Fergus County argus., 1902-05-07
An Important Moro Fort Captured by
the American Troops After
Hard and Gallant Fight
A HAND TO HAND STRUGGLE
Scaling Ladders Used to Advantage
The Trenches Around the Fort
Full of Moro Dead.

Washington, May 4.-The war de-
partment today received a cablegram
from General Chaffee, indicating that
the campaign against Sultan Bayan,
one of the principal Moro chiefs, has
been completely successful. The re-
suit was accomplished by gallant as
sault ON the principal Moro fort and
its capture after a number Of the lead
ing Moros had been killed. The ca
blegram which was received this af-
ternoon was as follows: .
"Adjutant General, Washington:
"The following is full substance of
Brigadier General G. w. Davis mes
sage from Bayan:
Eighty soldiers, survivors of the
Bayan fight, surrendered uncondition-
ally this morning at o'clock. Sui
tan Bayan, Raja Muda Bayan, Sultan
Pandapatan and all the leading dattos
are dead and many of their followers.
The assault on the principal fort,
which surrendered last night, was one
oil the most gallant performances of
the American arms. Col. Frank d.
Baldwin and his regiment deserve all
praise for a han-tohand struggle In
four lines of bitches, under the walls
of the fort. The trenches are lined
with Moro dead from rife fire. !
have never seen or heard of any per-
formance excelling for gallantry and
grit. 1t is my painful duty to report
that the overthrow of the Moros was
not accomplished without severe loss.
One officer and seven enlisted men
were killed. and four officers and 81
enlisted men were wounded. Will
telegraph the list later. After the
survivors marched out this morning
as prisoners, and 1t was understood
that they were all. eight others who
had concealed themselves in rubbish
inside the fort made a break for lib
erty, and tried to get out, but none
succeeded. Some of the Moro wound
ed tried to stab soldiers trying to
help them. 1t is impossible to state
the number of Moros killed, as many
are lying in tall grass. The sur
render saves us from a siege and u
starving out. It was impossible to
have carried the works without seal
ing ladders, which were ready. l in
tend to retain the prisoners until two
or three small adjacent forts are occu.
pied. then with your consent to re-
tain as hostages eight or ten of the
principals and release the others.
The force in the line of advance
consisted of four mountain guns and
40 rifles. This supply was sufficient.
Could not have used more men ad-
vantageously. Had we sent strong
column 1t would only have swelled
the casualty list.
Our neighboring datto has already
presented himself as a friend, and !
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,
l could have besieged the principal
forts and in time have forced a sur.
render, 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 lessons
these wild Moros seem to be able to
profit by.
II shall invite Sultan Tarlac to pay
me friendly visit, II he does not de-
so of his initiative. He has a fort
further east in plain sight and of the
same strength as was Bayan, on beau
tiful table land with 1000 acres plant
ed with fine upland rice, and is urg
ing his people to return to Its cult
walton.
"The result to follow this action II
very important, namely: 1t secures
respect for the United States autho.
ity in the center of Moro savagery.
"CHAFFEE."