Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-03-15
SLAUGHTER MoRos IN CRATER
IN PHILIPPINES.
GREAT THING FOR PEACE
Secretary of War Taft Says Victory
Will Have Strongly Deterrent Ef-
feet on Plans of Other Resisting
6ands-Fifteen Americans Killed
and 600 Natives.

Washington, March 1o.-Not be-
cause of the casualties among the
American forces engaged, though they
were more numerous than In any bat.
tie in the Philippines for several years
past, but rather because Of the extra
ordinarily large number of natives
killed, the news of the battle of Mount
Dajo was received at the war depart
ment (and the navy department as
well, for the bluejackets were in the
thick of the fighting) with intense in
terest. The first authentic news of
the battle came through the Associat-
ed Press reports, though at the same
time cipher experts of the war depart
ment were busily engaged in trying to
unravel long report which had come
direct from Manila by cable. This
message was from Colonel Andrews
military secretary at the army head
quarters in Manila, who had received
his data by inter-island cable from
Zamboango, where the commander-in-
chief of the Philippine division, Major
General Leonard Wood, happened to
be.
Secretary Taft was at cabinet
meeting when the official cabiegram
was finally deciphered and copy of
1t was sent at once to the executive
offices, and the president and cabinet
listened with keenest interest to it's
reading by Secretary Taft After his
return to the war department Secre-
tary Taft commenting upon the en-
gagement said
General Wood appears to have been
there by accident or rather without
any idea of what was going to hap
pen. l had cablegram from him
saying there were some matters call
ing him into the southern islands, but
he would not be out of reach of the
cable, and | suppose when ne got
there he found the trouble on Gener-
al Bliss, who as commander OF the de-
partment Of Mindano exercised mill
tary jurisdiction over the Jolo group,
was probably at Zamboango when Gen.
eral Wood arrived there on his trip
of inspection"
This data relative to General Woods
movements was produced by the Sec
rotary in response to a suggestion
that possibly General Wood may have
gone to Jolo with the intention of or
ganizing punitive expedition against
the Moros in the mountain Businesses.
who had held out for the past two
years against the American forces.
Secretary Taft then spoke of two
trips he had made into Jolo and de-
scribed the extremely rough character
of the country. He said that out of
about 81 400 inhabitants, less than
1900 are civilized. The sultan, Sec
rotary Taft said. had little control
over his people, who are divided into
factions and constantly warning upon
each other, Il suppose" said Secre-
tary Taft, chat one of the factions
thought it had gotten together men
enough and that they were absolutely
immune. so they were just cleaned
out"
The secretary spoke in warm praise
of the constabulary, which Is made of
Moros themselves, and who conducted
battle. Secretary Taft said he has
mot the least fear that this movement
will extend to other clans, and In fact
think the heavy blow struck the
Moros will have a strongly deterrent
effect upon them"
Fifteen Soldiers Killed.
Fifteen enlisted Americans were
killed. A commissioned officer was
wounded and four men we're badly
wounded. A naval force acting with
the troops sustained 80 casualties.
There were 600 Moros killed.
One account of the fight near Jolo
states that 600 outlaw Moros were
killed in the crater OF the PERCEPTIONS
volcano five miles from Jolo. The
Americans lost Is killed and So
wounded, including Capt. Rivers of
the fourth cavalry, Lieut.. Agnews of
the sixth infantry, Lieut.. Gordon
Johnston of the signal corps, Ensign
Cooke, commanding the Pampanga,
and Capt. White of the constabulary.
The attack was under the immedi-
ate command of Col. Duncan of the
sixth infantry. The fighting lasted
two days among the lava ridges,
which had been strongly fortified by
the Moros. Artillery had to be hoist
ed by means of ropes up the last 500
feet, at an angle of 60 degrees.
Gen. Wood Makes Report.
Maj-General Leonard Wood, com
mander Of the division Of the Philip
pines, reports as follows from Jolo,
capital of the Zulu islands:
"A severe action between troops, a
naval detachment and constabulary
and hostile Moros has taken place at
Mount Dajo, near Jolo. The engage