The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1902-05-10
DEFEATS THE MOROS
GENERAL DAVIS CAMPAIGN
AGAINST SULTAN RAYAN
SUCCESSFUL.
Americans Capture the Principal Fort
Colonel BaIdwin's Regiment Has .
hand.to.Hand Struggle In Four Lines
Of .Ditches-NearIy Fifty Casualties
Reported Of lnsurgent
Dead ls Unknown. ...

Reported-Number Of lnsur0ent
Dead ls Unknown. ..
Washington, May 5.-The war de-
partment has received cablegram
from General Chaffee indicating that
the campaign against Sultan Bayan,
one of the principal Moro chiefs, had
been completely successful. The re-
suit was accomplished by gallant
assault upon the principal Moro fort
and Its capture after number of the
leading Moros had been killed. The
cablegram is as follows:
"The following ia the full substance
of Brigadier General G. w. Davis
message from Bayan: 'Eighty-four
survivors Bayan surrendered uncondi-
tionally this morning at Z. Sultan
Hayan, Raja Muda Bayan, Sultan Pan
lapatan and all leading dattos dead
and many Of their followers. Assault
on the principal fort, which surren-
dered last night, one of the most gal
liant performances of American arms.
Colonel Frank D. Baldwin and his
regiment deserve all praise for hand
to-hand struggle in four lines of ditch
es under walls of fort. These trenches
are lined with Moro dead from rifle
fire. Have never seen or heard OF any
performance excefling this gallantry
and grit. It Is my painful duty to re-
port that the overthrow of Moro power
not accomplished without severe loss.
One officer and Z enlisted men killed,
4 officers and 81 enlisted men wound
ed. After "a survivors marched out
this morning as prisoners, and was un-
derstood they were all, eight others
who had concealed themselves in rub
bish inside the fort, made break for
liberty, tried way out; but none sue
ceeded. Some Moro
Wounded Tried to Stab Soldiers
trying to help them. It'is impossible
to state the number of Moros killed:
many lying in tall grass. The surren.
der saves us from siege and starving
out. Impossible to have carried works
without scaling ladders, which were
ready. Intend to retain prisoners
until two or three adjacent forts occu-
pied, then with your consent to retain
as hostages or 10 of the principals
and release the others. The force in
line of advance consisted of noun
tain guns, 470 rifles. This fully suffi.
cient. Could not have used more men
advantageously. Had we sent strong
column it would only have swelled the
casualty list. One neighboring datto
already presented himself as friend,
and expect general coming in short
ly, when the weight of the blow is
known. The dead sent to Malabang
for burial. In light of present knowl-
edge could have besieged the princi-
pal forts and in time forced surren-
der, but that would probably have re-
suited in sortie for freedom and es-
cape for many. By attacking 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
friendly visit if he does not do so
of initiative. Has fort further east in
plain sight and of some strength, as
was Bayan, on beautiful tableland,
1000 acres fine upland rice, and urging
people to return to it's cultivation.
The result to follow this action very
important, namely: 1t secures respect
for United States authority in the cen:
ter of Moro savagery.'