The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-07-24
MORO HERO
IN TOWN
Pershing Famous
AS Funston
Was.
lie Subdued the Worst
District of the
Philippines.
Now II Is Probable That He viii
Be Elevated To Brigadier-
General.

Captain John J. Pershing, the hero
OF Mindanao, was in Honolulu yester-
day. He is on his way to Washing
ton via the Siberia to become MEM
Der of the general staff of the army
Pershing is returning after four years
of service in the Philippines during
which he subdued the Moros, the most
dangerous of the Filipino fanatics. He
went to Manila four years ago prac-
4fcalIy unknown. He is returning as
famous in the States as was General
Funston whose meteoric rise to fame
brought him criticism from regular
army officers Pershing doesn't know
he has become famous. In fact he was
more interested last evening in read
ing what American papers had to
say concerning him than in telling
about his experiences. For instance,
recent dispatches tell Of his probable |
elevation to brigadier general PERISH |
ing had not heard of it before he |
reached Honolulu.
Captain Pershing did not wish to
discuss his experiences in the Philip
pines at all, though accounts received
in the states from his superiors speak
of his work of pacihcation in glowing
terms. 'I told them that we were go
ing to visit them" was all Captain
Pershing would say relative to the
Aroros. II said the last thing we want
ed was a fight. but IL IT had to come
we were ready for IL. Generally we
didn't know whether it was to be
fight or not. Anyway We marched FUR
ther in tn last year and a half into
the Moro country than the Spaniards
had done in three centuries"
Accounts which preceded him tell OF
a successful campaign among the
ntoros- though Captain Pershing would
not discuss It.
Prior to the advent OF Captain PERISH
ing N Mindanao with his 200 men bad
reports were heard from the Moros'
It seemed impossible to whip them'
As Per- hing said, he would march IN .
10 the island and il the natives wish
ed peace they could have it, III they
didn't he was just as ready for war
In the last battle with the Moros
Pershfng's men wiped out about 4VV
~ them with the loss of but two men.
Before the captain left, the whole dis
trict of Mindanao had been practical
ly pacified. The soldiers marched clear
around Lake Lanao and the natives
are apparently satisfied with Amer
Ican rule. From Bacolod north TO "
\Iarahui." says Captain Pershing, d
There were more American flags dis
nIayed in the road and In rancherios
han I supposed existed IN all the T
country I have been there two years d.
light in and about the Moro country, -
in the islands nearly four, and can =.
but feel that L have accomplished NJ
something One year ago NOBODY b'
knew. nor had seen except myself, the
Moro in his native laguna, nor had -
they any idea of him or of his fierce, Ia
nature. Today We have p
crossed the lake and marched practi- al
ally around 1t. without the support
md backing of General Davis and SC
General Sumner 1 could not have done
his. To them of course as command ce
rs belongs the credit" ~
Just at present the Philippines are pa
My recovering from a siege of pesti-
.nce and famine and a four years "a
-ar. People can say what they will ~
bout the wisdom Of keeping the ISL
nds. but in ten years time you won't
ear any such talk There is great
Iture for the Philippines. If Amer T
a cannot make a good colony there. Ter
no can? The Americans have been ga
tied by years of self-government to las
ach the FfIfpfnos. There is no long in