The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-11
TERRIBLE LESSON 70 NOROS.
PEACE EXPECTED AFTER GEN.
WOODS hattie ON MOUNT DAJO.
Commander Criticised in Manila for Heavy
American Loss, but President Com.
pIlments Him mi His Men on n brill.
iant Feat-No Report OF Men Lost.
Special caDle Despatch to TuB sun

Special Cable Despatch 10 THE SUN.
MANILA, March ,l0.-Ths tight between
the American troops under Gen. Wood and
the 800 Moros who had forti led themselves
on Mount Dajo, In the island OF Jolo, was a
battle OF determination. No further fight
ing in Jolo is expected and Gen, Wood Is
returning to Manila. The wort of this
American forces was thorough. They
fought their way up the p~rocipitous sides
OF the lava cone, surrounded the natives in
the crater, cutting of all who tried to escape,
and killed them to the last man. Ths
sulta OF Jolo has expressed his satisfao-
ton at the determination Of a gang Of rob-
bers which he had been unable to control.
Gen. Wood is criticised for sacrificing
men in an assault when a short. siege OF the
mountain top where the natives were forti-
fed would inevitably have resulted in their
surrender. Gen. Lawton and Capt. Per-
shing in their campaigns against the Moros
under similar circumstances used the less
spectacular but less bloody tactics with
success.
All the American wounded will recover.
The most seriously injured Is First Lieut.,
Gordon Johnston Of the Signal Corps. A
slug pierced his clavicle while he was gal
lantly scaling the wall Of the Moro Gotta, or
fort, and he was blown of the parapet by
an explosion. He will be in the hospital
probably for two months.
CHASE UP THE sIDH.
The battle began on Tuesday afternoon
with skirmishing in the brush at the base
of the volcano. Col. Duncan Of the Sixth
Infantry, who was in command Of the opera
tons, formed his men in three columns,
and the outlaw Moros were slowly chased W
the mountain side. Trails had to be disre-
garded and the Americans fought their way
u the slopes through brush and under a
rain # Moro bullets.
ne advance met with a temporary check
oil the upper lava ridges, which are heavily
wooded. Col Duncan here deployed six
troops OF the Fourth Cavalry, dismounted,
eight companies of infantry. the naval de-
tachment and the constabulary.
Then followed half a day Of fighting in
the scorching sun, the Moros enjoying the
shelter Of strong Notifications, which were
not more than half visible to the storming
party. Gradually a few squads pierced the
Moro line and fanked their trenches and
forced the outlaws up the mountain.
Fighting their way up the precipitous
sides of the cone, the Americans were ex-
posed to a rain of rocks and sharp pieces
Of lava, with which the Moros peppered
the narrow trails
MORO TRAPPED AND SLAIN.
A part Of the attacking force at last capt
ured q position on the lip of the crater.
A block and tackle vas rugged, and to this
position, which commanded the Moros'
final stronghold within the crater, the men
of the Twenty eighth Field Artillery pain.
fully dragged a battery Of mountain guns.
The Moros fed over the lip into the broad
crater, where they were in a trap. The sur
face Of the crater was half covered with
trees and formed a magnificent battlefield.
The American troops overwhelmed the
Moros, drawing in upon them in a constantly
decreasing circle and killing all who at
tempted to break through and escape.
They finally annihilated the fanatical rem
nants.
1t is estimated that $50 Of the outlaws
we're armed with guns. The rest had bolos
and spears.
PRESIDENT THANKS THE TROOPS
WASHINGTON, March 1O.-President Rooee-
Welt to-day sent the following telegram to
Major-Gen. Leonard Wood, commanding
the Philippine division:
4 congratulate you and the officers and
men Of your command upon the brilliant
feat Of arms wherein you and they so we'll
upheld the honor OF the American flag.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
Officers Of the Government here see no
reason why there should be further trouble
with the natives in Jolo. The Moros differ
greatly from all other Fillpinos, and their
inclination to submit to none but native
rule was shown to the Spaniards long be-
fore Americans set foot upon the soil OF
Jolo or other Moro country. Thu ~SpaniSrds
put a wall around the town of Jolo, and
on account OF the hostility Of the natives
we're never safe outside the wall. There
have been numerous engagements In and
around Jolo and many natives have been
killed there.
The Mo 70 style Of fighting differs ma
terially from that Of the natives In any
other part Of the islands. Elsewhere 1t is
q guerrilla warfare, but the Moros in time
Of trouble gather in large force in n place,
usually In a Gotta, or fort, and there resist
10 the death. When the Americans vent
10 Jolo the policy of the ~Spaniards was
not followed, and Anne rican troops we're
SAINT to all parts of the islands. The dattos
have been infuriated lever since and have
lost no opportunity to cause trouble for
the American soldiers.
In the Moro country q serious engage
ment usually brings an end to outlawism,
but such Is not the case In other parts Of
che islands where the natl yes must be
chased over mountains, down valleys and
through jungles. with probably a majority
escaping and ready to keep up the fighting.
In Jolo, however, the dattos gathered
their forces In the crater of Mount Dajo
and there resisted the American attack.
There is no doubt about the inclination
Of the Moro to fight, and he usually does
30 until he is either killed or victorious.
In this recent action the Moros were APP
parently all killed.
The War Department is waiting for a
despatch from Major-Gen. Wood, giving a
list Of the enlisted men killed and wounded
and the troops engaged in the battle.
Officers of the Department consider It
probable that Gen. Wood will send the
list OF killed and wounded, together with