Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-09-12
MALAY PIRATES.
Fierce M0ros From Borneo That Overrun
the Philippine Islands.

Fierce Moros From Borneo That Overrun
the Philippine Islands.
Professor Dean O. Worcester of the
University Of Michigan, contributes an
article on 1.-THE Malay Pirates of the
Philippines" to The Century. Professor
Worcester says of the dreaded Moros of
the southern Philippines:
The Moros entered the Philippines
from Borneo at about the time of the
Spanish discovery. They first settled in
Zulu and Basilan, but rapidly spread
over the numerous small islands of the
bulu and Tawi Tawi archipelagoes and
eventually occupied the whole of the
great island Of Mindanao to the east
and Balabao and the southern third of
Palawan to the west. Before their con-
quest of Palawan was completed they
had their first serious collision with
Spanish troops and have not since been
able to extend their territory, but what
they had taken they have continued to
hold.
Hostilities between Moros and Span.
iards were precipitated by an unprovok-
ed attack by the latter upon one of the
Moro chiefs Of north Mindanao. The at
lacking force was almost annihilated,
and the fanatical passions Of the Moros
were aroused. They forthwith began to
organize forays against the Spanish and
native towns Of the central and northern
islands, and from the outset met with
great SUCCESS. Their piratical expedi-
tions soon became annual events. With
each recurring southeast monsoon hordes
of them manned their war praus and
sailed north, where they harried the
coasts until the change Of monsoons
warned them to return home.
Thousands of oaptives were taken.
Men were compelled to harvest their
own crops for the benefit Of their cap
tors and were then butchered in cold
blood, while women and children were
carried away, the former to enrich the
seraglios of Moro chiefs, the latter to be
brought up as slaves.
For az centuries this state of affairs
continued. Emboldened by continued
success, the Moros no longer confined
their attention to the defenseless ma
tives. Spanish planters and government
officials were killed or held for ransom.
But the delight of the grim Moslem
warriors was to make prisoners Of the
, Spanish priests and friars, toward whom
they displayed the bitterest hatred. Is
lands which had once been prosperous
were almost depopulated. Even foreign
sailing vessels were attacked and cap.
tured.
The Spaniards did not tamely submit
to this state of affairs. Expedition aftel
expedition was organized. Millions Of
dollars and thousands Of lives were
wasted. Temporary successes were
gained, but they resulted in no perma'
nent advantage On several occasions
landings were made on Sulu itself, forts
built and garrisons established, only tt
be driven from the island or massacrec
to man.
The steel weapons Of the Moros wer'
Of the best, and for years they wer'
really better armed than the Spaniards
but with the improvement in frearm
the Spaniards gained an advantage II
which the Moros did not share. Sucl
cannon and rifles as they possessed wer
Anticipated. and they had difficulty II
getting ammunition, but 1t was not un
til the day Of rapid fire guns and ligh
draft steam gunboats that they wer
finally confined to the southern water
of the archipelago.
An efficient patrol Of gunboats wa
established, and the Moro praus wer
forbidden to put to sea without first OF
tanning written permit from the neal
est Spanish governor. They were ais
ordered to fly the Spanish flag. When
prau was encountered that did not shoN
the flag or was not provided with
pasaporte, 1t was rammed and cut i
two or sunk by the fire of machin
guns. No quarter was given.
AS opportunity offered, the gunboa'
, shelled the Moro villages. which wei
: built over the sea and SO could be easil
reached. Sulu, which had always bee
the seat Of government and the res
dence of the reigning sultans, was d.
stroyed in 1875 and Spanish milita1
post established where it had been. 4
first the Moros had disagreeable hah
, of dropping in from time to time an
, wiping out the garrison. 1t was Col
l stantly REINFORCED or renewed, how
, ever, SO that from 1875 to the presel
day the Spanish occupation at this poll
has been almost continuous.