Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-09-19
INnRoS OF MINDANA0.
Chara cteristics of Race Causing
Trouble In Philippines.
4 FIERCE AND WARLIKE PEOPLE

rcIy Enemies and That There Are
They Regard Fighting as IA Means
of Grace.
The trouble with the Moros in Min
darao promises to be pretty serious,
says the Newark On. j. Call. The
Moros are fierce and warlike people
and, being followers of Mohammed,
believe there is no road to heaven so
sure or rapid as that by death found in
battle The Washington officials have
long been in fear of an outbreak among
these people, and now Uncle Sans
soldiers have been practically ordered
off the island by Cne of the dattos, who
has strongly intrenched himself Prep
arations are being made to teach the
islanders lesson that they will not
soon forget The Moros have simulated
peace, and some of the dattos are no
doubt friendly at present. One, how
ever while declaring undying affec-
ton for the United States, has been
quietly gathering allies from miles
around. According to recent dispatches
lie has lined the walls of his fort with
out and within with stone. Then he
sent word that Americans must move
on; that they were not fit to live among
Moros since they the Americans eat
pork and do other barbarous things.
OF course Uncle Sam has nothing to do
but take that fort Artillery has been
ordered. 1000 soldiers (all there are on
the island are modifying and will
presently invest the fort. Then will
come the lesson.
Il am sorry to see the Moro trouble
has come at last said a Newarker the
other day who served for some time in
Mindanao in the regular army. Every
man who has served in that part of the
Philippines knows that it was inevita
BILE still we do not like to see the thing
really here, for it means bloodshed,
and no man knows how much of it. l
knew a Spanish lieutenant who had
served for twelve years in Mindanao
in the Spanish army, and l have
known others who have passed consid-
cradle time there. l have seen the peo-
pie myself and have pretty good idea
Of what the boys Lave on hand.
The dispatches say allies have been
assembled in this particular fort. Well,
that may mean thousands of fighting
men. Nobody knows the population of
Mindanao. | have seen them come
streaming into the city of Zamboango
m, ri nt Low 1nu-1, pna1
from the hills in streams by hundreds
and hundreds There are unnumbered
thousands of them in those mountain
Businesses. They never bowed before
thcl Spanish. In fact, the Spanish pref
ty generally feared them and let them
pretty severely alone after they had
cut one body after another of Spanish
troops to pieces. They killed hundreds
of Spaniards. Lost a good many of
their own men. of course but that did
not bother them so far as fighting
went.
They are brave, you might say a
fearless. people. When our cannon bat
ter down the fort. those that are left
will fight from behind the heaps of de-
brs. Why, once the Spaniards attacked
one of their forts with cannon. and do
you think it feazed these devils? Not
much, They charged the guns with
bows and arrows. The Spaniards stuck
to the guns as long as they could and
moved swaths in them, but old Mr..
Moro came right ON, and he took the
guns too.
"If l We're out there and We're or
dered in, I'd have to 60, and l would
but l tell you right now that l would
not relish the job. 1t is one thing to
train your rifle on an enemy like the
Tagals and other Filipino tribes out
side Of Mindanao and another to get
on the firing line with the Moros in
front of you. 1t takes something of the
starch out of a man to fire carefully
and often see the enemy drop and final
" run, and it's another very different
thing to see the mass close up after
you make a hole in it and come right
On Just the same. Talk about crazy
negro with q razor, he is peaceful, |
boy alongside of these Moros
with the battle hunger in them and
heir glittering swords Qlrisses) swing
ng over their heads.
"Those swords. by the way. are often |
made and decorated with ,
gold and silver work, With ivory han
lies and all that. Very often. If VOL
examine the hlt of Il l,riss, you will
ind IL number Of it,le scratches or