Evening star., 1902-01-22
MARINES FINE WORK
Clearing the Island Of Samar Of
Insurgents.
MARCH OF INCREDIBLE DIFFICULTY
Positions Destroyed Which Took
Years to Prepare.
G ALL A n L r Y


| A report which has just been received
from Major L. w. T. Waller of the U. S.
| Marine Corps graphically describes the Wig
| orcus campaign waged by the marines,
acting in conjunction with the military
forces, on the Island of Samar. The report
is dated Busey, Samar, November %, 1901,
and is as follows:
"On the 18th instant I started second
column to operate with the first in the So
joton region. The second column went by
boat to Odoc, there landed and proceeded
by trail to Liruan, joining the first column
under Capt. Porter. On the 10th l went
with boats and stores to Liruan, having
previously given orders to the first and
| second columns to unite on the 10th and
proceed to the neighborhood Of the enemy s
strongholds in the Sojoton. where I would
join them with the third column, and to-
gether we would force the position by oper-
ating from river and banks. On the march
to Liruap the second column-hfty men
under Capt. Bearss. in accordance with my
orders-destroyed all villages and houses,
burning in all 165.
Plans Worked Well.
"The plans worked well until the evening
Of the 18th, when we had reached the over
hanging cliffs in the Sojoton, known to
be fortified in every way, and held as a
last rallying point. We were able to COM
municate with the fianking column, at that
time, about 200 feet directly above us, al
though not in sight. Through misunder-
camped for the night, under the impression
that the word from the fanking column
reported it impossible to move the boats
except to destruction. On the 18th the
shore column struck the enemy's trail on
the left bank of the river, and seeing from
the traps, bows, spears, ETC., that it led
to one of their camps, followed the trail
and came up on a number of bamboo guns.
One of these. commanding the trail, had
its fuse burning. Acting Corporal Harry
Glenn, U. S. NJ. c., rushed forward and
pulled out the fuse.
Coming over the crest of the cliffs, the
column rushed the enemy's cuartel, finding
1t empty; food was cooking and every
thing showed that the enemy had just left
The point passed on to higher cliff and
discovered two camps on the opposite side
of the river which at this point is about
$50 feet wide. The camps were about $50
yards distant, with their people at work
preparing food, cutting bamboo and vari-
ously@employed. Capt. Porter brought up
his men and Colt gun, which was carried
by native carriers. The preparations took
about ten minutes, signal was given and
fire opened from the Colt gun and the men
already stationed. The enemy was COM
pleCely routed, ABOUT thirty Killed.
THE troops destroyed the cuartel and
food, went down the cliffs and by means
Of two very small bancas and a raft
crossed the river. Scaled the cliffs on the
opposite side, destroyed the camps there,
and scaling other cliffs on the right side
by means Of the bamboo ladders which the
enemy had not taken time to destroy, found
another camp, which they also destroyed.
The enemy fired two volleys from seven
rifles and then fed.
March of Incredible Difficulty.
"The men in this march have overcome
incredible difficulties and dangers. The posi-
tions they destroyed must have taken sew
eral years to prepare. Reports from old pris-
oners state that they have been three years
working on the defenses. No white troops
have ever penetrated these positions be-
fore. and they were held as a final rallying
point. In addition to the spears and traps
there were innumerable rife pits and many
bamboo guns. The cliffs over the river are
honeycombed with caves. These caves are
reached by bamboo ladders. also by lodges
Of rock with bamboo hand rails. Tons Of
rock were suspended in cages held in posi-
tfon by vines, and in readiness to be pre-
cipitated on people and boats below. In
stant destruction would have been the fate
Of the boats had they attempted the pas
sage Of the river until after the cliffs had
been taken.
1.-The cliffs were Of soft stone Of volcanic
origin the nature Of pumice. 1t cut the
mems shoes to pieces; many Of the men
were barefooted and all had bad feet. The
march was heroic and too much praise can
not be given the men. We in the boats
were not ten minutes away in point Of dis
tance, but unable to reach the fianking COL
umn at this point. Two attempts were
made, but boats struck; the troops cap
tured and destroyed forty bamboo guns,
rice, food and cuartel.
''It was impossible to follow the enemy
further as rations gave out, and it be-
came necessary to return, which we did,
arriving on the 10th in the afternoon.
Deserving of Praise.
II wish to commend especially Capts D.
D. Porter and H. l. Bearss-either a medal
of honor or brevet. These officers carried
out their instructions in the face Of hard
ships, dangers and incredible obstacles.
Not only was personal courage Of high
order displayed, but intelligence, determina-
tion and zeal. Each footstep in the ad-
vance up the cliffs carried it's own dangers
These captains report to me, and l, In turn,
cordially indorse their recommenda tions of
First Lieutenants G. c. Carpenter and H.
r. Lay, and Second Lieutenant A. c. Rog-
ers. Where all did well, it seems almost
impossible to distinguish extraordinary ser
vice. Each one carried his life In his hands
Assistant Surgeon ]. NJ. Bolster, U. S. N,
is especially recommended by Captain Por-
ter for his work and assistance Gunnery
Sergeant j. M. Quick and Acting Corporal
Harry Glenn of Company H are especially
duct, Glenn risking his life to pull out the
f,1Sa Of ha har