Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-04-27

BAD IMPRESSIONS.
Il found that with certain officers
the impression prevails that such acts
were justlhable, and felt Il my duty,
IN order to correct such erroneous and
dangerous Impressions, and TO prevent
the possibility Of such acts being COM
United In the future which must im-
pair the good name OF American arms
ana bring discredit TO our service for
all time. TO address to the division
commander the following letter of In
structions:r
Then follows an order addressed to
the commanding general Of the Philip
pines, under date of Feb rs, 1903, IN
which Gen. Miles calls attention to the
reports of atrocities and directs that
any orders or circulars Of personal in
struction which would inspire or en-
courage any act of cruelty, be annulled.
The, order says that "the excuse that
thtsAlnusual conditions justify the
hlesNires herein condemned are with
augmentation"
DIRECT VIOLATION OF LAW.
Continuing his report to the secretary
Gen. Miles directs attention 20 the acts
Of Recommendation by Gen. Bell, ana
claims that they were In direct violation
Of law. He says that the law was all
50 violated In handling and buying large
quantities OF rice which was sold at a
profit. The people who We're in the
RECOMMENDATION camps We're, says Gen.
Miles. "considcred prisoners Of war but
were compelled 10 buy food from those
who held them at large profit Cen.
Miles characterl2es this as unprecedent-
ed. he speaks Of the magnitude OF
the transaction, which involved BLOOD
900 pounds Of rice and other supplies
at a cost Of 1906. 800 tie says that IAN
extraordinary feature OF this transac-
ton ig 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 the Philippine commission
GEN. DAVIS REPLY
A reply to the foregoing portion Of
the report has been prepared by Judge
Advocate General Davis, In q letter 10
the secretary Of war, in which he says
1.-THE Incidents which are set forth IN
the enclosed special report have been
made ihe subject Of special investiga-
lions; IN some instances these nave
been conducted by court-martial and
the findings and sentences have been
duly promulgated in orders In oSners
the inquiries have been entrusted TO IN
spectors, or 10 officers designated for
that purpose by the the commanding
general In the Philippines. Where
administrative action has been called
for as a result Of such Investigations,
II has been taken by the proper military
commander, II the parties continued
within his jurisdiction in other cases
the matter has been submitted TO the
department with a view TO the resort
to such punitive remedial orders as
were deemed appropriate and these
have resulted In
number Of court-martials. As to some
prases of these Inquiries the investiga-
lions are not yet complete, and a re-
ference of the papers TO the Philippine
islands or officers who are now serving
in the United States has been necessary
Whether the necessity for any further
administrative action IN addition TO
that already taken, will be disclosed
as q result OF such investigation can
only be determined when inspection re-
ports are received at the department"
HE EXPLAINS,
Gen. Davis explains that the inQuir-
les are especially difficult because the
incidents complained OF were not made
known at the time. and officers and sol
dlers of the volunteer army have been
named to be discharged,
He discusses at some length the dis
tribution of rice In the provinces OF
Batangas and Cayite, which Is a matter
that has been considered In the depart
mcnt. IT Is explained that In order 70
restore civil order, and 10 provision the
people in the concentration camps Il
was determined By Gen. Bell, with the
approval OF the commanding general.
that purchases Of rice should be made
by the subsistence department, he lat
ter 10 be reimbursed by the military
government, Upon this point Gen. Da-
Wis says;
MILITARY NECESSITY.
"The measures resorted to were die
tates by military necessity. they
were undertaken with the approval OF
the local military commander. and
were calculated 10 meet am emergency
Of impending famine Ia such a way as
10 relieve actual distress without pau
pcrlzng the native population and |
without casting the burden Of their sup
port upon the insular treasury when !
public order had been restored and the /
provinces relegated 20 civil control. As !
ln
had terminated and the de- |
nand for relief continued without sub |
stantlal abatement the balance OF !
pronts accruing from the sales OF rice |
by the military government was trans |
ferred to the insuar treasury and ap-
piled by the clvil government % the |
relief Of the widespread distress oc- !
,asIoned by the prevalence Of cholera |
and famine In the provinces ~ south |
I'm and southeastern Lu2on."
MILES PLAN CRITICISED.
Washington. April 25.-The war de-
partment today made public the report
" Lieut.. Gen Miles who made tour /
" inspection OF the Philippines. Gen.
Niles strongly recommended that beef /
IN the hoof De supplied 20 the troops
n the Philippines This portion Of his
eport was referred to Gen. }. r. Yves
on, commissaIy-general who 90 reply |
.tates.
In my judgment e q not a feasible
" economical plan ana there should be
10 departure from the present system
u supplying frozen beef"
Gen. Weston says his office has never
ereived any complaint about frozen
'eef on the contrary, uullr. COM
nendations. Gen. Weston adIs.
Native beef Is out Of the question
wen II II were possible TO procure SC.
ma there would b. danger IN using it.
'esldes u being poor. stringy and tough.
,ut the rinderpest practically destroyed
he native cattle, The experiment OF
bringing In cattle was tried az was
taied by Col. Woodruff. and was an
absolute failure" |