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 The Military Commission in the Philippine Islands,

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THE MILITARY COMMISSION IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. •By LIEUT. M. A. HILDRETH, IST. N. D. U. S. V. JUDGE-ADVOCATE. Detailfor the Commission : ON the 1 3th of August, 1898, Manila, the capital of the Philippines, was sur i. Colonel J. F. Smith, ist California Volun rendered to the American authorities. Major teer Infantry. General Merritt immediately placed the city г. Lieutenant Colonel C. M. Moses, ist Col under martial law, and in his proclamation orado Volunteer Infantry. 3. Major J. M. Stotsenburg, ist Nebraska guaranteed to the inhabitants, the protection Volunteer Infantry. of life, liberty and property. 4. Major C. U. Gantenbein, 2d Oregon Vol At the time of the surrender, it was not unteer Infantry. known that hostilities had been suspended 5. Captain E. B. Pratt, 2ßd U. S. Infantry. by the protocol executed by the two govern 6. First Lieutenant L. P. Sanders, ist Mon ments, but however, if known could have tana Volunteer Infantry. Second Lieutenant made li ttle if any difference for, by the terms M. A. Hildreth, ist North Dakota Volunteer of the truce, the government of the United Infantry, J udge-Advocate. States was to occupy and hold " the city, bay The Commission is authorized to sit at such and harbor of Manila, pending the conclusion other places as may be designated by the Prov of a treaty of peace which should determine ost Marshal General as convenient for the dis the control, disposition and government of patch of business and without regard to hours. the Philippines." There was, therefore, an obligation on the part of the government of BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL OTIS : THOMAS H. BARRY, the United States, to protect property and Assistant Adjutant General. life, and for the purpose of punishing crime it became necessary to institute Courts with The commission was composed of some in the domain of martial law. The Spanisli of the best legal material in the Eighth Army Courts both civil and criminal had ceased to Corps. At its head was Colonel James F. perform any of their functions. General Otis Smith of the ist California, U. S. V., a fine organized Provost Courts for the punishment officer, an able lawyer and member of the of misdemeanors and petty offences. For the Bar of San Francisco, and a most excellent trial of felonies, a military commission was or man. He presided over the sessions of the ganized, of whose work this article is a brief Commission with a dignity and urbanity which history. It was appointed by virtue of the would have done credit to an English Chan following order : cellor. His services in the Philippines have been greatly appreciated, for he was made a HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC AND EIGHTH ARMY CORPS. Brigadier General, and, later, Military Gov ernor of the Island of Negros, where he has MANILA, P. I. October I2th, 1898. continued to merit the approbation of Gen (Extract. ) eral Otis, as well as to have won the respect 4.—A Militar)7 Commission is appointed to meet at the headquarters of the Provost Marshal and confidence of the inhabitants of the ter General, at ю o'clock, A.M., Tuesday the 18th ritory. Lieutenant Colonel Moses of the ist Col day of October, 1898, or as soon thereafter as orado, U. S. V., was a man of excellent judg practicable, for the trial of such persons as may ment. Though not of legal training, he be properly brought before it.