Early Experimentation, 1898–1900

Abstract

The American army’s use of torture in the Philippines began shortly after it began fighting a guerrilla opponent. Throughout the conventional war phase of the Philippine War, which lasted from February to November of 1899, the army did not use torture against prisoners. Some troops, particularly the poorly trained state volunteers, committed abuses against civilians, and there were scattered reports of soldiers killing enemy soldiers at the point of surrender. For the most part, however, the US army treated prisoners well. Almost immediately after the Filipinos switched to guerrilla tactics, the US army began experimenting with the use of torture to get prisoners to reveal the location and identity of guerrillas and the location of hidden guns. Field officers did not use torture in obedience to orders but instead innovated torture methods on their own in spite of official policy not to use it. Senior commanders responded differently to their subordinates’ use of torture. A few worked hard to prohibit it, but most either remained ignorant of its use or chose to look the other way.