The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-05-08
M0ROS A PEaIL0US FOE.
Savages Of Mindanao Promise
Fierce Resistance.
H0TED FOR vAL0R AND FEROOITY

Numbering q Half Million, Said to
| Be Worse to Fight Than Natives Of
Luzon and Samar-Have Plenty of
Bo1os.
It is because Of the grave conse-
Quences certain to ensue that the ad-
ministration at Washington is embark
| ing with such great reluctance upon
war with the Moros of the island Of
Mindanao. says the New York Herald.
| Half million in numbers, noted for
their bravery and ferocity and imbued
with the fanaticism and fatalism of the
Mohammedan, this people will be foe
that, it is said, will prove far more diff
fcult to conquer than the natives Of
Luzon and Samar.
Under the policy adopted by the late
President Mckinley, the American au-
thorities in the Philippines acted in the
most conciliatory manner toward the
Moros. This policy was fruitful Of
peace until recently, when Major Cen
eral Chaffee reported to the war de-
partment that the Moros had murdered
several American soldiers. Demands
for the surrender Of the murderers
were met by refusal from the datos, or
chiefs. In the hope of effecting a set
tlement General Chaffee himself visited
Mindanao, but the datos declined to
meet him.
Reports received by the war depart
ment regarding the armament of the
Moros are conflicting. Some officers
have declared that the people are pro-
| vided with a large number of guns and
| considerable ammunition; others say
they have few rifles. All agree. how
ever, that they have plenty of bolos
made Of steel brought from Borneo
Major o. j. Sweet. commanding the
Twenty third infantry, Informed the
military governor Of the Philippine Is
lands that sit was reported that there
were Krag rifles in the hands of the
| Moros Of the island of Jolo. An inves-
! tigation showed that they were all of
| the model later than any in the hands
OF the Twenty-third infantry and that
they were all bought in Mindanao and
l.
I know of. They will all be recovered"
Major Sweet subsequently estimated
that there were 1000 guns in the island
of Jolo alone. The Moros of Mindanao
are believed to be equally well sup
piled.
The Moros are fortunately divided
into four different tribes. speaking diff
fol hn
to prevent their cooperation. All. how
ever. profess the Mohammedan reli-
gion, apd this may induce them to act
together against the Christian invader.
The Koran requires the conversion Of
the Christian or, in the event of fail
ure. his execution. Major General
Chaffee in his report to the war de-
partment said that he believed large
majority Of the datos were friendly.
The troops. however, will enter the
Jurisdiction Of the most powerful dato
of Mindanao, man known as Piang.
Brigadier General Kobbe, who was
last year in command Of the military
department of Mindanao and Jolo,
says:
Of Mindanao, speaking different Ian,
guage. Their meeting ground is Ma
lay. The Moros of Mindanao acknowl-
edge no vassalage to the sultan-of Jolo.
The hereditary rights Of the sultan
of Mindanao have lapsed. Dato Man.
Ci Is reputed to be his heir or successor,
but the claim amounts to nothing. He
may regard it as important. but it gives
him little or no practical rights or au-
thority. The only datos with whom
the United States has any political
concern are Mandi, in Zamboanga;
Piang, Ali and Utto, in Cotabato.
'Tt Is difficult to segregate the terri
tory occupied by Moros from that oc-
cupied by pagans and other tribes
The lake Moros have few rifles, as the
sale of arms and ammunition to them
is prohibited. Captain Hagadorn, who
has visited the lake, described the
country as being exceedingly rich, pop
ulous and we'll cultivated. Some gun
boats were taken up and sunk in the
lake by the Spaniards. The soldiers
have had no trouble with the natives.
OuL IuCTG WOulu De lrOuUlG IL Lie w lilies
entered the country in any considera-
BILE number, especially with the lake
Moros."
The sultan Of Mindanao is one Man
gigin, but all the Moros do not acknowl-
edge his sovereignty. The Philippines
commission, which visited Mindanao,
Intercepted dato named Mandi pro-
fessedly friendly to the Americans, in
regard to the lake Moros.
He said the Lake Lanao region was
thickly settled and comparatively we'll
cultivated. In 1896 the Spaniards at.
tempted to invade this territory. An
expedition went from Iligan to Lanao.
A railroad was built from Iigan to the
lake, and three small gunboats were
transferred to the inland body Of water,
At that time the Moros were indiffer-
emily armed, but they fought vigorous
ly, firing stones as projectiles. The
Spaniards killed only few Moros.
Major General Chaffee Is gathering