Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-01
JOE WHEELER TELLS
OF PHILIPPINE WAR

NEW YORK. April 2e.-In lengthy IN
terview published by the Herald. General
Joseph Wheeler. retired. who is at the
home OF his sister in Brooklyn. has dis
cussed the Philippines IN the light Of re-
cent developments from his point OF view
after six months service there in COM
mand OF a brigade.
Ny service was confined" he said, 'to
that section OF the country extending for
about Us miles ahJve Manila and some 80
or 40 miles In breadth II is thickly pop
ulated country. its cities have schools ana
the people are more or less educated The
impression had from these people was
that ali they want was an honest. fair.
lust government. and found them very
apprecistive OF kindness.
I'VE had a great many fights with the
insurgents but IN no instance was there
any cruelty BY our soldiers or 50 far as
know. any killing except according TO the
rPles OF war.
7 never heard Of airy water cure. or any
other infection OF torture upon the Fill
pinos."
rs Il true" he was asked, that Sher-
mans army. on its march 20 the sea, was
guilty Of such acts as have been at
tributed TO our troops in the Philippines7"
1T is true that Sherman's army did
burn buildings. but 1 never heard of its
ever killing or hurting a non-combatant,"
replied General Wheeler. thoughtfully.
Ny associations with the FHipinos." he
continued. led me 10 believe that they
are not a malevolent people. II is true,
they were not always frank. and this was
due TO the fact that the insurgent chiefs
were constantly demanding information
and money from them. and they were
afraid 10 neglect these demands. because.
as they told me. II they did so they would
suffer very severely I'm their property and
possibly IN their lives. IL our troops left.
and there was a constant impression
among them that our troops would only
remain temporarily I'm that country.
There were some instances OF cruelty
on the part Of the FiIipinos. but they were
very few. AL the prisoners who were
taken by them and who were returned TO
as. whom I TALKED 70. spoke enthusiast
cally OF the kindness with which they
were treated with the exception OF Lieu
tenant Gilmore. He complained OF harsh
treatment and almost starvation.
There was one case OF cruelty by Gen
eral Akin who. II was said. ordered three
prisoners 70 be shot when he was so
pressed that he thought they would be re-
taken by US.
MY impression was that the Filipinos
are responsive 70 kind methods. and ap-
preciate them. and their general express
sions 10 me were that they should love
20 be citizens OF the United States II they
can be equals OF the Americans. but they
do not want 10 be connected with any
government where they viii be regarded
as interiors"
'In your opinion" he was asked. "can
the United States assimilate the Filipinos
without exterminating them?'
with the exception OF a few localities
peace and quiet and order exist in the
Philippines now. quite up 10 the standard
OF our own territories. and am convinced
this condition viii be universal throughout
these islands in a very short time
Americans viii go there because they
ind advantages that are offered by few
countries. Rnd ~ few years they VIII be
the controlling element in those islands"