The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-04-29
Gen. Miles Report Of His Trip
Through the Philippines.
STORY OF BRUTAL CRUELTY.
Atrocities Perpetrated by United
States Troops and Native Scouts
on DefenceIess Filipinos Hotly
Condemned.
Gen. BeI,s Acts of Recommendation in
Direct Violation of the Law.

UIEECl SlUI6lUH Low
Washington, April 27.-The extend
ed report of Lieut.. Gen. Nelson A.
Miles concerning his observations in
the Philippines was made public to-
day by the war department. It is
dated February 10, 1903, and covers all
features of his trip through the islands,
together with his recommendations.
Gen. Miles describes visit to Lipa,
where, he says, a party of citizens,
headed by the acting president, met
him and stated that they desired to
make complaint of harsh treatment of
the people of that community, saying
that they had been concentrated in
towns and had suffered great indigna-
tion: ssthat fifteen Of their people had
been tortured by what is known as the
water torture, and that one man, a
highly respected citizen, aged 65 years,
named Viacente Luna, While suffering
from the effect Of the torture and un-
conscious was dragged from his house,
which had been set on fire, and burned
to death. They stated that these
atrocities were committed by a COM
pany of scouts under command Of
Lieut.. Hennessy, and that their peo-
ple had been crowded into towns, i've
hundred being confined, to one build
ing.'' A doctor of the party said he
was ready to testify that some Of the
six hundred died from suffocation.
Gen. Miles then refers to other cases,
saying that on the island Of Cebu it
was reported and published in Novem-
ber, 1902, that two officers, Capt.
Samuels, 44th infantry United States
volunteers, and Lieut.. Feeter, 10Th in
fantry, had committed similar atrocl-
ties against the people Of that Island.
| It is also reported that at Laoag, on
| the island Of Luzon, two natives we're
whipped to death. At Tacloban,
Leyet, it was reported that Major
Glenn ordered Lieut.. Caul6eld, Philip
pine scouts, to take eight prisoners out
into the country, and that if they did
not guide him to the camp of the in
surgent, Quison, he was not to bring
them back. It was stated that the
men were taken out and that they
either did not or could not do as
directed. One Of the men who had a
son among the scouts was spared, but
the others were shot or bayonetted to
death, some being in kneeling posi-
tion at that time.
SAT Calbayog, Samar, it was re-
ported that several men In that district
| had been subjected to water torture.
! I saw three men who had been sub
jected to this treatment. One was the
presidente of the town, Mr.. Rosales,
| who showed me long, deep scars on his
| arm, which he said we're caused by the
cords with which he was bound cutting
into his flesh. The second man was
| named Jose Borja and the third was
| Padre Jose Diaznes, who stated that
he was one of the three priests who had
been subjected to torture by the troops
| under command of Lieut.. Gaujot,
10th cavalry; that his front teeth had
been knocked out, which was ap-
parent; that he was otherwise NAL
| treated and robbed of S30G 1t was
stated that these priests were taken
out to be killed and were saved only
| by the prompt action of Major Car,
| rington, 1st infantry, who sent out fol
them. Lieut.. Gaujot was tried, plead.
ed gnilty and was given the trivial
sentence Of three months suspension
from command, forfeiting $50 pei
month for the same period. His plead.
| ing guilty prevented all the facts and
circumstances being developed.
"Itappears that Major Glenn, Lieut.:
| Conger and a party of assistants ane
native scouts were moved from place
1 to place for the purpose Of extortins
| statements by means Of torture, and II
became so notorious that this party
was called 'Glenn's brigade. Wheth
er it was possible for officials to be en-
gage in such acts without the persona
knowledge of the general upon whose
| staff they were serving at the time
namlely Brig. Gen. Hughes, / leave 10!
others to conjecture.
"These facts came to my notice in
casual way, and many others of simlla
character have been reported in differ
ent parts of the archipelago. In fact
was informed that it was common
talk at the place where officers con
gregated that such transactions hat
been carried on either with the con
nivance or approval of certain com
manding officers. It is however, mos
| gratifying to state that such atrocitie
have been condemned by such com
manders as Gems. Lawton, Wade
Sumner, Lee, Baldwin and Others:
"I found that with certain officer
the impression prevails that such act
were iustifable, and felt it my duty
| in order to correct such erroneous AM
dangerous impression, and to preven
the possibility of such acts being com
mitted in the future, which must i'm
pair the good name of American arm
and bring discredit to our service TO
all time, to direct that any orders o
circulars Of personal instruction. which
would inspire or encourge any act o
cruelty be annulled.
Gen. Miles directs attention to th'
acts of RECOMMENDATION by Gen. Bel
and claims that they were in direc
violation of the law. he says the Law
was also violated in handling and buy
ing large quantities of rice which wa!
sold at profit. The people who were
in the RECOMMENDATION camp, says Gen