The Topeka state journal., 1902-05-05
MOROS CRUSHED.
Gen. Davis Short and Success
full Campaign.
Principal Moro Fort Assaulted
and Captured.
BUT "a SURVIVORS.
Trenches Were Lined With
Bodies Of the Dead.
Victory Was Won After a Hand
to Hand Struggle.
WAS DEARLY BOUGHT.
Eight Americans Killed and 34
Wounded.
Trenches Were Lined Will
Bodies Of the Dead.
Victory Was Won After a Hand
to Hand Struggle.
WAS DEARLY BOUGHT.
Eight Americans Killed and 81
Wounded.

Washington, May 5.-The War depart
ment has received a cabIegram from
General Chaffee indicating that the
campaign against Sultan Bayan, one OF
the principal Moro Chiefs had been
completely successful The result was
accomplished by a gallant assault on
the principal Moro fort and it's capture
after a number OF the leading Moros
had been killed. The cablegram was as
follows:
''Adjutant General, Washington: The
following is the full substance of Brig
adler General George W. Davis mes
sage from Bayan:
.-Eighty-four survivors Bayan surren-
dered unconditionally this morning at Z.
Sultan Bayan, Rajah Muda Bayan, Sui
tan Pandapatan and all leading Dattos
dead and many of their followers. As
sault on the principal fort, which sur
rendered last night, one of the most
gallant performances of American arms.
Colonel Frank D. Baldwin and his reg
iment deserve all praise for hand to
hand struggle in four lines of bitches
under walls of fort These trenches are
lined with Moro dead from rifle fire.
Have never seen or heard of any
performance excelling this gallant fight
1T is my painful duty to report that
the overt brow Of Moro power not ac-
complished without severe loss. One
officer and seven enlisted men killed;
four officers and thirty enlisted men
wounded. VIII telegraph the list later
After eighty-four survivors marched
out this morning as prisoners, and was
understood they We're ALL eight others
who had concealed themselves in rub
bish inside the fort made a break for
liberty, tried way out but none sue
cessful.
Some Moro wounded tried to stab
soldiers trying to help them. It is i'm
possible to state number of Moros killed
Many lying in tall grass.
The surrender saves US from siege
and starving out. Impossible to have
carried works without scaling ladders
prisoners until two or three small ad-
jacent forts occupied, then viii hold
as hostages eight or ten of the pr1ncl-
pals and release the others.
'sThe force in line of advance con
sisted of four mountain guns, 40 rifles
This fully sufficient Could not have
used more men adVantageously. Had
we sent strong column it would only
have sWelled the casualty list.
'sOne neighboring dattO has already
presented himself as friend. and I ex-
pect a 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 besieged the principal forts and IN
time forced surrender, but that would
probably have resulted in a sortie for
| freedom and escape for many. BY at
tacking them they have been complete
ly 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 ne does not do this
| of his initiative. Has fort further east
in plain sight and of same strength as
was Bayan, on beautiful table land,
/ thousand acres fine upland rice, and
/ urging people to return to its cultiva-
ton. The result to follow this action
very important, namely, it secures re-
speet for United States authority in the
| center of Moro savagery.
"CHAFFEE.''