Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1902-05-09
DEFEATS THE M0ROS'
GENERAL DAVIS CAMPAIGN
AGAINST SULTAN ,BAYAN
SUCCESSFUL. lib


Americans Capture the Principal Fort,
Colonel Baldwin's Regiment Has a
Hand.to-Hand Struggle in Four Lines
Of Ditches-NearIy Fifty Casualties
Reported-Number OF insurgent
: Dead Is Unknown.
=: Washington, May 5.-The war de-
purtment has received cablegram
from General Chaffee indicating that
the campaign against Sultan Bayan,
one of the principal Moro chiefs, had
been completely successful. The re"
suit was accomplished by a gallant
assault upon the principal Moro fort
and it's capture after a number of the
leading Moros had been killed. The
Cablegram is as follows:
"The following is the full substance
of Brigadier General G. w. Davis
message from Bayan: 'Eighty-fouf
survivors Bayan surrendered uncondi-
tionally this morning at Z. Sultan
Bayan, Raja Muda Bayan, Sultan Pan
dapatan and all leading dattos dead
and many of their followers. Assault
on the principal fort, which surren-
dered last night, one Of the most gal
liant performances of American arms.
Colonel Frank D. Baldwin. and his
regiment deserve all praise for hand
to-hand struggle in four lines of ditch
es under walls of fort. These trenches
are lined with Moro dead from rife
fire. Have never seen or heard of any
performance excelling this gallantry
and grit. 1t is my painful duty to re-
port that the overthrow of Moro power
not accomplished without severe loss.
One officer and Z enlisted men killed,
4 officers and 81 enlisted men wound
ed. After 81 survivors marched out
this morning as prisoners, and was un-
derstood they were all, eight others
who had concealed themselves in rub.
bish inside the fort, made break for
liberty, tried way out; but none sue
ceeded. Some Moro /
Wouraed Tried to Stab Soldiers
trying to help them. It is impossible
to state the number of Moros killed;
many lying in tall grass. The surren'
der saves us from siege and starving
out. impossible to have carried works
without scaling ladders, which were
ready. l-4tend to retain prisoners
until two or three adjacent forts occu.
pied, then with your consent to retain
as hostages or 10 of the principals
! and release the others. The force il
line OF ADVANCE consisted of mou1
tain guns, 47O rifles. This fully sufh
Gent Could not have used more mer
advantageously. Had we sent strong
column it would only have swelled the
casualty list. One neighboring date
already presented himself as friend
and 1 expect a general coming in short
ly, when the weight of the blow is
known. The dead sent to Malabans
for burial. In light of present Enowl
edge could have besieged the princi
pal forts and in time forced surren
der, but that would probably have re
suited in sortie for freedom and es
| cape for many. BY attacking then
! they have been completely crushed
the only kind of lesson these wilt
Moros seem to be able to profit by
Shall invite Sultan Tarlac to pay INK
| a friendly visit if he does not do Sc
| of initiative. Has fort further east il
| plain sight and Of some strength, a:
was Bayan, on beautiful tableland
| 1000 acres fine upland rice, and urgin:
| people to return to it's cultivation
The result to follow this action yer!
important, namely: It secures respec
for United States authority in the cen
ter of Moro savagery.'