The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-20
CAPTAIN RYAN'S DEFENSE
ARMY OFFICER WHO WAS TRIED
FOR "wATER-CURING" FILIPINOs.
Wanted to Know IL His Onense Was a
Greater Crime than Treason
Against the Flag.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19-Manila news
papers received on the incoming Philippine
mail the War Department contain i'm
pOrtant information concerning affairs in
the islands. 1t is reported that the cas-
Goes, which have been used so extensively
in the Philippines as lighters. are to give
way to steam barges and be themselves
relegated to the canals This change. it is
said, marks a new in the history of
lighterage in the islands. Cascoes figured
in the last transport scandal in the archi-
pelago, it being alleged that their ton
mage was exaggerated grossly for dishonest
purposes. The new steam barges which
superseded them were built in Cleveland
and at New York.
Lieutenant Hiskman, of the First Cav
airy, is TO be the next officer subject 10
court-martial He is one of the men against
whom Major Cornelius Gardner made
charges One of these charges is that Hisk-
man practiced medicine without a license,
the specification being that he admins
tered stimulants to natives in the province
of Tayabas.
The papers are full of reports of the trial
Of Captain Ryan, who was charged with ad-
mnistering the water cure. Ryan was de-
Tended by Major Glenn, who had been un-
der similar charges. Captain Ryan in his
own defense used this language: Did my
sticking the heads of these treacherous,
lying native officeholders into a pail of
water, thereby washing away an fmpedi-
ment to their speech, constitute greater
crime than treason against the flag and
the soldiers who defend it?' Ryan was
criticised by General Chaffee on account
of report he made regarding Judge Rohde,
but General Davis, who reviewed the re-
port, agreed with the main facts as pre-
scented by Captain Ryan. He regretted
Captain Ryan's sneers at Judge Rohde and
his defiant attitude toward General Chat
! fee. OF the conditions in Misamas prov
| ince General Davis takes the same views
/ as Captain Ryan. He said that Rufino,
whom Ryan disciplined, was as much a
menace In Mindapao as Lukban In Samar
or Malvar in Luzon. Gen. Joseph p. Sang
| er, who reviewed the case of Ryan, prac-
| ticaly acquitted Ryan of all charges. Dur
| ing the testimony Lieutenant Elliott, of the
| Thirtieth Infantry. said that each town in
/ Mindanao had a band of assassins whose
\ duty il was to kill anyone holding com
munications with the Americans.
An account of the doings of Capt. j. j
| Pershing. of the Fifteenth Cavalry, who is
/ just now figuring in the disturbed dis
/ tricts of Mindanao states that he has
proved a diplomat with majority Of the
Moros, but that nothing could be done
however, for the Moros in the Bacoloo
district One of the Sultans said to Cap.
tain Pershing:
1.-The Bacalod Moros have deceived yoU
in saying they wanted to be friends, as
know many of them are lying along the
road waiting to attack the Americans
Captain Pershing undertook 10 ascertain
| the condition of Bacolod and was informed
| by the Sultan of Bacayuan that there were
three forts, all Of which were strong. The
! people had been strengthening them by
! lining them inside and with stone, 81
that the projectiles of the Americans
could not penetrate them. He said tina
! Bacolod had 800 men. but if the American:
| went there the Moros adjacent would as
sist in the defense. Other native chiefs in
formed Captain Pershing that the Sultar
| of Bacolod would kill them (natives) i
he knew they had been on friendly term:
with the Americans.