The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-31
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PIRATES OF THE PHILIPPINES.
Fierce MorOs From BOrneO That
OVerrnn the Island.

OVerrnn the Island.
Prof. Dean C. Worcester of the Univer-
sity of Michigan, contributes an article
on THE Malay Pirates of the Philip
pines" with illustrations from photo
graphs. to the September Century. Prof.
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 Sulu and
Basilan, but rapidly spread over the nu-
merous small islands OF the SUN and Twai
Tawi archipelagoes and eventually occu-
pied the whole Of the great island of Min
danao to the east, and Balabac and the
southern third OF Palawan to the west
Before their conquest of Palawan was
completed they had their first serious
collision with Spanish troops, and have
not since been able to extend their ter
ritory; but what they had taken they
have continued to hold.
Hostihties between Moros and Spaniards
were precipitated by an unprovoked at
tack by the latter upon one of the Moro
chiefs of North Mindanao. The attacking
force was almost anuihlated and the fam
atical passions of the Moros were aroused
They forthwith began to organize forays
against the Spanish and native towns Of
the central ana nOEI0tEhf tsidiAlSt anu
from the outset met with great success.
Their piratical expeditions soon became
annual events. With each recurring
southeast monsoon hordes of them man
ned their war praus and sailed north,
where they harried the coasts until the
change of monsoons warned them to re-
turn home.
Thousands of captives were taken. Men
were compelled to harvest their own crops
for the benefit of their captors, and were
then butchered in cold blood, while wo-
men and children We're carried away, the
former TO enrich the seraglos of Moro
chiefs, the latter to be brought up as
slaves.
For two and a half centuries this state
of affairs continued Emboldened by con-
tinued success, the Moros no longer con-
fined 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 war
riors was to make prisoners of the Span
ish priests and friars, toward whom they
displayed the bitterest hatred. Islands
which had once been prosperous were
almost depopulated. Even foreign sailing
vessels were attacked and captured.
The Spaniards did not tamely submit TO
this state Of affairs Expedition after eX-
petition was organized. Millions of dol
lars and thousands of lives were wasted.
temporary EuCCEEStH were Sdiutur bul
they resulted an no permanent advantage.
On several occasions landings were made
on Sulu Itself, forts buih, and garrisons
established only to be driven from the
island or massacred TO man.
The steel weapons Of the Moros were Of
the best, and for years they were really
better armed than the Spaniards; but with
the improvement In firearms the Span
iards gained an advantage in which the
Moros did not share Such cannon and
rifles as they possessed were antiquated,
and they had difficulty in getting ammu-
milton; but il was not until the day Of
rapid-fire guns and light-draft eteam-gun-
boats that they were finally confined to
the southern waters Of the archipelago
An efficient patrol of gunboats was es-
tabished, and the Moro praus were for
hidden 10 put to sea without first obtain
ing a written permit from the nearest
Spanish governor. They were also order
ed 10 fly the Spanish flag. When prau
was encountered that did not show the
fiaS, or was not provided with a pSaa-
porte, Il was rammed and cut In two, or
A-eunk by the fire of machine guns. No
quarter was given.
As opportunity offered the gunboats
shellod the Moro villages, which were
built over the sea and SO could be easily
reached Sulu. which had always been
the seat Of government and the residence
Of the reigninP fultans, was destroyed in
1916, and Spanish military post estab-
llshed where 10 had been. A. first the
Moros had a disagreeable habit Of drop
ping Ia from time 10 time ana wipng
ouf tho garrison. ~ wa constantly rein
forced or renewed. however 10 t.snt from
1916 20 the present Day tbe spanish Occu-
patton az this point has been almost con-
tinuOuH.
nHs -
Ills Experience 5f0wn-i don't under