The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1903-04-30
OFFICERS ARE CRITICISED
REPORT OF GENERAL MILES on
: AFFAIRS IN PHILIPPINES -
MADE PUBLIC.
MANY ATROCITIES CHARGED

So NoHipSF OF instances OF
Cruelty and Torture and BIames
Commanding Officers for Allowing
Such 'Aets-DecIares That General
Bells Concentration Order Was in
Direct Violation of Law.
Washington, April 2S.-The war de-
partment has made public a portion
OF the report of General Miles on the
condition of posts and soldiers in the
Philippines. Secretary Root has had
several requests for this report, but
has held that such reports were con-
fidential in order that the person max.
ing them might be free to make such
comments as he deemed fit, but as it
was learned that General Miles had
no objection to the publication Of the
report it has been made public, with
q brief comment by General Davis,
deputy adjutant general, who had
charge Of several of the subjects re-
ferred to in portions of the report. The
statements made by General Miles
are the result OF his tour of inspection
in the Philippines last autumn and
winter.
General Miles report is dated Feb.
10, 1903. He says that in going from
Calamba to Batangas in November
last he noted that the county ap-
peared devastated and that the p40p.e
were very much depressed. St>ppiHE5
at Iipa he says party OF r.t.z"ns
headed by the acting presidente met
him and stated that they desired to
make
Complaint of Harsh treatment
of the people Of that community, say
ing they had been cOncen rated in
towns and had suffered great iudigni
ties; that $50 of their people had been
tortured by what is known as the
water cure and that one man, a high
ly respected citizen, aged sixty-five
years, named Vicinte Luna, while SUI
fering from the effects of the torture
and unconscious, was dragged from
his house, which had been set on fire,
and was burned to death. They stated
that atrocities were committed by the
troops under command of Lieutenant
Hennessey and that their people had
been crowded into towns, six hundred
be . N~~ hr;1Ai~" O0f
pa sad ne was re@@y ~ ,e-. y !A",
500 die4 from suffOc&tiOn. General
Miles said he looked at the building
which was one story in height, Is or
20 feet wide and possibly 60 or 20 feet
long. He asked for written state
ment to be forwarded him at Manila,
but says he never received it, and
says:
Il have no reason to disbelieve
their statement, in fact, the instances
of torture in the case Of the man
Luna having been
Tortured and Burned to Death
are confirmed by other reports
Concerning the failure to receive
the statement General Miles says:
whether any influence was brought
to bear to prevent their statement.
either by persuasion or coercion, |
am not prepared to say at the present
time
General Miles refers to other cases,
saying that on the island of .Cebu it
was reported and published in Novem-
Der. 1902, that two officers, Captain
Samuels, Forty-fourth infantry, u. S.
", and Lieutenant Feeler. Nineteenth
infantry, had committed similar atroci-
ties against the people of the island.
1t was also reported that at Lo, isl
and of LuzOn, two natives were
whipped to death. At Tasoban, Leyte,
it was reported that Major Tenney
ordered lieutenant of the Philippine
scouts to take eight prisoners out into
the country and that if they did not
guide them to the camp of the insur-
gent, Quizo, he was not to bring them
back. 1t was stated that the men
were taken out and that they either
died or did as they were directed.
The scouts were separated into COM
panies numbering three or four re-
spectively and while tied together
were murdered by being
Shot or Bayonetted to Death,
some being in kneeling position at
that time. The pretense was made
that they were killed while attempt
ing to escape, but so far as know no
report was ever made. This was re-
ported to Major Watts, who investi-
gated the case. Beside Lieutenant
Caulfield, Philippine Scouts Preston,
Conger and Keene were implicated.
At Calbayog, Samar, it was reported
tudI SSNSIdl ulSu III IudI ulolllNI Aou
been subjected to the water cure. One
of these was the presidente, who
showed me deep scar which he said
was caused by the cords cutting into
his flesh. Three other men were tor
tured, one of whom said he was sub
jected to torture by troops under Ma
jor Gaugot, Tenth cavalry; that his
front tooth was knocked out, which
was apparent; that he was otherwise
maltreated and robbed of $500. 1t
was stated these men were taken out
to be killed and were only saved by
the prompt action of Major Caring
ton, First infantry, who sent out for
them. Gaugot was tried, found guilty
and given the trivial sentence of three
months suspension from command,
receiving full pay for the same period.
at appears that Major Glenn, Lieu
tenant Conger and a party OF as
sistants and native scouts were moved
from place to place for the
Purpose Of Extorting Statements
by means of torture and it became
notorious that this party was called
'Glenn's brigade Whether it was
possible for officers to be engaged in
such acts without the personal knowl-
edge of the general upon whose staff
they were serving at the time, name
", Brigadier General Hughes, leave
for others to conjecture. r.#
4-g- rxxvs4I fnsy 1<1