Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-10
FROM PHILIPPINES.
Win Chambers Sends an In
teresting Letter to His
Parents.
MoRos ARE PUNISHED

MOROS ARE PUNISHED
Description of American Punitive Elk.
petition Against the Moros and the
Sultan of the SuIus-Says Soldier
Boys Life is Not M%onotorous.
Mr.. and Mrs. E. A. Chambers, who
reside on West Second street, are in
receipt of a letter from their son, Win
Chambers, who has been in the Philip
pines for the last eighteen months.
The letter gives an extended account
of the American punitive expedition
against the Moros and the Sultan OF
Sulus. These expeditions elected a
great deal of popular interest last
summer and readers of the Courier
will enjoy reading the personal &C.
count of one of the participants. A
portion of the letter is as follows.
For some six weeks we were sta
llOlCu Ill lllc llbLl0 opulilph to"h VI
Pacte, in southern Luzon. We made
many friends, needless to say, among
the dark colored senoritas, and it was
with considerable regret that we re-
ceived orders to move to the island of
Mindanoa. After a journey of ten
days we reached the Island and went
into camp at the little town called
Malabang.
1--WE completed a blockhouse, a tel
egraph line was put in operation and
supplies by pack and wagon trains
arrived daily. This camp was made a
supply station and was the end OF the
wagon road on account of the steep
grades over the mountains. Supplies
and ammunition were to be conveyed
from here on pack mules.
General Chaffee arrived from Ma
nilla. He and General Davis were en-
deavoring to settle the trouble with
the Morros peaceably but with no sue
cess. The Moros at Lanao on the
lakes had never been defeated and did
not intend to concede anything to the
Americans. They said they were
ready at any time to take Malaban-
if they wished, and invited us to COM
bat. All efforts looking toward a
peace basis were exhausted and Gen
eral Davis was given command to
proceed to the Lakes. the objective
point. We had hoped to be among
the first to the Lakes but were left
behind to guard the supplies, keep the
wagon road open and the telegraph
line intact.
"We were much disappointed when
the TWenty-Seyenth Infantry and the
Twenty-eighth Field Battery marched
passed our camp to the front. colon
ell Baldwin was in command, General
Davis remaining at Malabang. the
lakes we're reached without much op
position. Baldwin remained here IL
camp about two weeks, issued a proc
lamation for all Moros wishing to DC
friendly to the United States to raise
a white flag. Several Dattoes came
in Three or four forts We're takel
and some cannons captured. Colone
baldwin was again given permission
TO advance further. He moved along
the lines to within Two or three miles
Iof two large forts.
"Here another camp was made an
another proclamation issued. h ma
tiyes refused to come in and surrender
They were given five days to think
over still they held out. AT noon Q
the fifth day assembly was sounded
and the infantry n the patIer
marched to take the forts. Inc MS
one was situated or a hill well eleva1
ed. was new, and completed, abou
thirty wards square and made out OF
dirt wall about six feet through an
seven or eight high. 1t containe
about fifty natives who We're easily tax
en-. Two Americans were killed an
several wounded. The Americans the
marched to the other fort, which looR
ed as IL it could be easier taken tina
the first. 1t was old and about tn
same size as the first. The walls wer
thickly grown over with underbrus
and around the walls were a series {
trenches three in all, about twent
feet apart which were fully fifteen fee
deep and four feet wide. Betwee
these trenches were pit falls, some tie
or twelve feet deep, with sharpene
bamboo stuck in the bottom. A
available space between vas covere
with sharpened bamboo stuck in tn
ground. The underbrush hid their cal
non, four in number. The fort wa
filled with some six O. hundre
natives, armed with every kind
fighting instrument, with plenty {
guns and ammunition. The batter
was stationed on a hill about half
mile distant. The infantry formed
skirmish line, lying down, and firm
J, at will. The lighting continued all afte
noon and night while a drenching raj
was falling, soaking everything. Th
soldiers advanced until it was a a
most hand to hand fight. When da
light came, an old shirt was seen fl
ing from the pole which yesterda
few the Datto's flag of black and re
Eighty-seven prisoners were taken an
eight or nine Americans were kille,
among them Lieut.. Wears, and SON
thirty-seven wounded. 1t was a teri
BILE night, and will always be remen
bered.
THE wounded were promptly care
for and the dead packed on mules
be carried to Malabang for burial.
Troop and our own were ordered IL
night of the fight to proceed back wit
all possible haste. We started in ii
morning and marched all day unit