Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-05-10
MOROS FORT CAPTURED
General Chaffee Reports Fierce
Battle in Mindanao.
TRENCHES LINED WITH DEAD

Gallant Performances of American
Arms--our Losses Are Eight Killed
and Forty.one Wounded.
Washington. May 5.-The war de-
partment 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 a gallant assault on
the principal Moro fort and it's cap.
ture after a number of the leading
Moros had been killed. The cablegram
which was received yesterday after.
noon was as follows:
THE following is the full substance
OF Brigadier General George w. Da-
via message from Bayan:
"Eighty-four survivors Bayan sur
rendered Internationally this morning
at o'clock. Sutton Bayan. Rata
Muda Bayan. Sutton Pandapatan and
all leading dattos dead and many OF
their followers Assault on the princi
pal fort, which surrendered Saturday
night, one OF the most gallant perform
ances of American arms. Colonel
ahh ~ 0dluWiE anu us IeklOeuI
deserve all praise for hand to hand
struggle in four lines Of bitches un.
der walls of fort. These trenches are
lined with Moro dead from rife fire.
Have never seen or heard OF any per.
Torrance eXcelling this gallantry and
grit. II is 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 81 enlisted
men wounded.
After "a survivors marched out yes.
terday morning as prisoners, and IL
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 Moro wounded
tried TO stab soldiers trying to help
them.
1t is impossible to state the mum.
Der 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 OF three
| small adjacent forts are occupied. then
with your consent to retain as hos.
tages eight or ten OF the principals
| and release the others.
THE force in limo OF advance con.
sisted OF four mountain guns. 47O
rifles. This fully sufficient Could not
have used more men advantageously
Had we sent strong column IL would
!. only have swelled casualty list one
: neighboring Data has already present.
| ed himself as friend, and ! expect n
| general coming in shortly. when the
/ weight OF the blow is known
"ln light of present knowledge. could
have besieged the principal forts and
In time forced surrender. but that
would probably have resulted In a
soTtie for freedom and escape for
many. BY attacking them they have
been completely crushed-the only
kind OF lesson these wild Moros seem
to be able TO profit by. Shall invite
Sultan of Tarlac to pay me a friendly
| visit, IL he does not do so OF his own
initiative. Has fort further east. in
plain sight and OF same strength as
was Bayan, on beautiful tabIeIand OF
1000 acres fine upland rice, and urg
ing people 10 return to its cultiva
| ton.
The result to follow this action
very important. namely; 1t secures re
spect for United States authority In
the centre OF Moro savagery.
"CHAFFEE."