." He did not recommend 10 his
major that the practice cease, nor did he
give any orders to his men to stop the
torture.
Answering a question by Senator Bur-
rows, the witness declared that the effect
o. the cure was immediate. the victim
invariably turning in his gun or bolo
and giving information as to the where
abouts of others. It was impossible to
Judge whether the victims were insurgent
soldiers or peasants, but they appeared
to be peaceable barrios or villagers. Some
of them were thrown down by force. 9TH
ers, who were timid, would submit read
lily, while those who resisted were simply
held the more tightly. The treatment. he
said. never got to the point Of great bru-
tally.
Replying to a question by Senator
Lodge, the witness said that he had been
refused a commission in the regular army
because his colonel had reported him as
using intoxicating liquors to excess. Flint
denied that on any of tie occasions when
he had witnessed the water cure. he was
under the influence of liquor. Major
Geary, of his regiment, was always near.
but had not inIerfered in the admfnistra-
ton of the cure. simply assigning a COM
missioned officer to see that the men did
not go too far.
After considerable questioning he final
ly admitted that he approved of the water
cure.
Asked regarding Filipinos in guard hous-
es, he said they were treated exactly the
same as American prisoners except that
they were supplied with food which they
were accustomed to and not with the army
ration.
The witness described the burning Of
small villages. the idea being, he said. to
drive the people to the woods or to the
towns and concentrate them.
WHO did the army borrow that from?"
inquired Senator Culberson.
81 saw it in Cuba" answered the wit
ness. under the authority of General
Weyler.
The witness was then excused and the
committee went into executive session.
The committee IN executive session re-
fused to call Edward Atkinson, of Boston,
as Witness but decided that subpoenaes
issue for a number of sergeants and pri-
Yates WHO were witnesses Of the water
cure. The matter of calling Sixto Lopez,
Mabini and Aguinaldo were left for fu-
ture determination. The committee then
adjourned until Tuesday, April %, on
which day General Macarthur will again
be heard.