The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1906-03-16
No NAyTON SLAUGHTER
GENERAL WOODS STATEMENT
OF BATTLE WITH MoRoS.
ANSWER SATISFIES PRESIDENT
Says Number Of Women and Children
Were Killed in Fight, but That
Former Wore Trousers and Latter
Were Used as Shields.

Washington, March lR.-A cable
gram from General Wood regarding
criticisms OF the recent battle OF
Mount DaJo, on the island OF Jolo, 10
gethCr with correspondence between
the president and Secretary Tart on
the subject were made public. Gen
eral Woods Cablcgram was in answer
to one sent to him at the direction OF
Secretary Taft, who called attention
to the criticisms of "wanton slaughter
of Moros" and asked him to send all
the particulars. General Woods re-
ply denies that there was any wantou
killing and says considerable mum
ber OF women and children were killed
in the fight because they were actually
in the works when assaulted, that
Moro women wore trousers and that
children were used as shields. The
reply was sent by Secretary Taft to
the president, with a note In whicn
the secretary says that General
Woods Cablegram seems to him ia
show most clearly that the unusual
loss of life was wholly unavoidable,
to which the president replied that
General Woods answer "is, of course,
entirely satisfactory" General Woods
dispatch is as follows:
81 was present through practically
the entire action and inspected the tor
OF crater after action was finished.
Am convinced no man, woman or child
was wantonly killed. considerable
number Of women and children were
killed in the fight-number unknown
for the reason that they were actual.
ly in the works when assaulted and
were unavoidably killed by the fierce
hand-to-hand fighting which took
place In the narrow inclosed spaces,
Moro women wore trousers and were
dressed and armed much like the men
and charged with them. The children
were in many cases used by the men
as shields while charging troops.
These incidents are much to be re.
gretted, but II must be understood
that the MorOs, one and all, werG
fighting not only as enemies, but re-
lig.ous fanatics. believing paradise to
be their immediate reward II killed In
action with Christians. They appar.
emily desired that none be saved
Some of our men, one hospital stew.
ard was cut up while giving assist
ance to wounded Moros by the wound.
ed, and by their feigning death for
the purpose OF getting this opportuni,
ty. | personally ordered assistance
given wounded Moros and that food
and water should be sent them and
medical attendance. In addition,
friendly MOros were at once directed
to proceed to the mountain for this
purpose. do not believe that in this
or in any other fight any American
soldier wantonly killed a Moro woman
or child or that he ever did 1t except
unayoidably in close action. Action
was most desperate and was impossi.
BILE for men fighting literally for their
lives in close quarters to distinguish
who would be injured by fire. In all
actions against Moros we have begged
Moros again and again to fight as men
and keep women and children out OF
1t. ! assume entire responsibility for
action of the troops in every particu.
lar and II any evidence develops in
any way bearing out the charges, will
act at once"