[20181211]IF10990_《巴兰吉加钟声》回归菲律宾共和国.pdf

https:/crsreports.congress.gov Updated December 11, 2018The Return of the Bells of Balangiga to the Republic of the Philippines, in ContextBackground on the Balangiga Massacre On September 28, 1901, during the Philippine-American War (1899-1902), Filipino guerrillas reportedly rang the bells of the Catholic Church at Balangiga, a small town on the eastern island of Samar, to signal an attack on U.S. troops who were occupying the town. The guerillas ambushed soldiers of Company C, 9th Infantry Regiment outside the army barracks. An estimated 44-48 American soldiers were killed and dozens more were wounded. Brigadier General Jacob F. Smith launched a retaliatory campaign, ordering the 11th Infantry Regiment to burn Balangiga, to turn Eastern Samar into a “howling wilderness” and to shoot any Filipino male above 10 years of age. Thousands of Filipinos, including non-combatants, were killed. Smith was court-martialed for his brutality and forced to retire. The 11th Infantry seized all three church bellssome refer to them as “war trophies.” One bell was given to the 9th Infantry. The 11th Infantry took two bells and returned with them to Fort D. A. Russell (now F. E. Warren Air Force B