The Elbert County tribune., 1902-05-08
AT WAR WITH MoROs
FORT CAPTURED BY ASSAULT.
Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand
Fighting Men in the Disaffeeted
Provinee-6eiieved to Possess But
coo RIfies-other Moro Tribes Not
in cvprnathv

GU Hifes-Other Moro Tribes Not
In Sympathy.
Washington, May 4.-Despite earn.
est efforts to concilinte the Morors OF
Mindanao. war with them is in prog.
ress. Following hard upon the heels
of the dispatch announcing the sur
render OF more than one thousand in
surrecios in the northern islands and
the provinces OF Misamis. Mindanao,
came message from Major General
Chaffee. announcing that an American
outpost had been fired upon by the
Moros and that our troops captured the
Moro fort after n protracted engage
meut
The War Department later to-day
received cablegram from General
Chnnee indicating that the campaign
against Sultan Bayan. one of the prin-
cipal Moro chiefs, had been complete
ly successful. The result was accom-
plished by n gallant assault on the
principal Moro fort and lis capture af-
ter number OF the leading Moros had
been killed. The cablegram. which
was received this afternoon, was as
follows:
"Adjutant General Washington
Following is the full substance Of
Brigadicr General George w. Davis
message from Bayan:
Elghty-four survivors of Bnyan
surrendered Internationally this morn
ing at o'clock. Sultan Baynn. Rnja
Muda Bayan. Sultan Pandapafnn and
all the leading datos are dead, as well
as many Of their following. The as
sault on the principal fort, which sur
rendered last night, was one of the
most gallant performances of Ameri-
can arms. Colonel Frank ID. Baldwin
and his regiment deserve all praise for
their hand to hand struggle In four
lines OF bitches under the walls OF the
fort. These trenches are lined with
Moro dead from their rifle fire.
i have never seen or heard OF any
performance excelling this gallant
fight 1t is my painful duty to report
that the overthrow of the Moro power
was not accomplished without severe
loss. One officer and seven enlisted
men were killed and four officers and
! thirty enlisted men wounded. / Will
telegraph list later.
"'After the eighty-four survivors
marched out this morning as prisoners
and 1t was understood that they were
all. eight others, who had concealed
themselves In rubbish inside the fort,
made break for liberty. trying to
force their way out. but none succeed
ed. Some of the Moro wounded tried
TO stab soldiers who were trying to
| help them.
1T Is impossible to state the num-
| her of Moros killed. as many are lying
| In the tall grass. The surrender saves
us from having to lay siege and stnrve
them out, as It was impossible TO have
| carried the works without scaling lad
ders. which were ready. | intend to
retain the prisoners until two or three
small adjacent forts are occupied and
then will retain as hostages eights or
ten of the principals and release the
| Others
"One neighboring dato has already
represented himself as our friend. and
| expect n general coming In shortly
when the weight of the blow is
| known"
Lieutenant Bovars of the Twenty
seventh infantry was killed In the en-
| gagement at the fort.
Captain Moore of the same regiment
was mortally wounded.
Surgeon Porter and Lieutenant Hen
ry s. Wagner of the Fourteenth infan-
try, and Lieutenant Jossman of the
| Twenty-seventh Infantry, were severe
ly wounded.
The President tonight sent the fol
lowing congratulatory message to Cen
eral Chaffee:
''Chafree. Manila: Accept for the
army under your command, and ex-
press to General Davis aud Colonel
Baldwin especially, my congrn tula
tions and thanks for the special cour-
age and fidelity which have again car
rled our flag to victory. Your fellow
countrymen at home Will ever honor
the memory Of the fallen. and be faith
ful 20 the brave survivors who have
themselves been faithful unto death
for their country's sake"