The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 25, 1902, Page 5

“WARL IS B FOULTNEY BIGELOW. ons,”" ““White thd German in our day that a ne continent but in another—the soner in South Africa, sissippi Valley, the arrest of a stu- e to ask where it is enough thLat ed thbat affects us At once the missic nd we discuss the affair bors with vigor nave strong leaning toward r people’s business. But just now I have no mind to moralize, merely to note that we are making history with uncommon repidity, and that we can do nothing that is not immediately seized upon as legitimate food for comment by our friends abroad. It is idle for us to protest that what we do is none of their business; the world is too = now for that plea to have any validity. And, besides, It is the plea of a coward. Let us tell the truth, justify our acts when possible, disavow them if nec- essary; but, in any case, be grateful for the manifestation of human Interest which criticism of any kind implies. Time was—in the days of Daniel Web- ster—when a work of American blography could be searched in valn for a reference to Germany. And equally true it is that German literature of the corresponding period was then as little influenced by the whole of North America as it is to-day by that of a Korean province. Let us as- sume that Germans, like ourselves, seek the truth, and that their judgment of our- selves has been twisted by statements not bear historical analysis. German Women Appeal for Boers. ¢ For instance, I have just recelved from Be: ppeal signed by a congress of ladies representing some of the most emi- nent names in Germany. These ladies en- s the “Frauenhilfsbund fur die Burenfrauen und Kinder,” or, in our g eague for the Rescue of »er Women and Children.” This appeal d t less a paper than the whose editor, Dr. Barth, fe work, shown that he is a f his own Government. In ay be sure that he voices nvictions, but those le proportion of the s e themselv. purpose of sav- hor e fate Spain we e ground of human- was insulted women Kitchener is, ged with doing We now prac- the same concen- tle Germany turns so the veldt, she draws the glass that s for the civiliza- lastern archipelago? at the visit of Ger- © to the United States »whness of feeling—let understanding so pleas- reflects a growing senti- good will throughout both em- honest, and therefore ow ourselves to appear more we really are satire, “Cap- 15 psychological honest, courageous by treating the slavgh A e —— praiseworthy, feature of progressive Christianity. There is some of this ch working In every soldier. rs the ranks with a shudder at of blood; i gy i pile of pses at his elbow, and he ends by re- garding his enemy with the complacency of a Chicago pigsticker A German officer who had served with distinction in 1570-71 told me seriously that that the war closed when it Sermany); that the moral de- terioration of his men was apparent; that were growing ominously familiar ractice of bullying peasants— themselves to what they liked; e of discipline became per- ceptibly lax as the weeks of war dragged on it was w aid (for Just now our press is in a violent state st General Jacob H - Maniia Critic of Feb- 1302, published the following over me. This account refers to his aign in Samar: Ps scattered over an immense only the coast towns gar- fficient number of sol- ves from raids of the n hordes. Little or nothing had been done owing 1o a feeling of security and con- fidence which had been engendered by officers who love the *1 e brown brother,” and im- ugined that the natives were angels and only needed wings to make them perfect. It d&id rot take long before it was quite Pat- ent to any observer that only the *fire-and- #word” policy could succeed in bringing these people to understand that they must come un- der the complete and abolute control of the United States. The inhabitants are all our Poultney Bigelow tells just | why it must be so, and believes | that General Smith is a “fine | type of the American soldier, | | honorable and efficient in his [ relations to his brethrea in | arms, terrible as a fighting | force, and humane and pro- gressive in his dealings with the natives within his juris- diction.” enemies, and those who live mear our garri- zons do so only to give assistance to the armed ones in the mountains. And it seems almost impossible to impress this fact upon our of- ficers and soldiers who have the love for the “little brown brothers™ engrafted in their na- tures. None of the natives has sy love for the Americans, but rather secret hate in their souls for anything pertaining to the United States, save food. They obey the wishes, orders and requirements of Lukban through fear, a feel- ing which we must instill into them by making ““war heli”” The word ‘‘amigo” is used by them only to decive officers and soldiers—the white flag is an emblem of treachery. It is a fair rule to go by that the first five stories of the Samarite are lies, and the truth only to be obtained when it is to his interest