The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1902-05-08
SULTAYS FORT CAPTURED.
Moro Stronghold Calamity SEALED by
Americans.

americans.
Washington, May 1.-THE war de-
partment to-day received a cable
gram from General Chaffee indicating
that the campaign against Sultan
Bayan, one of the principal Moro
chiefs, had been completely success
fu!. f'he result was accomplished by
a gallant assault on the principal
Moro fort and it's capture after Il
number of the leading Moros had
been killed. The cablegram which
was received this afternoon was as
follows:
Adjutant General, Washington:
The following is the iull substance OF
Brig. Gen. George ". Davis message
from liayan: Eighty.four survivors
at Buyan surrendered uncondition-
ally this morning at Z. Sultan Bayan
Ra ia Muda Bayan, Sultan PaLdapa-
tan and all leading Dattos dead and
many Of their followers. Assault on
the principal fort which surrendered
hast night one Of the most gallant
pc riormances OF American arms Col
Frank ID. Baldwin and his regiment
deserve all praise for hand-to-hand
struggle in four lines ofditches under
walls of font. These trenches are
lined with Moro dead from rifle fire.
Have never seen or heard of any per.
Torrance eXcclling this gallantry and
grit. 1t is my painful duty to report
hat the overthrow Of Moro power
was not accomplished without Sc
we're loss. One officer and I enlisted
men killed; / officers and 81 enlisted
men wounGed. Will telegraph list
later After eighty-iour survivors
marched out this morning as pris-
oners, and it was understood they
were all; eight Others, who had con
cealed themselves in rubbish inside
the fort, made Il break for liberty
and tried to get out, but none sue
cceeded. Some Moro wounded tried
to stab soldiers trying to help them.
IL j. impnSsihle In stAte- The nnmher
of Moros killed, many lying in the
tail grass. The surrender saves us
from siege and starving out. I'M
possible to have carried works with
out scaling ladders, which were
ready, Intend to retain prisoners
until two or three small adjacent
forts occupied, then with your ron
sent to retain as hostage eight or
ten OF the principals and release the
others. The fore i'll line of advance
consisted of four mountain guns and
40 rifles. This fully sufficient. Could
not have used more men advanta-
geously. Had we sent strong column
it would only have swelled the casu-
atty list. One neighboring Datto has
already presented himself as friend,
and expect general coming in
shortly when the weight OF the blow
is known. The dead sent to Aiala.
bang for burial. In light of present
knowledge could have besieged the
principal forts and in tlmeforced sur
render, but that would probably
have resulted in IA sortie for freedom
and escape for many. BY attacking
them they have been completely
crushed-the only kind to profit by.
Shall invite sultan OF Tarlac to pay
NE IA friendly visit if ne does not do
SO of his initiative. Has fort further
east in plain sight and of same
strength us was Bayan Oh beautiful
table land. Thousands OF acres of
fine upland rice and am urging peo-
pie u Return to it's etitt tii tfotf.
The result to follow this action
very Important, namely, it secures
respect TOR United States authority
i'll the center of Moro savagery.
CHAFFEE."
The American forces who attacked
the fort numbered 40 men and four
mountain guns. 1t rained hard dur
ing the night preceding the attack
and men were without blankets. The
battery fired 10 rounds at a range
of 400 ards.
Lieut.. BOvars was among the
Americans killed and Capt. Moore
and Lieut.. johnson were wounded.