Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-17

Wltnstandlng the relations be-
tween the President and General
Wood, he could not understand
how the President could endorse
the billing of women and children.
The affair was blot on this coun-
try, Jones declared.
Washington, D. c.. March 15.-A Ca
blegran from General Wood regard
ing the criticisms of the recent battle
of Mount Dajo on the island Of Jolo,
together with correspondence between
the President and Secretary Taft on
the subject was made public last
night. Woods cablegram was in an
swer to one sent to him at the direc-
ton of Secretary TAFT, who called at
tention to the criticisms of the want
on slaughter of the Moros," and asked
him to send all the particulars.
Woods reply denies there was any
wanton killing. and says a considera-
Bile number of women and children
were killed in the fight because they
were actually in the works assaulted.
Women Fight; Children AS Shields.
He says that Moro women wore
trousers and that the children were
used as shields. The reply was sent
by Secretary Taft to the President
with note in which the secretary
says Wood seems to him to show most
clearly that the unfortunate loss of
life was wholly unavoidable, to which
the President replied that Woods an
swer sis, of course, entirely satisfac'
tory"
General Woods dispatch is as fol
lows:
"In answer to the secretary of wars
request for information, March IL,
was present through practically the
entire action and inspected the top Of
the crater after the action was fin
ished. I am convinced no man, wo
man or child was wantonly killed.
Killed in Actual Conflict.
"a considerable number of womel
/ and children were killed in the fight
number unknown for the reason tina
/ they were actually in the works whe1
assaulted and were unavoidably killet
in the fierce hand to hand fighting
( which took place in the narrow In
closed spaces.
"The Moro women wore trousers
and We're dressed and armed like thu
men and charged with them. Tht
children were in many cases used b.
] the men as shields while charging tn
troops. These incidents are muc
to be regretted but it must be undel
stood the Moros, one and all, were
i fighting not only as enemies, but a
religious fanatics, believing paradise
be their immediate reward if killed II
action with the Christians.
i None Desired to Be Saved.
/ "They apparently desired that nom
be saved. Some of our men, one
hospital steward, was cut UP while Civ
ing assistance to the wounded Moro
by the wounded, and by those feignln
death for the purpose of getting tn
vengeance. l personally ordered a
sistance given wounded Moros, an
that food and water be sent them an
medical attendance. In additio
!, friendly Moros were at once directe
to proceed to the mountain for tn
purpose.
II do not believe that in this or
any other fight, any American soldit
wantonly killed Moro woman
: child or that he ever did not exec
: unavoidably in close action. The
? ton was most desperate, and 1t VIZ
: Impossible for men fighting literal
:. for their lives in close quarters to di
:. tinguish who would be injured by tt
/ fire. In all actions against the Moro
:, we have begged the Moros again an
,, again to fight as men and keep tt
women and children out Of it.
' 81 assume the entire responsible
for the action of the troops in evel
:f =
= any way bearing out the charges, wi
:, act at once"
!, impulse seized him to come before tt
4 committee and have his say in fav'