The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-16
10 Reported Only Facts That
Came 10 His Notice, He Says.
OFFICERS WERE TO BLAME
WhitNsr CrusliIss Were practlced BY the
Men, No Declares, Were on Orders
Of Their Superlors.

WAshington, May lo.-Ien. Nii-s nav
written long letter to the editor OF the
Army and Navy register for publication
tomorrow. morning in explanation OF us
reports OF cruelties and outrages in the
Philippinss The Army and Navy regis
ter was for some time supporter or
Gen. Niles, but recently condemned MS
Philippine reports.
In his letter Gen, Miles refers 10 the
prosecution OF Tweed and the investga-
item new going onain the post office de-
uartnent and remarks that the persons
Who started the postal investigations are
not enemies of the administration or or
the post Office department.
ne argues that he Is not an enemy OF
the army and declares that the soidlers
we're rot 10 blame for obeyirg the orders
OF their officers. upon whom he puts the
blame for the alleged offences committed
IN the Philippines He says;
referring 10 my reports as presented
IN, YOUR issue OF May 3, you will under-
etsnd how one might seriously object
to- having a communication, puohsnea IN
part with some portions omitted. When
that is doe II is impossible 10 appreciate
the relative bearing OF certain portions.
and the writer IL liable 10 be misrepresen-
ted ana the readed 10 be misled. In your
Journal no reference was made 70 my or
der of Nov. .2s. 1892 which formed part
OF my report.
ut is proper TO say that ] went to
the Philippine Islands not as tourist
but in an official capacity.
FROM THE PRESIDENT.
rMoreover. the instructions addressed
20 rn. a. rLteutensnt General Command
tng1,the Army came from, the highest
authority, viz. the president. In them
was directed 10 give especial attention
60 the instruction. dieiphne and supplies
OF the army
T,,Fng route I visited several military
stations in this country and inspected
the entire Pacific coast defences, includ-
ing every gun. mortar, magazine and
Esyrison.
~ went very thoroughly over the
Philippine Isisnds visiting all the prin-
cipal garrisons, seeing nearly All the
troops, complimenting them IN person
and in my official report.
The idea that was governed by pref
udiee in any way is as idle as II is untrue
However eertoin facts came 20 my
knowledge from officers Of rank and expe-
rience. as we'll as from prominent citl-
zens relating TO offences that had never
heardf OF before and found an impress
sion existed in the minds OF some that
certain acts that have been prohibited y;
our army and In every other civlnze1
army we're Justifablc ] therefore deemed
IL
might convey such dangerous and error
eou. Impressions. and directed that thr
order above referred 20 be issued.
The object OF the order was NOT Only
! TO re.cind any injurious orders that mlsn'
have been issued either verbal or written
S,, "a rr.vent any possibility OF the com
mission Of any such offences in the fu'
tnre You will observe that the order does
not criticise or condemn the acts or SIN
gle American soldier.
During the eight years that / have oc
cupied nv present position ] have tssu"c
but few orders Of general character. an'
those had for their object the genera
welfare OF the army. No one can have
more sacred regard for its honor thai
myself
Is.Tho Officers Of the law who arrcste'
tried convicted and executed a hereto
fare honored member OF the faculty o
Harvard College who had committed
ersat crime. we're not called the enemie
3! Harvard nor was the honor ot that N
stitution involved or smirched' by IN
punishment OF an unworthy professor
The authorities who prosecuted and con
A.nnned Tweed and his associates ver
No, accounted the enemies IF New York
or a. IL thev smirched Its honor. In
po.toffice Officials who are nov investi
eating alleged offences are not enemie
cf,the administration or OF the depart
ment
-, NO roRrI-RE IN CIVIL VAR.
"In the greatest and bleodiest ~ a.
psrs covering four years and I'm who
we're engaged 100000 Of brave men,
hsve never heard Of single case c
human torture and those vho falsely as
scr. that IL was practiced insult ak
those Who wore the blue and the gray
For loJ years the army has been was
ing war against savage Indians. an
there IL no nemehle atrocity that Al som
time some Indians did not commit, br
retaliation in kind and violence towar
captive and surrendered Indians have
WAYS been prohibited.
A"It Is idle N assume that campaign
ing In the Philippines has conditions tha
warrant resort TO mediaeval cruelty an
a departure from the honorable methc
OF conducting warfare. nor that such d'
nar,ures as have existed should be ovel
locked and condoned
"Tt 4. most gratifying that the serio,
orfence. have not been committed +
the soldiers unless they were under u
direct orders OF certain officers who wei
r,.non. bic Soldiers have withheld ~
when 'ofdered TO shoot prisoners. protes
ed against acts OF cruelty and write
20 relatives al home, urging them
tske action 10 put n stop IN these crime
"It will ever be one Of the glories Of u
army that such deeds committed
whatever authority are abhorrent 10 "
Ar.riean soldier The officers who al
Responsible do not by any means const
tute the American army and there mu
he. very unmistnkable line drawn b
tween the great body Of honorable ar
faithful officers and brave soldiers who'
record. have been commendaole' ar
thoee OF whatever staten whose &C
have recsived and should receive q
earnest condemnation of all honorab
men
NELSON A MILES.
"Llsuterart general commanar
Cn,ted state. army.