The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-28
The Hunt for Philippine Atrocities.

The Hunt for Philippine Atrocities.
The War Department made public
yesterday parts OF Gen. MiLEs's long
heralded confidential report on cruelties
and atrocities alleged to have been COM
mitted by officers and men Of the United
States Army in the Philippines.
Candor compels us to say that there is
little or nothing in the published portion
Of the report that is valu able as direct
evidence OF misconduct on the part OF
our soldiers. Gen. MILES specifies some
cases, on the strength Of stories which
reached him while he was in the islands,
but his statements are in most instances
vague and at second hand. They. az
forced, however, a proper basis fof in
vestigation; and the inquiries required
by the circumstance of the mention OF
these stories and charges by Gen. MILES
IN an official document have either been
prosecuted to a conclusion or are in
process of determination by the military
courts and special inspections promptly
ordered by the Department. 1t is the
avowed and righteous purpose Of the
Administration to search out and punish
every brute in uniform.
We imagine that the remote and eva
sive nature Of most OF Gen. MILEs's
observations will prove a disappoint-
n,ent in certain quarters where the
Generals supposed revelations have
been awaited with feveiish anxiety.
Tho confidential report will not satisfy
these expectations. either in point Of
dehniteness or Of novelty. There are
minds so prejudiced against the idea Of
successful administration, civil or mill
tary. In our distant possessions that they
seixe upon every casual story Of outrage
a. an addition to their arsenal OF argu-
ment. They want so badly TO believe
that this Government is incapable Of
carving on it's work in the Philippines.
that the American character deteriorates
IN the tropics, that men who are reason
able and humane beings here at home
degenerate under the FURNISHED sun into
feroCious animals or fends. that they
welcome a new case of alleged atrocity as
treasure trove.
VIC do not include in this category our
ncighbor the Evening Post, for that jour-
nal Is usually as careful in its assumptions
a. il is earnest in its convictions. Never
tlseless. oven the Post afforded yesterday
an instructive and somewhat amusing
illustration OF the danger Of over-eager-
,nees in the pursuit Of . atrocities A
pscviously unknown case was discovered
in. the Miles report and was thus pro-
claimed in the display headlines:
"A ssiidins In which 600 Persons Are said
10 Have died from SsRecstien.''
And again the sensational fact was
announced by our neighbor in Its sub
heads.
BrHDISGI ~ WHICH SIX HUNDRED
rfRsoNs DIED IRON sUFFocATIoN."
Highly important. II true. was this case
Of the wholesale slaughter Of Filipinos by
aspRyxiation, az reported by Gen. MILES.
more careful examination of the text
Of the Generals report, however, would
have reduced the headlines somewhat.
Speaking Of certain villagers whom he
met at Upa. between Calamba and
Batangas, Gen. MILES said:
".They stated that these atrocities were com
mlssed By . company OF scouts under command OF
Lieut.. HxHsssssY. and that their people had been
crowded Int towns 900 being confined In one build.
Ing doctor Of the party said he was ready to
testify that sons Of n 900 died from 50 location.
Gen. Nns says he looked at the building which
wai one story 10 height. eighteen or twenty feet
ws1e. and possibly sixty or seventy feet long. He
asked for written statement. 70 be forwarded 70
hin 81 Manila. but says he never received II. and
sdds: have no reason to dlsbelieve their state.
nsaas'-
The ease with which mere hearsay, the
unverified story Of the confinement of
600 Flipinos in a small house and the
death Of some Of the party, becomes
magnided in tbs columns Of 90 con-
scientious q newspaper as the Evening
Post into the wholesale destruction Of 900
human lives by sufocation, ought to be
. warning to everybody against the
too hasty acceptance Of similar cases Of
afynrttv