Waterbury Democrat., 1902-05-05
MORO FORT TAKEN.
Gallant Assault by Colonel
 Baldwin's Men.
LEADING DATTOS KILLED IN FIGHT.
General Davis >Cab1es AccounS of What He Styles "One of the Most Gallant Performances of
 American Arms.o

WASHINGTON, May 5.-The war department has received a cablegram from General Chaffee indicating that the campaign against Sultan Bayan, one of the principal Moro chiefs, had been completely successful. The result was accomplished by q gallant assault on the principal Moro fort and it's cap- ture after a number of the leading Mo ros had been killed The cablegram from General Chaffee says that the fol- lowing is the full substance of Briga- dier General George w. Davis mes sage from Bayan as received by him:
 "Eighty-four survivors Bayan surren- dered internationally this morning at z. Sultan Bayan, Rajah Muda Bayan, Sultan Pandapatan and all leading dat tos dead and many of their followers. Assault on the principal fort which sur rendered last night one of the most gal lant performances of American arms. Colonel Frank D. Baldwin and his regi- ment deserve all praise for hand to hand struggle in four lines of ditches under walls of fort. These trenches are lined with Moro dead from rifle fire. Have never seen or heard of any per formance excelling this gallantry and grit. It is my painful duty to report that the overthrow of Moro power 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 eight-four survivors march ed out this morning as prisoners and was understood they were all, eight others, who had concealed themselves in rubbish inside the fort, made a break for liberty, tried way out, but none succeeded. Some more 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 surrender saves us from siege and starving. Impossible to have carried works without sealing ladders, which were ready. Intend to retain prsoners until two or three small adjacent forts occupied, then, with your consent, to retain as hostages eight or ten of the principals and re- lease the others. The force in line of advance consisted of four mountain guns, 47O rifles This was fully sufn-
 
 Had we sent a strong column it would only have swelled the casualty list. One neighboring datto has al- ready presented himself as a friend, and expect general coming in short ly, when the weight of the blow is. known. The dead have been sent to Malabang for burial. Tn light of pres ent knowledge I could have besieged the principal forts and in time forced them to surrender, but that would probably have resulted in a sortie for freedom and escape for many. By at tacking them they have been complete ly crushed, the only kind of lesson these wild Moros seem to be able to profit by I shall invite the sultan of Tarlac to pay me friendly visit if he does not do us of his own initiative. Have fort farther east in plain sight and of same strength as was Bayan on beautiful tableland thousand acres fine upland rice. I am urging the peo- pie to return to it's cultivation.
 ''The result to follow this action is very mportant-namely, it secures re- spect for United States authority in the center of Moro savagery."