The St. Louis Republic., 1903-06-22
Captain Pershing Sends Graphic
Description of the Fight
OF Lake Lanao.
TROOPS STORMED THE FORT.
Bloody Hand dto-Hand Struggle III
Which the Hopes of the Moros
Were Shattered With Their
Last Stronghold.

Washington, June I.-Captain J j Perzh-
| ing who was in command OF the troops Al
| the fight OF Lake Lanao. in the Philippines.
| has written a letter TO personal friend in
/ the War Department describing the battle.
| II has been shown 10 Secretary Root. who
authorized its publication. Captain Perish
! ing says:
Camp Wears. April =. i.3.-I supp -
yuur mall dispatches have. or will have.
brought you a full account u the Bacoioi
/ incident. In reality, the best fight Of thu
Nero campaigns, not 81 many Moros as 1t
HaEau Of Pandaparar-one year aso-out
fought according 10 some sort Of system
OF course. I have worked on this fight as
foresaw long ago that il must come. and
the whole thing from the beginning worked
out as planned. First, We got behind them.
much to their surprise. and could post our
guns above and drop projectilss down into
their fort, that the artillery fire in this
case was not all noise We had some work
and some fighting to gain this position.
FIGHT IN THE RAIN.
Once there it was only question Of Sit
ting down deliberately and waiting to see
, what the Moros would dU. Many got away
before the place was invested thoroughly.
The fight began in 4 flood of 4 rainstorm
that lasted till dark, and accommodating
was difficult. So We did not find all the ave
nues Of escape until next day. and am
glad now We did not, as they had such con-
fidence in this fort. that they have been
constructing for year. that they took
many women and children inside, and these
escaped during the night
The next day and night We held them
fast; however. tried to get them to sur
render. had two talks under flag OF truce
no. they would fight it out. So there was
then oul. TO finish it.
I called my officers together and gave
each one his work. The main obstacle was
a deep ditch thirty-tive feet wide and
forty feet deep TO be crossed. Il was to be
6a nboo bridge fd Vas Was iaid. Everything in
readiness, the assault began.
ADVANCE ON FORT.
In the face of heavy Remington fire
from the fort the lines advanced against
TWO faces Of the fort. putting out OF bus!-
ness every Moro that appeared. They could
not use their port holes. had bat
tered them 10 pieces. though We could not
with our light field artillery damage the
earthwork.
The bridge was completed by two COM
panies detailed for that purpose, the trees
having Keen previously cut and hauled as
near as could safely he done.
The assaulting infantry swung across and
LytUltd Z AIiE on Itle btrIEe ana cldU DaTet
up nearly in line with the top OF the para
pet Here they We're met with kaTnpilan
and Kris and a bloody hand-to-hand fight
ocCGrred-one soldier against two Moros
here, another running his bayouet into e
fanatic there. Moros plunging headlong in
TO the deep ditch in their irnpetuositv and
imEetus II was as a whole u scene never
10 f0set
BRAVE AMERICANS.
Too much cannot be said OF the valor.
the bravery. the courage and coolness and
nerve of the American soldier. The ma
jority OF these left inside never reached
the top of the parapet. 1t was a relief to
me that more Of our men Were killed Two
VIII lose an arm each. the rest will recover
with honorable scars but not manned 1t
was the proudest day of my life Cholera
existed In all that section and we did not
examine the interior OF the fort Until after
y was burned and wet thoroughly through
loT there were all sorts of underground
galleries and passaseways.
Some officers in the assaulting line
counted sixty dead on one floor. and more
say there We're more than 100 killed insi ic.
" hi!e the list outside has been growing ever
since the battle, so that 10 all told is a con-
ssTvative estimate.
L have labored with these Bacolod licros
for year. through other MOros. some OF
them near relatives. trying to convince them
of their fOolishness in thinking of fighting
US. but they have replied in insulting mes
sages. and, in fact. the whole I.aGuua de
Lanao has anticipated reverse for US.
SEVERE LESSON.
The lesson. of course. has been a severe
one for them. The old Panandungan "a sort
OF Moro title meaning chief councillor or
something of that kind--in this case ne had
and the rest Of them that are left have sent
Word that they want to be friends.
We burned nothing but this main Gotta
fired upon, and / think the Moros all see
tlat our purpose is to be humane as far as
they VIII permit US. To my mind. this prac-
ucalIy settles the Lake Lanao troubles
We. of course. must explore the eastern
portion of the lake for distance that re-
mains yet uneXplored of about ten miles
he one or two hard-headed old Dattos who
will put up their red flags. The matter NAV
now be said to be settled. There will never
again be any continued opposition nor any
general opposition.
The sensible ones see that it is useless
are now preaching the universal brntbsT2
hood Of man. II is needless for me to sav
to you that l am gratifief at the outcome
From Bacolod north to Narahui tharc
were more United States flags displayed in |
the road and in rancherios than / sIipposa
existed in all this country. 1 have been
here nearly two years right in and about
the Moro country. in the islands. nearly
four, and cannot forget that | have sc-
complished something. | think ii the largest
islands "
One year ago nobody knew or had seen.
except rnSseit, the Moro in his native laguna !
nor had they any idea of him nor of his !
fierce. unconquerable nature. To-day we
have crossed the lake and have practically
marched around it. Without the support |
and backing of General Davis and General
Summer could not have done this To !
them, OF course, as commanders belongs
the credit. hope 1t will not fail of APP
Frsciauon and that they will be rewarded |
accordingly. l Will end here this hurried |
description of the Bacolod expedition and |
shall hope to hear from you at your leisure
Sincerest regards to you and my friends" |