The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-05
VICTORY MAKES FOR PEACE
ONE IMPORTANT DATTO ALREADY
HAS DECLARED FRIENDSHIP.
Various Aspects of the Major Garde-
ner Anair-RepOrt Said to Have
Been a Campaign Document.

WASHINGTON, May 4.-The War De-
partnent to-day received a cablegram from
General Chafee. indicating that the cam
paign against Sultan Bayan, one OF the
principal Moro chiefs. had been completely
successful. The result was accomplished
by gallant assault on the principal Moro
fort and its capture after number Of lead
ing Moros had been killed. The cablegram.
which was received this afternoon, was as
follows.
'Adjutant General. Washington - The
following is the full substance of Brig.
Gen. George w. Davis's message from
Bayan:
Eighty-four survivors at Bayan sur
rendered unconditionally this morning at 7
o'clock. The Sultan of Bayan. Raja Muda
Bayan. Sultan Pandahatan and all the
leading dattos are dead. with many Of their
followers. The assault on the principal
fort. which surrendered last night. was
one of the most gallant performances of
the American army. Col. Frank ID. Bald
win 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 our rifle fire. l have never seen or
gallantry and grit
- 1t is my painful duty 10 report that
the overthrow of the Moro power was not
accomplished without severe loss. One Of
hcer and seven enlisted men were killed
and four officers and thirty-seven enlisted
men were wounded. VIII telegraph the list
later.
After the eighty-four survivors
(and IT was understood they were alp eight
others. who had concealed themselves in
the rubbish inside the fort. made a break
for liberty and tried to cut their way out,
but none succeeded. Some Moro wounded
tried to stab soldiers trying to help them.
1t is impossible to state the number OF
MorOs killed. as many are lying in the tall
grass The surrender saves US from a
siege ard starving them out 1t would
have been impossible to have carried the
works without scaling ladders. which were
ready.
81 intend 10 retain the prisoners until
two or three small adjacent forts are oc-
cupied, then, with your consent, TO retain
as hostages eight or ten OF the principals
and release the others.
The force In the line of advance con-
sisted OF four mountain guns and 40 rifles
This was fully sufficient. as L could not
have used more men advanta geOusly. Had
We sent strong column il would only have
swelled the casualty list. One neighboring
datto has already presented himself a
frien6. and l expect a general coming in
shortly. when the weight of the blow Is
known The dead were sent TO Malabang
for burial
In the light OF present knowledge we
could have besieged the principal forts
and in time forced d surrender, but that
would probably have resulted in "A sOrtie
for freedom and the escape of many. BY
attacking them they have been completely
crushed-the only kind OF lesson these wild
Moros seem to be able 10 profit by Shall
invite Sultan Tarlac 10 pay me a friendly
visit. II he does not do so OF his own initia-
tive. He has a fort further east, In plain
sight and of the same strength as was
Bayan. beautiful tableland.
There are thousands of acres of fine
upland rice and / am urging the people tC
return 10 its cultivation
The result TO follow this action is very
important-namely. IL secures respect fOl
United States authority in the center OF
Moro savagery. CHAFFEE.'