The age-herald., 1902-05-05
Campaign of General Davis Has
 Been Very Successful
GALLANT ASSAULT ON FORT
Was One of the Most Gallant Per- formances of American Arms and Colonel Baldwin and His Men
 Deserve Great Praise.

Washington, May 4.-The war depart ment today received cablegram from General Chaffee, indicating that the campaign against Sultan Bayan, one of the principal Moro chiefs, had been com pietely successful The result was accom- plished hy gallant assault on the prln- cipal Moro fort and it's capture after number of leading Moros had been killed. The cablegram, which was received this afternoon, was as follows;
 "Adjutart-General, Washington:
 '"rhe followingiis the full substance of Brlgadier- General George w. Davis message from Bayan;
 'Eighty-four survivors Bayan sur rendered internationally this morning at [. Sultan Bayan Raja Muda Bayan, Sul- ~ Pandapatan and all leading dattos dead ana many ot thelr followers As sault on the principal fort which surren- dered last night one of the most gallant performances of American arms. Col. Frank D. Baldwin and his regiment de- serve all praise for hand to hand strug- gle in four lines of ditches under walls of fort These trenches are lined with Moro dead from rifle fire. Have never seen or heard of any performance excel ling this in gallantry and grit. It is my painful duty to report that overthrow of Moro power not accomplished without severe loss. One officer and seven enlist ed men killed; four officers and thirty seven enlisted men wounded. Will tele- graph the list later. After eighty-four survivors marched out this morning as prisoners, and was understood they were all, eight others who had concealed themselves in rubbish inside the fort made break for liberty, tried way out. but none succeeded They tried to stab soldiers. It is impossible to estimate the number of Moros killed, many lying in grass. This saves us from siege and starving them out. Intend to retain pris- oners until two or three small adjacent forts are occupied, then, with your con sent to retain as hostages eight or ten of the principals and release the others. The force In line of advance consisted of four mountain guns 470 rifles. This fully sufficient Could not have used more men advantageously. Had we sent strong column 1t would only have swelled the casualty list. One neighboring datto has already presented himself as friend. and I expect g. general coming in shortly when the weight of the blow Is known. The dead sent to Malabang for burial. In light of present knowledge could have be- sieged the principal forts and in time forced surrender, but that would prob ably have resulted in sortie for free dom and escape for many. By attack ing them they have been completely crushed-the only kind of lesson these wild Moros seem to be able to profit by. Shall invite Sultan Tarlac to pay me a friendly visit if he does not do so of his initiative. His fort further east in plain sight and same stregnth as was Bayan, on beautiful table land thousands acres fine upland rice. and urging people to re- turn to its cultivation. The result to fol- low this action very important, namely it secures respect for United States au- thority in the center of Moro savagery.
 'CIAFFEE.' /"