General Jacob "Howling Wilderness" Smith-- Part 1

Back on May 1st, I wrote about the American reprisal following the Belangiga Massacre, which definitely was not one of our prouder moments, thanks in large measure to the actions of this general.  I had never heard of him before, but his is quite a story.

From Wikipedia.

GENERAL JACOB H. SMITH  (January 29, 1840 to March 1, 1918)

United States Army officer notorious  for ordering an indiscriminate attack on Filipinos in the Philippine-American War  (Philippines Insurrection) following the Spanish-American War.  American soldiers killed anywhere between 2,500 and 50,000 civilians.

His orders included:

"Kill everyone over the age of ten."

"Make the island a howling wilderness."

He was court-martialed for this, but nothing happened.  However, the press took to calling him:  "Hell Roaring Jake" Smith,  "The Monster", "Howling Wilderness Jake"  and "Howling Jake."

--CootHowl