Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-07
FIGHT WITH MOROS
Admiral Watson's Report to the
Secretary of the Navy.
ATTEMPTED 10 TAKE A LIGHTHOUSE
Light Re-establlshed by Lieutenant
Commander Nazro.
TIE EN- M VS. L o S S

The Navy Department today received the
following cablegram from Admiral Wat
son:
Secretary of the Navy. Washington:
.'Nazro. the commander of the Manila.
on July II established lighthouse at Cape
Melville Balibac, Philippine Islands; hoist
ed flag with appropriate honors. July Is,
AT his return. thirteen 03) Moros, under
arms. were found to be in possession of
the lighthouse. Landing party command
cd by Ensign E S. Bissett encountered re-
sistance. No casualties in our party. Loss
in killed. one officer and one man of the
enemy. Diego ManalosIo Manalo. chief of
the Balabac MOros, was killed, seven taken
prisoners. Two escaped Chief of the party
was very unpopular with The people ow-
ing to fear of him. Light has been re-
stored. Manila has landed force. Charles
ton is on ner way to Balabac VIII render
all assistance possible. WATSON
The Island of Ralabac, the scene of the
brush with the MorUs, detailed in Admiral
WatSOns dispatch. is situated southeast
of the Island Of Palawan. which is the
most westerly of the Philippine Islands,
and directly west of the Island of PaEay.
The light there. which re-eStabiished
by Lieutenant Commander NazrO, shows
for twenty-five miles and is regarded
Of considerable Importance to navigation.
being in direct line between Singapore and
the Straits settlements and the islands
to the north The island is twenty-five
miles long, and, according to the informa-
ton in the possession OF the department.
has but meager population of l 100. These
are described in Admiral Watson's dispatch
as Morcs. the name applied to the fierce
natives of the Zulu group. They are Mo-
hammedans. and are regarded as the most
wariike people in the Philippines. The
al. Baibac, has population of 200.
The Spanish government established mil
1tary post there in 1887. 1t consists of a
barracks, hospital and armed fort.
The Manila, the vessel described in the
dispatch, is a captured transport Its mis-
sion in that vicinity is unknown at the
Navy Department. IT is evident from the
text Of the dispatch that the Manila has
left a landing force there to guard the
light. and that the Charleston, which is
on its way there. viii see that the landing
party receives such reinfOrcements as may
be deemed necessary.
= Private Commended
Maj. Geo. F. Shiels. surgeon of the Sd
Brigade at Manila has made report to
Surgeon General Sternberg. under date of
June +. of his duties during April and May.
In it he specially commends Private Paul
Gompertz of the hospital corps. who was
killed in action April -. Mai. ShieIs SAYS
During the operations of the LIST Divi-
sion | was with Gen King up to the time
Of our arriving off the town of Santa Cruz
de Laguna- Gen King became quite ill,
and il Was found necessary to put him on
Mia From this tine on l served with the
brigade under command Of Mai. Wissen-
berg Of the lst Washington Infantry. The
health of the command during this short
campaign was excellent. The lists of the
killed and wounded have already been sent
through the proper channels. The cam
Iaign lasted from April s. when the bri-
gade left San Pedro Macati. until April Il.
" lille there is no special reason to remark
on any individual connected with the bri-
gade's medical department, / feel il my
duty to state that each and every man
performed his duty to my entire satisfac-
ton.
with Cen Wheaton 1 acted during the
advance on San Fernando and assisted in
attending to the wounds of both American
this advance. at the River Ragbag my or
derry, Private Paul Gompertz. was fatally
wounded while on the aTmored car, a Rem
ingtOn bullet passing through his neck
completely seEering the carotid artery and
Jugular vein on both sides. l beg here TO
call the attention of the surgeon general to
the services Of this man. He was con-
stantly with me from February ! until the
day of his death. We We're together on the
hrins line during battle after battle, and
n performed his duty SO bravely, so faith
FULLY and 50 unselfishly that he gained the
respect and admiration of the commanding
general and his staff, as well as all with
VhOm he came in contact. l could quote
l feel that the collective statements which
J have made viii be evidence enough of the
Iact That ne vas a man of unusual merit
W nen this report of Mai. Shells was for
War1cd he was at Manila under waiting
orders.