The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-10
Troops Stationed In Jo!o.

tiOSRS OhdhiSHSA W SN'Ns
The last list of troops stationed in the
Philippines at the war department shows
that on January 90 the following troops
were stationed on the Island of Jolo:
Companies | and l., Fourth cavalry and
the Twenty-eighth battery field artillery;
companies |, X, l. and M Of the Twentieth
infantry had been stationed at Jolo, but
are understood to have been relieved
by battalion of the Sixth infantry, COM
handed by Colonel Duncan in January.
Colonel Duncan was the senior officer on
the field, save Major General Wood and
BRigadier General Bliss. Assuming that
the organizations were up TO their normal
strength. there We're about 1870 soldiers
in the action besides the naval contin-
gent the strength of which is so far
unknown. 1t is believed, however that
owing to the sick list and other causes
there were probably not more than 400
of the military engaged The strength Of
the constabulary is also unknown.
The official dispatch does not enable
the authorities here to place exactly the,
scene of the combat. The only crater
known on the island of Jolo lis well toward
the center of the island and some distance
removed from the capital which is on
the sea coast. There is however, near
the city of Jolo, distance only five miles,
a mountain answering closely. save for,
the crater, the description of that in the
official dispatch.
Controlled BY Two Dattos.
This mountain was controlled by two
Dattos-Calb and Joal1inine, the latter
one of the chieftains who signed the ia
nous Batest treaty. The mountain is
very steep and at its apex is a Moro
fortress which had never been taken by
white troops Lieut.. Gen. Bates, chief Of
staff, who had had extensive services in
the southern islands of the Philippine
archipelago and is as well acquainted with
the Jolo country probably as any officer
here has here, has no fear that this last
trouble will extend throughout the group.
In the first place he says there is no
homogeneity among these island troops.
strong jealousies exist and It has been
impossible for them to cohere In opposi-
ton to the whites. 1t is also believed
here from the official dispatch that
the Moros attacked were really set of
robbers and that the action was un-
doubtedly precipitated by General Woods
determination to extermnate them at any
cost If they could not be otherwise sub
bued.
Gunboats Report to Manila. (
The movements Of the gunboats which
had been detailed from the Asiatic fleet
for duty in the southern islands Of the
Philippine archipelago are reported only
to the commander in chief of the Asiatic
station at Manila and the navy depart
ment consequently Is without informa-
ton as to the whereabout of the ships
until a considerable time has elapsed
However the fact that IL. s. Cooke, Jr
is reported to have been wounded estap-
fishes the further fact that the gunboat
Pampanga a small craft of about 200 tons
was at Jolo for this young officer is the
commander of the vessel. Cooke Is a ma
tive OF the District of Columbia, but was
appointed to the navy from New York.
The department of Jolo Is now in COM
mand of Brig Gen. Tasker II. Bliss. IL
was formerly commanded by Mai: Gen.
Leonard Wood, who afterward became
commander in chief OF. the Philippine
division on the departure of General Cor
bin.
Some of the army officers here who
have served in the Jolo groups say that
Mount Dajo, >the scene of the action. is
located about fourteen miles from Jolo,
the capital Of the Island Moro Coto is
on the very top of,the mountain. Once
before the garrison of natiyes was in.
duced to vaeate the place by the exer-
else Of diplomacy but heretofore no force
has been able to capture IT. The Sixth
infantry which seems to have borne the
brunt Of the lighting was from. Fort
Leavenworth and has been In the Philip
pines about year 1890
No Fear Of Retaliation.
The officer OF the general stan fully
acquainted with the habits Of the Moros
say they have not the slightest fear that
the Moros Will try to fetaliate for the
crushing defeat administered 10 them.
These officers judge from the dispatch
from Manila that there were really two
actions, the first probably surprise and
serving merely to locate the position and
to establish the strength Of the Moro