Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-04-27

NATIVES COMPLAIN OF CRUELTY

NATIVES COMPLAIN OF CRUELTY
Investigation by Miles Indicates That
People In Many Provinces Were
Harshly Trsated-orders Issued to
Officers to Revoke any instructions
That Might Justify Cruel Treatment.
Washington, April 27.-The war de-
partment today made public that por-
tion OF the report Of General Miles.
which refers to misconduct of officers
and soldiers in the Philippines. Secre-
tary Root has received several requests
Tor this report, some of these requests
being from persons In Boston, who stat
ed that they understood that it con-
tanned much matter that never had been
brought out In the investigations. The
secretary has held that such reports are
confidential in order that the officer
making them might be free to make
S such comments as he desired. but as 1t
was learned that General Miles had
no objections to the publication OF the
report, 1t has been made public with a
brief comment by General Davis, judge
advocate general, who has charge Of all
matters pertaining to the subjects re-
ferred to In this portion of the report.
The statements made by General Mile
are the result of his tour of inspection
In the Philippines last autumn and win
ter.
General Miles report on his Philip
pine observations Is dated Feb. 10.
1903. and !s, 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 Lipa, he says that party OF citt-
gems headed by theacting president met
him and stated that they desired to
make complaint OF harsh treatment Of
the people of their community, saying
that they had been concentrated in
towns and had suffered great indign.-.
ties. that fifteen Of their people had
been tortured by what is known as the:
water torture, and that one man, a
highly respected citizen, aged 65 years,
named Vincente Luna, while suffering
from the effects of the torture, was
dragged from his house, which had beer
set on fire, and was burned to death.
They stated that these atrocities We're
committed by a company Of scouts un-
der the command Of Lieutenant Hen
ressey, and that their people had been
crowded into towns, 500 being confined
In one building. A doctor of the party
said he was ready to testify that some
Of the 600 died from suffocation. Gen
eral Miles says he looked at the building
which was one story in heighth. eight
cen or twenty feet wide, and possibly
sixty or seventy feet long. He asked for
written statement to be forwarded
him at Manila, but says he never re-
ceived 1t and adds II have no reason
to flisbelieve their statements; in fact,
the Instances of torture to death are
confirmed by other reports. Concern
ing the failure to receive the statement
General Miles says: Whether any in
fiuence was brought to bear to prevent
their statement, whether by persuasion
at the present time.
Gen. Miles then refersto other cases,
saying that on the Island of Cebu it
was reported and published in Noyem-
ber,i 1902, that two officers, Captain
Samuels 44th Infantry United States
Volunteers and Lieutenant Feeter, 18th
Infantry, had committed similar afro
cities against the people of that island.
4 II is also reported that at Lacag on the
{ Island of Luzon, two natives We're
Whipped to death. At Tacloban, Leyte
1t was reported that Major Glenn or
dered lieutenant Cauifeld, Philippine
Scouts, to take eight prisoners out into
the country and that if they did not
guide him to the camp of the insurgent
QIIison he was not to bring them back.
4 It was stated that the men We're taken
out and that they either did not or
could not do as directed. One of the
men who had a son among the scouts
was spared, but the others were sepa-
rated into two parties, numbering three
or four respectively, and while tied to-
Retter were all murdered by being shot
or bayonetted to death, some being In
kneeling position at that time. The
pretense was made that they We're kill
ed while, attempting to escape. but so
far as / know no official report was
ever made of the circumstance. These
facts have been reported by Major
Watts who investigated the case. Be-
sides Lieutenant Caulf1eld, Civilian
Scouts Ramos. Preston, Corn and Nc
Keen were participants.
'.At Calabayog, Samar. 1t was re-
ported that several men in that district
had been subjected to water torture.
I saw three men who had been sub
1ected to this treatment. One was the
president of the town, Mr.. Rozales, who
showed me long, deep scars on his arm
which he said were caused by the cords
with which he was bound cutting into
his flesh. The second man was named
Jose Borja and the third was Padre
Jose Diaznes, who stated he was one
of the three priests who had been sub
jected to torture by the troops under
command of Lieutenant Gaujot, Tenth
Cavalry; that his front teeth had been
knocked out, which was apparent: that
he was otherwise maltreated and rob-
bed of three hundred dollars. 1t was
stated that these priests were taken
out to be killed and We're only saved
by the prompt action of Major Car
rington, First Infantry, who sent out