THE PHILIPPINES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2513, 14 May 1902, Page 15

THE PHILIPPINES.

ALLEGED TORxTJRE OF SOLDIERS. SO3IE~FIERCE FIGHTING. ™ THE AMERICAN NAVY. LONDON, May 5. A Renter's message from Manila says that Colonel Woodruff presented a remarkable defence in jnstification of the army's treatment of the natives. He complained of the factitious hysteria of the American public. The findings of the Commission have been forwarded to Washington. The Americans, with four guns and 470 rifles, assaulted the principal fort of the piratical Moros Or ; chief of the Mohammedan Malays, ou the west side ef Mindanao. A hand-to-hand struggle took place in the high grass and four lines of ditches under the fortress walls. The Sultans of Baijan and Pandopatau, with 100 Dattos, were killed, and 84 survivors surrendered. The Americans sustained 51 casualties. The Times states that Senator Lodge is submitting to the Senate numerous cases where Filipinos slowly tortured American soldiers to death. NEW YORK, May 5. President Roosevelt, addressing the naval cadets at Annapolis, said that the wrongdoers in the Philippines would be punished, but that the flag would remain. The navy was more responsible for the safety of the Republic than any other institution. The newspapers comment on the subconscious note of possible war in this remark, though they are unaware of the threatening direction. Mr Long, late Secretary of the Navy, in taking farewell of the department, declared that the naval programme before Congress was insufficient. He thought that they should keep America up to the position of Germany. May 9. It is explained that Mr Root, secretary of War, did not refer to General Smith's admissions, but to the measures of retaliation which were taken for acts of treachery. He declares that there is no record of the orders alleged by Major Waller to ttave fofi&n made. £anaxa!

Smith's orders -were based on a general army order.