Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-18
VICTORY OF JARACA
Daring Feat Of American
Soldiers in Philippines.
STORMING OF PITACUS
FORT CAPTURED AFTER SEVERE
STRUGGLE WITH MOROS.
Interesting Account of the Expedition
Around Lake Lanas Written by
One Of the Participants.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star,

CAMP WEARS, MlnuanaO,
May 16, 1903.
After the return of the troops to Camp
Wears from the Marahui expedition
there was little to do but rest for couple
OF weeks. 1t was well known that 1t
wouldn't be long before We would be out
| again. for in order to have peace 1t was
necessary to visit the Jaraca Moros at the
east end Of the lake, and as this country
was fiat. the visit would have to be made
| before the rainy season set in. This was
| likely to start any time after May 1.
| The orders for the expedition came on
May 1, and we started the next morning
! AS before, the expedition was under the
| command Of Capt. John j. Pershing 13th
| Cavalry. and it was to explore the east
| shore Of the lake as far as possible. The
| expedition consisted of four companies &C.
G. NJ and d.. 9th Infantry; Troops A, +
| and G, 18th Cavalry; two Maxims and one
mortar Of the 18th Battery. Field Artillery.
| In all about 600 men. with two pack trains
of 100 mules and a pony pack train OF fifty
| ponies.
The first days march was through friend
| Iy country and over the trail taken by the
| troops in February, 1903. We camped at
| night at Sauir. at the southeast end OF the
lake. at the old camp ground. The old
| trail from hero we found in fair shape.
though many Doggy places had to De
bridged OF corduroyed In order that the
| artillery could get through.
The people across the arm OF the lake
| moved out as we came In sight, but they
did not fire on us at night.
Crossed the Malaig River.
The next morning (May - We moved out
| along the arm Of the lake and before noon
were in the Macin country, and keeping near
| the base of the hills crossed the Malaig
river much higher up than before and with
| A he
| lake is a great plain for one-half to five
| miles from the lake. Then there are steep
| mountains. The plain is crossed by numer-
| Gus rivers about three miles apart. all now
| ing toward the lake. and all with high
| banks. Every stream has trees along 1T
| and always a considerable village on It's
| banks. Between the streams the country
| is open and level, with few houses. All
| the country from Sauir to about ten miles
beyond Jaraca is known as the Macin
| country and the Sultan of Macin Is SUI
| preme.
The Rancharia Of Macn extends from
| Sauir to about the Malaig river. We
! marched that day to the beginning of the
| Gotta district and camped at night In the
| middle Of a big camote (sweet potato
| patch near the lake.
| but a few crazy ones had to be watched
| In all friendly country all commissary sup
| plies and wood and all damage to growing
| crops are paid for; so we lived on sweet
|
| ally for everything. -.
This one thing always makes friends Of
| the Moros. It is not strange for them to
have things taken by force, but it rather
| surprises them to have everything paid for.
| When we reach camp the first thing Is to
get wood. Everything comes In; old fences
| first then old and deserted houses. A COM
| pany Of soldiers will pick up 100 yards Of
| fence or an old house and bring 1t In COM
| plete If possible word Is sent to prominent
| natives through our Interpreters that, the
"commandante' will pay for everything
| and early the next morning the accounts
| are settled by Leon" the chief Interpreter,
| whose decision as to the value Of property
| is final and whose decision Is accepted by
| the Moros without question, for he KNOWS
| what things cost and allows literally for
everything.
| The troops get in camp promptly. The
| camp is at once laid out in a square. II on
an old camp troops take the position occu-
| pied by them former expeditions AS
| soon as the packs come up there is a hustle
for kitchen stuff. fires are started and water
| boiled for drinking (for this is cholera
| infected country, rations Issued, and II IS
rot unusual for companies to have hot
supper in half an hour from the time camp
is reached.
The Moros who accompany the expedition
| ALWAYS camp in the square, and this camp
| is full Of interest. They form little messes
| of a half dozen and boil rice and fry fish
half the night. The boys have messes or
| their own and never mess with the men,
| They DulIO 1ttie Sf1dChS loI tiieHiSClSCS ehiu
often sleep in a hole in the ground. The
| date has a tent of his own and sleeps there
| with few of his men.
In the Gotta District.
On May we started early across the
| Gotta district toward the Gotta river. The
| column was just about strung out when the
rear guard Of cavalry was fired upon and a
! horse killed. The Moro was also killed. We
| moved toward the northeast and were met
| by many dattoes with American flags
About all the people were friendly, but We
| had been warned to look out for 'jura-
| mentos" or men sworn to kill Americans.
| We saw some men of that sort, but the
| friendly Moros did not let them get near u.s.
rushing them away by force. We went
| well to the east to make call on Ratah
Nurul a powerful datto, who had a large
| Gotta near by. His nephew met US with re-
! grets from the rajah that important busi-
| ness prevented him from presenting him
| self to Capt. Pershing. His fort was COW
| cred with armed Moros. more than hum
| dred being in sight. but they were quiet,
and we moved on. a't'
| AS we went on and crossed the Gotta
| river many of these same Moros left Nurul
| and ran toward Jaraca, some miles to the
| north. The Gotta river was deep and swift
| and lined on each side by houses. every
house a fort. We crossed without trouble.
| and advanced toward Jaraca. some three
| miles away. @'T $50 ------. %
A big fort, flying numerous red flags, was
| in sight in our front. and on the edge of
line of bamboo. which we found later on
| hid the -Jaraca river. There were cotlos
to our right and left. but they all few
American or white flags. They were
| crowded with people who wanted to see
the show, and would not take sides until
! the fight was over. We had some trouble in
| bog, but by noon everything was on solid
| ground and we went forward.
| When within 1000 yards of the fort we
were fired on. from our front and right. The
advance guard. Company c, opened out,
Company G skirmishers, extended on its
| left, and we moved to within 800 yards
| of the fort, returning the fire of Moros on
the TANKS The Maxims came up in the
| center of the line ard opened with shrap-
nel The fort was of earth. with parapet
fifteen feet high and ditch all around
AS the Maxim opened many Moros seemed
| to leave the fort. and opened lively fire
on the front and right flank of Company
C from the trees and houses on our front
| and right.
| We Immediately changed front with a
| great part Of the company. for the fire
| from the fort was not dangerous, and ad-
| yanced toward the trees and houses. having
| a lively skirmish there. and finding that
| the Jaraca river ran through the strip of