Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-29
DEFENDS MAJOR GLENN
q. c. sQUIRES IN OPEN LETTER
TO MILES.
Declares the Generals Charges of
Cruelty Are Alk7old and
Exploded Stories.

A dispatch from st. Paul9 Mimi, yester-
day says: George C. Squires, an attorney
of this city. and a brother-in-law of Major
Edwin r. Glenn. has written an open letter
addressed to General Nelson A. Miles, in
which he replies to the structures upon
Major Glenn in General Miles report upon
alleged atrocities in the Philippines. The
letter follows:
Major Glenn as you are doubtless aware,
was tried something over a year ago for
administering the so-called water cure to
a traitorous Filipino While he was con-
victed and given a most absurd sentence
zone months suspension from duty with
pay and fine of 500. it is an open secret
that the court which tried him on the first
ballot voted unanimously for acquittal. and
then. on the suggestion OF some other men,
her OF the court. r Considered the vote. on
the theory that an acuuttal would be con-
strued in the United States as an official
approval of the water cure; but every
member of the court signed and attached to
the findings paper in which Major Glenn S
conduct in Panay was highly commended,
and the reviewing authority was requested
to exercise clemency.
'On the trial of Major Glenn last January
for issuing orders which. 1t was claimed,
resulted in the killing of seven natives, the
court, after a patient hearing. lasting eigh-
teen days. unanimously acquitted him, such
result being reached within five minutes
after the trial was concluded.
1T is a remarkable spectacle that the
commanding general of the army of the
United States should attempt to beSmirch
bI other officers and hold them up to the
world as unfit for the positions which they
held.
IF. instead of listening to the unsupport-
ed statements of irresponsible natives you
had taken the trouble to read the sworn
testimony in the last trial of Major Glenn.
I think even you would have been con-
WINGED that the charges of atrocities which
you SO recklessiy lay upon our officers are
as nothing compared to the hideous cruel
ties committed by the Filipinos.
In conclusion. let me suggest that not
even your prejudice against the admins
you went to the Philippines to find fault
with existing conditions. IS a sufficient JUS
tf1cation for the general Of great army,
which has gone through untold hardships
upon hearsay and unsworn testimony that
his brother officers. graduates of the finest
of all military schools. are unworthy of the
uniforms which they wear
Gen. R. P. Hughes, who for two years
commanded the Department of the Wis
cayas. Philippine Islands. was in this city
today. and being questioned as to the state
ments made in the recent report of Gen.
eral Nelson A. Miles. said he had no knowl-
edge of the atrocities ALLEGED to have been
committed by American soldiers Referring
to the statement that he. as commanding
officer. probably was aware of the acts COM
mitted by "Glenns brigade" General
Hughes stated that no part of his army was
known as 'Glenn's brigade that he had
never heard of such a brigade until he saw
1t mentioned in newspapers after his re-
turn to this country General Hughes will
not make reply to the charges contained in
the report. until he has received an official
copy of the same.
A dispatch from Southampton yesterday
says: General ]. Franklin Bell, u 8. A.,
who is on his way home from the Philip
pines. and who will be a passenger on the
North German Lloyd steamer Kronprinz
Wilhelm. which sails for New York tomor-
row. was shown today the cabled digests Of
said: 5 7- * goo
II must decline to make any statement
or comment on the report. further than to
remark that all complaintsmade to General
Miles while he was in the Philippines have
been thoroughly investigated by order of
the War Department. In the ordinary
course OF events these reports Of investiga-
tons probably have been forwarded to
Washington.
Il would very greatly regret to have the
American people believe that any American
officers or soldiers have been wantonly cruel
or inhuman in their treatment Of natives.
However. l have said in official reports all
/ care to say on that subject. do not be-
lieve anything can say unofflcially will
change any ones opinion: nothing certain
ly would make any one who served credita-
bly, in the Philippines think that the con-
duct OF the American army has been char
acterized by cruelty. nor could change the
opinion of any one who wished to believe
the contrary