Ogden Daily Standard | 1902-05-26 | Page 3 | Waller Court Martial Reviewed by Chaffee Section

WALLER COURT MARTIAL REVIEWED BY manila slay 23 the official findings of the court martial that tried maj L W T waller and john aday of he marine corps for executing natives on the island of cainar without trial have been made public the reviewing authority of the bourl mi gen adna it Chaff ce commander in chief of the american forchi in the philippines has expressed disapproval as already sent out ile fernue to the casa of maj waller gen s taft tending of the natives in ques bionto their death partook more of unlawful retaliation than a justifiable act of war in justice to the american military service the findings of acquittal demand that they shall not meet with unqualified approval ahe marines in samar underwent pleat suffering before their rescue and their officers from sick beds voiced the revengeful anger of the men who acl to maj waller advising that the stevedores le killed maj received this message while he was sick from a icher suffering acute pain of i boda due to exposure and his exertions in behalf of liis men and mental ani aguish concerning their fate which had i long been in doubt I 1 maj waller was at the time in telephonic communication with gen smith who commanded the american forces in samar but he deliberately not to consult gen smith regarding his contemplated tem plated action and rather than forego the execution of his unrestrained will ho admed the power of the laws of war and of the service conferred aion commanding officers only in time of war giving heed to the mental condition of maj waller as much of alie findings of the court as are to the effect that maj caller is not guilty of murder arc approved but the reviewing authority is at a loss to understand why the court did not find against maj waller in the minor offense with the exception noted the acquittal as it appears in the record of the proceedings u disapproved referring to alie cae of lacut day the reviewing authority says alie accused knew that for three weeks maj waller had undergone a test of hi mental and physical endurance such as few men are called upon to suffer while fully conceding alie grave responsibility assumed by a subordinate officer in wilfully disobeying an order of his commanding officer still alie weighty reasons related with which lacut day acquainted BO tainted maj wallers order that lacut day should hate been prompted to positive disobedience an officer must conscientiously be regardful of the unquestioned legality of his agency in taking the lives of ahli fellow men above and beyond all personal consideration officers must guard the name and honor of the country had day been actuated by such consideration he would probably have prevented one of the most regrettable incidents in the annals of the military service of the united states