The Indianapolis journal., 1903-04-28
Stories Came to Him Casually, He Says,
and While He Believes Them. He
Does Not Certify Their Truth.
MOST OF THEM INVESTIGATED
GEN. DAVIS SHOWS THAT THEY ARE
ALL OLD MATTERS.
Some of Them Still Subjects of Inquiry
Gen. Weston's Comment on Com
misSary Features.

partment to-day made public that portion
of the report Of General Miles which refers
to misconduct of officers and soldiers in the
Philippines Secretary Root has received
several requests for this report. some of
these requests being from persons in Bos-
ton who stated that they understood that
it contained much matter that never had
been brought out in the investigations.
The secretary has held that such reports
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 General Miles had no objec-
tion to the publication of the report 1t has
been made public with brief comment by
General 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
General Miles are the result of his tour
of inspection in the Philippines last autumn
and winter.
General Miles's report on his Philippine
observations is dated Feb 19, 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 coun-
try appeared devastated and that the peo-
pie were very much depressed. Stopping
at Lipa, he says, party of citizens headed
by the acting presidente met him and
stated that they desired to make complaint
of harsh treatment of the people of that
community, saying they had been concen-
trated in towns and had suffered great in
dignities, that fifteen of their people had
been tortured by what is known as the
water torture, and that one man, highly
respected citizen, aged sixty-five years,
named Vincente Luna, while suffering 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 these atrocities were COM
mitted by company of scouts under COM
mand of Lieutenant Hennessey, and that
six hundred being confined in one build
ing"
to testify that some of the six hundred died
from suffOcation. General Miles SAYS he
looked the building. which was one story
in height, eighteen or twenty feet wide
and possibly sixty or seventy feet long.
Forwarded for @ him at Manila, but says he never G
received Ii, and adds: Il have no reason
to disbelieve their statements; In fact, the
instances of torture in the case of the man
death are confirmed by other reports. -
Concerning the failure to receive the state
ment General Miles says: whether any
influence was brought to bear to prevent
their statement either by persuasion or
coercion l am not prepared to say at the
present time"
OTHER INSTANCES
General Miles then alludes to other cases
saying that on the island of Cebu it was
reported and published in November. 1902
that two. officers, Captain Samuels, Forty.
fourth Infantry United States Volunteers
and Lieutenant Feeter, Nineteenth Infan-
try, had committed similar atrocities
against the people of that island. 1t is also
reported that at Laoag, on the Island OF
Luzon. two natives were whipped to death
AT Tacloban, Leyte, it was reported that
Mayor Glenn ordered Lieutenant Caulfield
Philippine scouts, to take eight prisoners
out into the country and that If they die
not guide him to the camp of the insur.
back. 1t was stated that the men were
taken out and they either did not or coulG
not do as directed One of the men who
had a son among the scouts was spared
but the others were separated into two
parties, numbering three or four respec.
lively, and while tied together were al
murdered by being shot or bayoneted tC
death, some being in a kneeling position
at that time. The pretense was made tha,
they were killed while attempting to es
cape, but so far as / know no official re-
port was ever made of the circumstance
These facts have been reported by Major
Watts who investigated the case. Beside:
Lieutenant Caulfield, Civilian Scouts
Ramos, Preston, Corn and McKeen were
participants.
"At Calbayog. Samar 1t was reported
that several men in that district had beer
subjected to water torture. l saw three
men who had been subjected to this treat
ment. One was the presdente of the town
Mr.. Rozales, who showed me long deeI
scars on his arm which he said wer,
caused by the cords with which he wa!
bound cutting into his flesh. The seconc
man was named Jose Borja, and the thirt
was Padre Jose DiaZnes. who stated h,
was one of three priests who had been sub
jected to torture by the troops under com
mand of Lieutenant Gaujot Tenth Caval
ry; that his front teeth had been knocked
out. which was apparent; that he wa
otherwise maltreated and robbed of $780, L
was stated that these priests were taker
out to be killed and were saved only b,
the prompt action of Major Darlington
First Infantry. who sent out for them
Lieutenant Gaujot was tried, pleaded
guilty and was given the trivial sentenc,
of three months suspension from com
mand. forfeiting $50 per month for th
same period. His pleading guilty prevent
ed all the facts and circumstances beint
developed.
"It appears that Major Glenn, Lieutenan
Conger and party of assistants an,
native scouts were moved from place t.
place for the purpose of extorting state
ments by means of torture and ii becam
notorious that this party was calles
'Glenn's Brigade Whether 1t was posi-
BILE for officers to be engaged in such act
without the personal knowledge of the gen
eral upon whose staff they were serving a
the time, namely. Brigadier Genera
Hughes, leave for others to conjecture
MOSTLY ON HEARSAY
These facts came to my notice in
casual way and many others of simila
character have been reported In differen
parts of the archipelago. In fact was in
places where officers congregated that sue
transactions had been carried on eithe
with the connivance or approval of certai
commanding officers. 1t is, however, mos
gratifying TO state that such atrocities hav
been condemned by such commanders a
Generals Lawton, Wade, Sumner Lee
Baldwin and others
u found that with certain officers the i'm
preston prevails that such acts were justif
able and / felt il my duty. In order to cor
rect such erroneuos and dangerous I'm
preston and to prevent the possibility a
such acts being committed in the futur
which must impair the good name of Amer
lean arms and bring discredit to our sery
ice for all time, TO address the divisio
commander the following letter of instruC
tion.
Then follows an order addressed to th
commanding general of the Philippine
under date of Feb. 2S 1893, in which Geners
Miles calls attention TO the reports of afro,
tiles and directs that any orders or circular
OF personal instruction which would inspir
or encourage any act OF cruelty be ar
nulled- The order says that '"rhe excus
measures herein condemned are withou
| foundation"