The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-05-21
MORO STRONGHOLD TAKEN
Dattos Killed in Hand-to-Hand Fight.
inc in the bitches.
ONE OFFICER, SEVEN MEN DEAD

Ootto1 DIED flShtluG>OApotcn kho'
ported "One of the Most Gallant Per.
formances Of American Arms".Moros
Fought Furiously-Ths Losses.
Washington. d. C. - The War De-
partment has received q cablegram
from General Chaffee indicating that
the campaign against Sultan Bayan.
one Of the principal Moro chiefs, had
been successful.
The result was accomplished by q
gallant assault on the principal Moro
fort and Its capture after q number OF
leading Moros had been killed. The
cablegram Is as follows:
The following Is the full substance
Of BrIgndier-G General George W. Davis's
message from Bayan:
'Eighty.four survivors Of Bayan
surrendered Internationally at Z
O'Clock q. m. Sultan Bayan, Raja Mu.
da Bayan, Sultan Pandapat and al!
leading Dattos dead and many Of their
followers.
Assault on the principal fort which
surrendered last night one Of the most
gallant performances Of American
arms. Colonel Frank D. Baldwin and
his regiment Fourth Infantry 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 rife fire. Have never
seen or heard Of any performance ex'
ceiling this gallantry and grit.
ut IL 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 thirty-seven
enlisted men wounded. Will telegraph
the list later.
"After eighty-four survivors had
marched out this morning as prisoners,
md was understood they were all,
eight others who had concealed them
selves In rubbish inside the fort. made
q break for liberty, tried way out, but
none succeeded.
"'Some Moro wounded tried to stab
soldiers trying to help them. It Is I'M
possible to state the number of Moro
killed: many lying in tall grass.
""The surrender 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 small ada.
cent forts occupied. then with your con.
sent to retain as hostages eight or ten
Of the principals and release the others.
"uThe force In line of advance con.
sisted Of four mountain guns and 40
rifles. This Is fully sufficient. Could
not have used more men advantageous
". Had we sent strong column 1t
would only have swelled the casualty
list.
"'One neighboring Data has already
presented himself rs a friend. and
expect a general coming In shortly.
when the weight Of the blow Is known.
The dead were sent to Malabang for
burial. In light Of present knowledge
:ould have besIeged the principal forts.
and In time forced surrender. but that
would probably have resulted In q sor-
tie for freedom and escape for many.
By attacking them they have been com.
pletely crushed-the only kind OF lesson
these wild Ioros seem to be able to
profit by.
".Shall invite Sultan Tarlac to pay
me friendly visit. II he does not come
to us of his own initiative. Has fort
further east. in plain sight. and OF
same strength as was Bayan. on a
beautiful tableland of 1000 acres OF fne
upland rice. and am urging people to
return to its cultivation
THE result to follow this action Is
yery important. namely-it secures re-
spect for United States authority In
the centre Of Moro savagery.
The American soldiers. during the
night preceding the attack upon the
fort, slept In the open, during hard
rain. They were without shelter and
had no blankets.
During the fight the mountain guns
fred 40 rounds at range Of 400
yards.
The Sultan of Bayan. who was
killed. was one Of the most prominent
rulers In the Island Of Mindanao. HIS
influence Is felt over a large area. and
the news Of his defeat and death Will
have a tremendous effect among the
more than half savage natives OF the
island,