to gain the confidence of a soldier or officer in order to be- tray his confidence at the first opportunity. The energetic hard work of those who have proper ideas of their duty to God and our coun- try is rapidly putting the fear of the Lord into the blood pumps of the misguided creatures, who through fear and fanaticism are opposing the best government in the world. When we see this in cold type, dated in the twentieth century, in the name of a war for the spread of civiligation, we hardly know which most to admire—the honesty of the confession or the spirit of our national policy. Flag of Truce in Philippine Fighting. On November 11, 1899, this same General Smith, then a colonel, made a report from Capas, in which he remarks: In a few r er reaching here we dis- cut t r three hundred insurgents p the railroad tracks from the south, waving a flag of truce. Im to receive them warmly de my disposition I heard three volleys from the cavalry, who were to right. and south of the crossing. They dispersed quickly, golng tow- ard the east. I got word to a battalion that was in position to intercept them, and a few of them were killed, but they scattered ltke birds, and we saw or heard nothing more of them. By thus dwelling upon isolated passages it is easy for those of us who conduct war from the cozy corner of a fireplace to picture General Jacob Smith as another Alva or Tilly—a black-hearted monster. 1 have been latterly making inquiry re- garding him among his fellow-soldiers. Here is what one of them says: “All officers who have served with him are unanimous in saying that his work at Samar was excellent. He has great bravery and coolness in action.” General Smith is not a West Point graduate, and therefore I quote by pref- erence the language of graduates as being presumably more free from prejudice in his favor. . General Smith entered the army at the outbreak of the Civil War, in 1861, and has had an honorable record covering more than forty years of service. He was breveted for gallantry at the battle of Shiloh (1862). Another West Point graduate who is ex- cellent testimony writes me that General Smith “was second in command of the Second United States Infantry in the San- tisgo campaign, was severely wounded on San Juan Ridge, but in spite of his wound, persisted in remaining on duty with his regiment in the trenches for sev- eral days, until he was peremptorily or- dered to the rear by the division com- mander.” He went to the Philippines in 1899 and has since been in active service. From a trustworthy brother officer I quote: “Untilthe arrival of General Smith in Samar, in October of 1901 the war has been carried on in this-island practsally according to the nature and desige of each post commander. “Few orders were received, and in some places the natives were our little brown brothers. At the same time they were furnishing eid to active insurgents in various places. “In other places the natives were not so gently treated. General Smith at onc. gave instructions that such a campaign as would make the natives anxious for peace be begun by all independent com- manders. Combined efforts were made in the north part of the island to capture Lukban, the insurgent leader. “A severe war was carrled on, which brought peace within four months, Luk- ban having been captured in February. “During the campaign natives /would always attack from ambush or run upon the approach of troops. “As no uniforms were worn, the troops had nothing to do but shoot to kill so long as an enemy was in sight. “If General Smith ever gave orders to Kill it was to kill under such circum-* stances as here indicated, and under such circumstances most officers did not wait' for such orders. ““General Smith did not intend that pris- oners should be killed. He waged a war which, while severe, was for the good ot the natives. They were suffering from lack of food and shelter, and peace w 3 a blessing to all who were fit to live.” The above was written to me by an‘ officer just home from Samar, who knows what he is talking about—one of that large body of silent regulars who are paid mighty small wages for a service whose principal feature is having their hodies perforated and their characters battered. The letters on which T base my conclu- sions are in my possession. I hold them as a trust on behalf of those who cannot be quoted while they hold a Government commission. One writes to me: “General Bmith is a strong character; knows what he wants to do and does it, and requires his subordinates to pay strict attemtion to their duty. He holds thelr respect and generally their affection. He surrounds himself with efficlent men of good judgment.” Of his tenacity I have received this, by way of illustration: “In August of 189, when colonel of the gallant Seventeenth, he occupled and held the town of Angeles against a superior force. General Otls (so it was assumed) became nervous and tele- graphed General MacArthur several times for Smith’s opinion as to whether or not he could hold