The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-03-25
THE FIERCE MOROS, AS
SEEN BY A LOCAL MAN

Inc characteristics and habits Of the
Moros Of the Philippine Islands are en-
tertaiuingly described by DR.. H. H. strom-
berger, OF this city. who spent some time
in the Government service in the Island
OF Mir1anao. and who returned to Wash
ington but a short time ago. DR.. Strom-
berger vas formerly proofreader in the
Government Printing Office. afterwards an
Army medical officer. and IS now a sue
eessfuI practitioner Of Washington. Re
garding his observations in the islands.
he said
In response to a call from Surgeon
General Sternberg for surgeons for ser
vice IN the army. 1 responded. and re-
eeivcd an appointment as an acting as
sistant surgeon in March. 1900. after
Passing the army examining board at the
Washington barracks.
4 left Washington March q under
orders to proceed TO Manila. and arrived
in San Francisco in time TO take the
army transport Grant for the Philippines.
stopping at Honolulu and Guam en- route.
The trip over the Pacific was unevent-
ful. tut pleasant. as coed weather IS the
rule on the southern route.
Arriving in Manila Nay /. 1909. lust
as General Macarthur assumed command
Of the division. / was ordered to take
pest at Iiigan. on the north coast OF Min
tanaO- This was TO me. personally. a
very desirable station. because il afforded
opportunities to sec the Moros. the No
hammedan followers OF the Sultan Of ToIo.
Higan is town Of about 5000 in
/ habitants, situated on a large bay OF The
same name, and under the Spanigh regime
was considered very import mt base
from which to sUbjugate the Maros.
General Blaneo, al one time Governor
General Of Cuba. was in command here
for HFhile. and the garrison numbered
/ over 5000 troops. Evidences are on everE
I hand OF the SpanIards' efforts to clear a
path irto the interior OF this island. They
/ succeeded in building a narrow gauge
/ railroad twenty-five miles inland 20
Lake Lonas, importing their locomotives
\ and rolling stock from Germany. With
] the expenditure OF large sums OF money
I and with heavy loss Of life in many fierce
4 encounters with the savage MOrcs. they
/ succeeded in transporting four fairly
/ large ships in sections TO this lake. where
/ they were put together and launched
/ their idea being that with this formidable
/ feet the situation could be controlled. as
/ around the lake are located over 200, coo
/ lighting Moros. whose many datos. OF
/ chiefs. stood united against the common
/ foe.
/ The advantage gained was short-Iived
/ however. as the MoTOs secured possession
I Of the ships and railroads. and drove the
I Spainards into Iligan. which was held only
I after stubborn resistance and by virtue OF
/ an excellent line Of breastWOrks. still re-
naming. The railroad track has. in many
! instances. been used for defence. az
I turned up on side. il makes an admirable
/ breastwork
we have had no trouble with the
MOrOs because We have left them severely
alone Once we begin TO limit the num-
| Der Of their wives. or invade their coun-
| try for settlement, they viii oppose US to
a man. They like us mainly because they
think We are not Christians, whom they
despise.
Between the Filipino and the Moro no
love is lost. the Filipino regarding the
Moro as an unregenerated dog, while the
MorO's contempt for the Filipino is Un-
! speakable-
The Moro IS cruel and warIIke. and
forages constantly on the unwary Fill
pinos. whom they enslave when ever they
can catch them away from the protection
% their towns. While I was in Iligan
news was brought OF the capture Of a
small village Of Ffipinos a few miles
. distant by the MOrCs. who took the wOm-
en- for their ", -es and enslaved the men
and children. This is a common occur
renee. IL was not an unusual thing 20
see children bought and sold. and l was
myself once impOrtuned 10 buy COmely
young Moro girl about eighteen years old
by an old datO who came TO town ire
quently-
The differences between til Moro ald
Filipino are marked in religion. morals.
character. and stature. The ingenuity and
skill Of the Moro are remarkable. They
make beautiful COats-of FINAL in brass and
carabou horn; out Of an old piece OF Iail-
road iron they turn out beautiful krisses,