From Four Nodes of History: The Human Rights Challenge in the Philippine Security Sector
the orders he had written. (Other officers, it must be noted, like
General MacArthur, gave out their orders verbally.)
Smith, confident that this was only a harmless proceeding,
admitted through his counsel that he did give the order to
Waller and told the court that children over 10 were as dangerous as their elders.20 Despite the public outrage in the US
mainland, he was just quietly retired.
h) Genocide in Taytay, Rizal
On March 20, 1899, A.A. Barnes of Battery G, 3rd Artillery,
wrote to his brother that they had razed the town of Taytay
the night before to avenge the murder of an American soldier: “Last night one of our boys was found shot and his stomach cut open. Immediately orders were received from General [Loyd] Wheaton to burn the town and kill every native
in sight, which was done...About one thousand men, women
and children were reported killed. I am probably growing
hard-hearted for I am in my glory when I can sight my gun on
some dark skin and pull the trigger.”21
Feisty grandmother: An old woman being treated in a Manila hospital by American doctors.
She was shot through the leg while allegedly carrying ammunition to Filipino soldiers (ca.
1899).
Source: Public domain
68
Major General Loyd Wheaton ordered the burning of the
municipality of Taytay, Rizal and the killing of its inhabitants.
He became the superior of General Funston in the Northern
Luzon campaign. Both were recipients of medals during their