Angeles. To the first ais- patch Smith replied that he thought he could; to the second, he was sure he could; to the third, ‘I am prepared to hold the town till hell freezes over, and then T'll stay on the ice! ™ Other warrfors have commanded ple- turesque language; General Jacob Smith Is credited with a disposition to live up to his sentences. He is described to me as “very small and slight, but wiry, though not strong In appearance; nerv- From this terse picture we imagine some- of them gentls iIn pemes yet terrible in energetic, restless, a stickler for or- thing of a cross between Lord Roberts war. ous SAID CENERAL W-T- SHERMAN- proving the condition of the people. “If he errs it is from excess of zeal behalf of the inhabitants rather than through neglect. He has had great suc- cess in bringing to justice bands of rob- bers and assassins. More than thirty- five were hanged in his district, after due trial, between April, 1900, and 1901 “While in Northern Luzon he had great success in organizing civil municipal gov. ernment, and especially in establishing ané maintaining an efficlent and loyal na- tive police force. “In February, 1900, after accepting an invitation to a flesta, or native entertsin- ment, in his honor, he received informa- tion that his assassination was intended. Instead of staying away, he went, with a small and apparently inadequate escort. But he sent a company by a roundabout way and was able to capture or kill most of thé band which lay in wait for him.” deeply offended because Aguinaldo had offered & reward of only §5000 for bis cap- ture, Of the material n my possession I aers; fond of picturesque expressions.” and the old Fleld Marshal Blucher, both “He is greatly lked by officers and have NPNM vn)y enough to satisty us that we arn dealing here with a fi-e type of the American soldler, honorak and efficlent in his relations to his breth- ren In arms, terrible as a fighting force, humane and progressive in his dealings with the natives within his jurisdiction Yet it is of this gentleman that a repre- sentative in Congress speaks when he thus plays hide and seek with history: “I have read of Timour the Tartar. I have read of Achilles. I have read of the Saracen scourge. But I thank God that since the tragic scene on Calvary it has taken eighteen centuries to produce a Smith!"” It is possible that the pressure of public opinion may cause the war authdrities at Washington to censure General Smith in order to make the people belleve that the administration is opposed to the methods which he employed. We often need a scapegoat, and politicians like the present adjutant general sadly need to draw off popular attention from their affairs to those of their rivals. For instance, about the middle of April, 1902, Mr. Root, the Secretary of War, placed In the hands of the Senate Com- mittee on the Philippines several reports from our officers in the fleld. Gen. Bell’s Retaliation Proclamation. Here are a few words quoted from a re- port by General J. F. Bell, commanding the Department of Batangas, a believer in concentration on the Weyler and Kitchener plans: “The brigade commander therefore an- nounces for the information of all con- cerned that wherever prisoners or um- armed or defenseless Americans or natives friendly to the United States Government are murdered or assassinated for political reasons, and this fact can be established, it is his purpose to dxecute a prisoner of war under the authority contained in see- tlons 59 and 148. This prisoner of war will be selected by lot from among the officers or prominent citizens held as prisoners of war, and will be chosen, when practicable, from those who belong to the town where the murder or assassination has ‘oc- curred.” We read to-day the private lives of Grant, Sherman, Sheridan—ws admire them for the domestic virtues they culti~ vated, for the human sympathies they awakened on all sides. But their joint opinion of pacifying the Southern States was well epitomized in the words, “War is hell ‘War may or may not be that—we shall know all about it some of these days—but of war it is safe to say that all human testimony unites in condemning it as the nearest approach to what our imagination delights to picture as the opposits of Christian endeavor. e Sheridan was a witness to many battles Major General Sher . Vo 1t you can posstbly spars a division of caw airy send it through o da this way you will get many of Moshy's not already soldiers, they will de made #0 the moment the rebel army gets hold of (Bigned) U. 5. GRANT, Lisutenant General. From Grant to Sheridan, August 2, 1384: City Pont, Va * ® * Do all the damage to the raflroads and crops you can. Carry off stock of all ge- scription and negroes, so as to prevent fur- ther planting. If the war is to last another year we want the Shenandosh Valley to remain & basven (Stgned) U. S. GRANT, Licutshant General. To this Sheridan said (p. 48, vol. Iz “1 indorsed the programme in all its party.’ Stripped of its phraseclogical mockery,