Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1902-05-09
MOROS FORT CAPTURED.
General Ghafee Reports Fierce
Battle in Mindanao.
TRENCHES LINED WITH DEAD

Assault On Fort Was One Of the Most
Gallant Performances of American
Arms-our Losses Are Eight Killed
and Forty-one Wounded.
Washington, May 5.-The war de.
partment received a cablegram 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 its cap
ture after a number of the leading
Moros had been killed. The cablegram
which was received yesterday after.
noon was as follows:
1.-The following is the full substance
of Brigadier General George w. Da.
Wis message from Bayan:
"Eighty-fOur survivors Bayan sur
rendered Internationally this morning
at Z o'clock. Sutton Bayan, Raja
Muda Bayan, Sutton Pandapatan and
all leading dattos dead and many of
their followers. Assault on the princi-
pal fort, which surrendered Saturday
night, one Of the most gallant perform.
ances of American arms. Colonel
Frank D. Baldwin and his regiment
deserve all praise for hand to hand
struggle in four lines of bitches IN
der walls of fort. These trenches are
lined with Moro dead from rife fire.
Have never seen or heard of any per
| Torrance eXcelling this gallantry and
grit 1t is my painful duty to report
that the overthrow of Moro power was
not accomplished without severe loss.
One officer, and seven enlisted men
killed; four officers and 81 enlisted
men wounded.
"After "a Survivors marched out yes.
terday morning as prisoners, and il
was understood they were all, eight
others who had concealed themselves
in rubbish inside the fort, made a
break for liberty, tried way out, but
none succeeded. Some Moro wounded
tried to stab soldiers trying to hell
them.
1T is impossible to state the mum
Der of Moro killed; many lying in tai
grass. The surrender saves US from
siege and starving out Impossible tt
have carried works without sealing
ladders. which were ready. Intend t.
retain prisoners until two or three
small adjacent forts are occupied. the1
with your consent to retain as hos
tages eight or ten of the principals
and release the others.
THE force in line of advance con
sisted of four mountain guns, AZ
rifles. This fully sufficient. Could no
have used more men advantageously
Had we sent strong column it woult
only have swelled casualty list On
neighbOring Data has already present
ed himself as friend, and l expect
general coming in shortly, when tn
weight of the blow is known
''In light of present knowledge, coul
have besieged the principal forts an
in time forced surrender, but ths
would probably have resulted in
sortie for freedom and escape fo
{ many. By attacking them they hav
been completely crushed-the onl
-, kind Of lesson these wild Moros seer
{ to be able to profit by. Shall invit
Sultan of Tarlac to pay me a friendl
visit, if he does not do so of his Ow
initiative Has fort further east, i
plain sight and of same strength a
+ was Bayan, on beautiful tableland {
:. 1000 acres fine upland rice, and urI
, ing people to return to its cultivi
e ton.
t 1.-The result to follow this actio
a very important. namely: It secures r
d spect for United States authority
e the centre of Moro savagery.
n "CHAFFEE."