Morris tribune., 1902-10-25
MOROS A PERilOUS FOE
Savages of Mindanao Promise
Fierce Resistance.
NOTED FOR VALOR AND FEROOITY

Our New Enemy In the Philippines,
Numbering a Half Million, Said to
Be Worse to Fight Than Natives Of
LuzOn and Samar-Have Plenty of
BOIOs.
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 a million in numbers, noted fol-
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 Gen
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 0. j. Sweet, commanding the
Twenty-third infantry, informed the
military governor of the Philippine Is
lands that lit 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
brought to Jolo. There are four that
l 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
ferent dialects, and it may be possible
to prevent their cooperation. All, how
ever, profess the Mohammedan reli-
gion, and 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 be 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:
"The Moros Of Jolo differ from those
Of Mindanao, speaking a different Ian
guage. Their meeting ground is Ma
lay. The Moros Of Mindanao acknowl-
edge no vassaiage to the sultan Of Joio.
The hereditary rights Of the sultan
Of Mindanao have lapsed. Dato Man.
& 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 Mand1, in Zamboanga; |
Piang, Ali and Tito, in Cotabato.
sit is difficult to segregate the terri i
tory occupied by Moros from that &C.
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,
but there would be trouble if the whites
entered the country in any considera.
Bile number, especially with the lake
Moros'
The sultan Of Mindanao is one Man
ytgin. but all the Moros do not acknowl-
edge his sovereignty. The Philippines
which visited Mindanao
a dato named Mandi, pro-
friendly to the Americans, in
'egard to the lake Moros.
He said the Lake Lanao region was
thickly settled and comparatively well
cultivated. In 1896 the Spaniards at.
tempted to invade this territory. All
expedition went from Iligan to Lanao.
A railroad was built from Iligan to the
AXE, and three small guhboats were
to.the inland body of water.