Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-05-02
Results of His Investigations il
the Philippines Are at Last
Made Public,
CHARGES SOLDIERS WITH MISCONDUCT,
Gen. Davis In Reply Declares That
All the Cases of Cruelty Cited by
Gen. Miles Had Been Already Re-
ported and Investigated by the
War Depa rtment.

poA tlou Ol the report Oh zen. Miles
which refers to misconduct of officers
and soldiers in the Philippines. Sec
rotary Root has received several re-
quests for this report, some of these
requests being from Boston, who
stated that they understood that it
contained much matter that never had
been brought out in the investigation.
The secretary has held that such re-
ports were confidential in order that
the officer making them might be free
to make such comments as he desired,
but as it was learned that Gen. Miles
had no objection to the publication of
the report it has been made public
with brief comment by Gen. Davis,
judge advocate general, who has
charge Of all matters pertaining to the
subjects referred to in this portion of
the report. The statements made by
Gen. Miles are the result of his tour
OF inspection in the Philippines last
autumn and winter.
Natives Tortured.
Gen. Miles report on his Philippine
observations is dated February 10,
1903, and is addressed to the secretary
of war. He says that in going from
Calamba to Batangas in November
last he noticed that the country ap-
peared devastated and that the people
were very much depressed. Stopping
at the Lipa he says d 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 indigni-
ties, that IS of their people had been
tortured by what is known as the wa
ter torture, and that one man, highly
respected citizen, 'aged IS years,
named Vincente Luna. while suffering
unconscious, was dragged from his
home. which had been set on fire. and
was burned to death. They stated
that these atrocities were committed
by company Of scouts under COM
mand of Lieut.. Hennessey, and that
their people had been crowded into
towns, 600 being confined in one build
y
was ready to testify that some of the
900 died from suffocation. Gen. Miles
says he looked at the building. which
was one story in height. IS or 20 feet
wide and possibly 60 or 70 feet long
He asked for written statement to
be forwarded him a: Manila, but says
he never received it,
Shot Down by Scouts.
Gen. Miles then refers to other
cases. saying that on the island of
Cebu it was reported and published in
November. 1902. that two officers,
Capt. Samnels. Fortyfourth infantry,
United States volunteers. and Lieut..
Feeter, Nineteenth infantry. had COM
mitted similar atrocities against the
people of that island. 1t is also report
ed that at Lacag, on the island Of
IuZon, two natives were whipped to
death. At Tacloban. Leyte. it was re-
ported that Ma, ]. Glenn ordered Lieut..
Caulield. Philippine scouts. to take
eight prisoners out into the country
and that if they did not guide him
to the camp of the insurgent. 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 he scouts,
was spared. but the others were sep
arated into two parties. numbering
three or four respectively. and while
tied together were all murdered by be-
ing shot or bayoneted to death. some
being in kneeling position at that
time. The pretense was made that
they were killed while attempting to
escape. but so far as know no official
report was ever made Of the circun-
stance. These Dacts have been report
ed by Maj. Watts, who investigated the
case. Besides Lieut.. Caulfield, Civilian
Scouts Ramos. Preston. Corn and Me-
Keen were participants.
Reconcentrption.
Continuing his report to the secre-
tary. Gen. Miles directs attention to
the acts Of reconcentrat ton by Gen.
Bell and claims that they were in d.
rect violation of law. He says that the
law was also violated in handling and
buying large quantities of rice which
was sold at profit The people who
were in the RECOMMENDATION camps
were, says Gen. Miles, ''considered
prisoners of war. but were compelled
to buy food from those who held them
at a large profit Gen. Miles charac-
terizes this as unprecedented. He
speaks of the magnitude of the trans
action, which involved $1,000. 900
pounds of rice and other supplies at
cost of s3O6,320. He says that IAN ex-
traordinary feature of this transac-
ton is the action which was disap-
proved by division commander who
assumed command and who turned the
matter over to the civil authorities and
that it has been carried on under an
act of Philippine commission"
Gen. Davis Reply.
A reply to the foregoing portion of
the report has been prepared byJudget
Advocate General Davis in a letter to
the, secretary of wal in which he says:
!, The incidents which are set forth