New-York tribune., 1902-02-20
NO CRUELTIES PRACTISED.
CHARGES AGAINST AMERICAN SOL
DIERS UNFOUNDED.
SECRETARY ROOT SAYS THE WAR IN THE
PHILIPPINES HAS BEEN CONDUCTED
WITH HUMANITY NEVER

The in the Philippines has been con-
Quoted by the American army with scrupu-
IOus regard for the rules of civilized war
fare. with careful and genuine cOnsidern-
tion for the prisoner and the non-cOm ba tn mt.
with seIf-restrnint and with humanity,
never surpassed II ever equalIed I'm any
conflict, worthy only OF praise, and reflect
ing credit upon the American peopIe.-Sec-
retary Root.
Washington. Feb. 19.-Respondng to in
qulry from Senator Lodge, the Secretary Of War
to-day sent to him a large number of papers
bearing the charge that cruelty is practised
by the American troops the natives of the
Philippines. Senator Lodge presented the docu-
ments in the Senate
Among the documents forwarded are the. rec
ords Of thirteen Investigations into such charges,
and the Secretary says that every report or
charge of this description which has at any
time been brought to the notice of the War De-
partment has been made the subject OF prompt
investigation" He adds that in substantially
every case inquired into the report has proved
to be either unfounded or grossly exaggerated.
He also says the department is now engaged in
conducting an investigation into the charge
made in the Senate last week that the water
cure is the favorIte torture Of the Americans
and especially of the Macabebe scouts TO force
the natives TO give information, and that a SOL
dier with General Funston had said he had
helped TO administer the water cure to one
hundred and sixty natives. all but twenty six
of whom died. He incloses copy Of letter
received from General Funston, dated Febru-
airy 2, 1892. IN which he declares the statement
be 'atrocious lie. without the slightest
foundation Of fact" and also a letter from
Lieutenant Batson the commander of the
MaCa abebe scouts to the same effect.
Copies OF the army regulations prohibiting
rauda In forty-four cases Of officers soldiers and
camp followers who have been tried. and thirty
nine OF them convicted. f7r violation of these
orders
FILIPINO BARBARITY.
Presenting the other side of the picture. Sec
retary Root says:
The war on the part of the Filipinos has been
conducted with the barbarous cruelty common
among uncivilized races and with general dis
regard to the rules OF civilized warfare. They
deliberately adopted the policy OF killing all
natives. however peaceful who were friendly
TO our government. and in literally thousands
of instances these poor creatures. dependent
upon our soldiers for protection. have been as
sassinated. The Filipino troops have frequently
fired upon our men from under protection of
flags of truce tortured TO death American pris-
oners who have fallen into their hands buried
alive both Americans and friendly natives and
horribly mutilated the bodies Of the Ameri-
can dead.
That the soldiers fighting against such an
enemy, and with their own eyes witnessing
such deeds. should occasionally be regardless
of their orders and retaliate by unjustihable
seventies is not incredible. Such things hap
pen In every war, even between two civilized
nations. and they always viii happen while
lasts. That such occurrences have been sane
toned or permitted is not true. constant and
effective pressure of prohibition. precept and dis
cipline has been maintained against them,
That there has been any such practice is not
true. The cases have been few and far be-
tween. scattered infrequently great
OF country along the course of three years of
active conflict. through thousands of engage
mentS and among many thousands of troops.
That these occasional cases have characterized
our army its conduct Is not true. any more
than the deeds Of awless violence which con-
stantly occur in every large city characterize
no DeoDle the citV.