Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-02
IN THE MORO COUNTRY
Adiutant General Receives a
Communication
FROM GENERAL DAVIS
PERSHING, HE SAYS, ADHERED
VIGOROUSLY TO POLICY.
Letter Of the Latter is Enclosed and is
Herewith Given in
Full.
FROM GENERAL DAVIS

try. Gen. Davis tells the adjutant general
of the causes which led to the assignment
Of Capt. Pershing to the command of so
important a detachment and section Of the
country, and makes an extended statement
Of the conditions that existed before the
assignment Of Capt. Pershing to command.
In addition to his other duties Capt.
Pershing has been instructed to take the
census of the Malanao people, and will be-
gin this work in about two weeks. After
stating just what the policy Of the army
was in relation to the Moros, Gen. Davis
states:
"Pershing adhered vigorously to the
adopted policy, made a great many &C
Quaintances and established real friendly
relation with a large number Of villages.
He traversed the lake to Maruhui thence
to Iligan, and returned via several hitherto
unvisited places, being everywhere receiv-
ed in the most friendly manner.
1.-THE old Pandita, one of the Moro chief
tains, sees that the Americans are not go
ing to leave the lake. His people see the
heavy wagons come and go; he hears Of the
road building from Iligan, and he has at
last visited the camp and acknowledged
American supremacy. On the occasion OF
Pershings visit to the Gotta with a strong
force the flag was hoisted and saluted by
Moros in presence Of this religious leader.
whose influence has for a long time been
80 potent as to hold his followers in quasi
hostility.
Il feel much gratified at the fruits borne
by this policy, and now that this influential
priest, religious leader for Malanao, has
made and received a visit and professed
friendship, our task is simplifed, and a con-
tinuation Of this policy should present only
easy obstacles to be surmounted.
"a large force Is at work In reopening
the road to the lake from 1ligan, task
that should be completed this coming
spring. BY the time the way is open for
wa pnn fn Mar 1h11f will
have reconnotered the lake shore and will
have made the acquaintance. with every
Moro datto of influence.
Il have felt no small interest in the
solution Of this problem that the Spaniards
left unsolved. and now feel confident that
when the time comes for me to be re-
lieved, there will be no longer a military
problem respecting these wild and fanstical
people,"
Capt. Pershing's Letter.
In his letter to Gen. Davis Capt. Pershing
writes:
II have not written you since the Maciu
campaign, but presume that you are kept
fairly well informed by Gen. Sumner as
to existing Moro conditions in general The
TENDER are now, 1 think, fully demon
strated. In addition to these Moros who
have been reported officially as desiring to
be on friendly terms with us is Amat-Be-
naming, whom you know by reputation,
who has sent word that he intends to
visit camp when the cholera epidemic Is
over.
you will recall his name among those
reported dead, but this was mistake, as
I have since learned. Another who has sent
word that he wished to be on friendly
terms is Sultan Mamont, the leading sultan
of Maciu, who lives at Taraca. His nephew
who lives at Calaui, recently married q
Tubaran woman Of some rank and I am
ha
he will present himself when he next visits
Tubaran.
"Sajiluciman has continued to say the
least. unfriendly. though processing friend
ship, and has opposed the Sultan Of Bayan
to such an extent that the latter returned
to live in Cate; afterward appealing to me
by letter. I wrote Sajiluciman in Decem-
Der, telling him that he had been party to
the sultan's election and that we would
sustain the sultan in his authority Since
that time Sajiduciman has written several
letters and sent several messages Of tenn
porizing character, to which I have paid no
attention.
Today his last letter states that he wishes
to visit camp and to have me visit Malina-
nae and that Anal Manibilang would be
here in a few days. Just what will result
from this 1t is rather difficult to predict
but as they are at loss to know what to
make of our silence I am inclined to
think he will do what he says. I still be-
lleve that the friendship Of this old Pandita
my visit in November to the north and
west side Of the lake no doubt produced
good results, though as yet, on account Of
our being incommunicado,' not particu-
larly apparent, and I can see no probable
ity Of any opposition to our progress there,
especially If the Moros are given to under
stand fully that we are making these I'M
provements for their benefit and not for
our own. I had an hours talk with some
thing like 500 Moros at the Marahui mar
ket, the visiting Moros including traders
from Bacalod and Maciu.
"As soon as cholera conditions permit,
within. say, three months, we should go
among these people on both coasts of the
lake and demonstrate to them that they
have nothing to fear from our people I'M
less they commit some overt act against
or some others may stand On our way. but
I am inclined to think they have more dis
erection than Is generally accredited to
them. Moros report the death from cholera
of Panandunga and Anal Maragay Of Ba-
colod, and as to Tugaya, Cato, Bucayana
and Marantao I feel confident there would
be no trouble nor do think there would
be any to speak Of on the east side.
80 far as the trail itself Is concerned, the
Moros say 1t is fairly good dp dry weather.
end that we would have little difficulty.
About the same reports are made Of the
trail around by the east OF the lake. have
often said to the Moros that we intend at
some time to open a road from here to
Marahuf. and 1t would not surprise me to
see them assisting us at 1t, especially II
they should have short crop the coming
year.
THE circuit of the lake once made we are
in position to better understand the needs
of these people and to formulate some sort
Of simple form Of government for them
Their comprehension of anything in this
line beyond what they have always been
accustomed to Is very limited, as 1 found
after further discussing with them some of
the points I wrote you in a former letter,
in view Of which an acknowledgment by
them of our authority to govern them and
the enforcement by US Of peace between
different rancher1as are about all that we
should expect for the present.
after we have visited the various ranch
erias and have men the leading Moros per-
sonally, 1t seems to me that we may then
consider further trouble as highly improba-
BILE. and we shall certainly be in a position
to overcome any opposition or resistance to
our authority in future shall make every
effort to the end that this may be accom-
plished without bloodshed, for l consider
one friend won by peaceful methods worth
many so-called friends won by force.
hovr 10 IL