Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-16
Gen, MILES, LETTER
Defends His Report on Phil
ippine Conditions.
MEN ARE NOT BLAMED
3 "a
ALL ACTED UNDER ORDERS OF
THEIR AypHH1ons. .
No Excuse for Adopting Methods Pro-
hibited by Civilized Warfare
Criticisms Are Answered. -


The Army and Navy Register today pub
fishes the following letter from Lieut.. Gen.
Nelson A. Miles in regard to the criticisms
on his rel orts on conditions in the Philip
pines:
Headquarters of the Army.
Washington May II, 1903
Dear Sir: Referring to my reports as pre-
scented in your issue of May 2, you Will
understand how one might seriously object
to having communication published IN
part with some vital portions omitted.
When that is done. 1t Is impossible to ap-
preciate the relative bearing of certain por-
lions. and the writer is liable to be mis-
represented and the readers to be misled.
In your journal no reference was made to
my order of November %, 1902, which
formed a part of my report.
'It is proper to say that went to the
Philippine Islands not as tourist. but IN
an official capacity. Paragraph 200 OF Army
Regulations reads as follows:
The military establishment is under the
army in that which pertains TO It's us
ciplne and military control.
Moreover. the instructions addressed 10
me as lieutenant general COMMANDING tho
army came from the highest authority, VIZ
the President. In them 1 was directed 10
give especial attention to the instruction.
discipline and supplies of the army.
EN- route / visited several military SID
lions in this country and inspected tie en-
tire Pacific coast defenses. includlns every
gun, mortar. magazine and garrison.
Attempt to Justify offenses.
81 went very thoroughly over the Fhiip
pine Islands, visiting all the principal garrl-
sons, seeing nearly all the troops conipii-
menting them in person and in my Official
report.
THE idea that 1 was governed by preJu-
dice in any way is as idle as 1t is untrue.
However, certain facts came to my kno"I-
edge from officers of rank and experience
as well as from prominent citizens, relating
to offenSes that had never heard or De-
FORE and I found an impression existed in
the minds of some that certain acts that
have been prohibitedsin! our army and In
every other civilized army were justifabie,
and the pleas of not guilty to OffenSes that
had been committed were sustained on the
ground that they YeEe committed under IN
Structions or in accordance with certain
written and verbal orders. I therefore
deemed 1t my duty to rescind any orders
that might convey ssleh dangerous and err
roneous Impressions ana directed that the
order above referred to be issued. 1t reads
as follows! W
Forbidden in General Order.
Headquarters of the Army, Washington,
1.-THE commandingsassnss4ral Division Of the
Philippines, MarfHa. P. l..
'sir: The lieutenant gdneral commanding
the army directs me to Inform you that his
attention having been called to matters
concerning the nstructtops and discipline
of the troops it has coIHest0 his knowledge
that certain methods hafeabeen used to ex-
tort information from R}lfEinos in the GUS
tody of the military. ahdsthat other acts
have been committed which are not In ac-
cordance with the rules of.eiyilized warfare
and are detrimental to the Honor and dis.
ciplne of the army. The miSconStruing and
adroit misinterpretation of orders may be
as injurious to the service as a wanton dis
regard of them.
1.-The evil methods above referred to are
most injurious to the service whether de-
signedly or inadvertently followed, and the
practice of such unauthorized and unwar-
ranted acts tends to give the junior officers
and soldiers of the army impression that
such acts are justifable and customary in
civilized warfare. In order to correct such
a dangerous and injurious impression and
the future, the lieutenant general directs
that any orders, circulars personal in
struction, or any parts thereof. from what.
ever source. that suggest, inspire, encour-
age or permit any case of cruelty and I'M
warranted severity be annulled, Cancelled
and rescinded. and such acts are hereby
strictly prohibited. Acts of retaliation can
only be authorized by the highest military
authorities, and then should only be resort
ed to measures for the safety of an