The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-12-13
The Mt. DaiO
Hero On The
Sherman


Aboard the transport sherman, which
arrived this morning from the Orient
are Colonel J. w. Duncan and Captain
b. W. Atkinson Of the famous Sixth
Infantry which stormed the crater on
the Island of Jolo and in desperate
battle cleaned out the horde of fanatia
Moro fighters entrenched therein. The
country has rung with the fame of the
Sixth and Colonel Duncan is in line
according to the talk of the army, for
a brigadier-generars star
Captain Atkinson who was adjutant
of the Sixth and who was with Dun
can at the battle Of which so much h
been written in the press Of the world,
is practically a major merely waiting
to be assigned to a vacancy. 1t is prob.
able that he will be detailed as major
of the Fourth Infantry
Colonel Duncan comes of fighting
stock, both his father and grandfather
having been brigadier-g generals.
Colonel Duncan spoke of the battle
of the lava cone i'm a modest way and
his sentences were short There had
been a great deal Of criticism of the
killing, in that desperate struggle, of
women who had mixed with the enemy
and were fighting, too, but such criti-
cism could easily be made by people
far away and unacquainted with the
facts. First of all, when the fire was
opened, it was impossible to know thu
makeup of the enemy; only their loca
ton was known. Then, when the
charge came, with the women dressed
or undressed like the men, it was diff
cult to say which was which. Besides
the enemy had every opportunity Of
surrender.
Said the New York Evening Mail Of
March 10, this year, referring to the
struggle and Duncans victory:
col Duncan's charge up a noun.
tain side on the Island Of Jolo with
guns lifted by block and tackle 300
feet. with men climbing under fire UP
an angle of so degrees into the crater
of a volcano. and the determination of
the whole defending force of Moros, is
| entitled to rank with Hooker's fight
above the clouds, or with Davis rout-
/ ing of the Modocs out of the lava
beds. 1t is great battling, worthy of
a high place in our annals,
1T is to be regretted that fifteel
brave soldiers lives must, at this late
date, be laid down to rid Jolo of nest
Of thieves and murderers-for no
stretch Of imagination can make any
thing less of them-but the sacrifice
will mean assurance OF safety for
! thousands 1t was Gen Woods duty
| to secure peace and protection for the
orderly life which has taken the place
of anarchy under our dominion in Su
! luland.
"Anti-imperialists will raise the cry
of massacre because no Moro got out
of Mount Dajo crater alive. But this
much is to be said for the Moro bri-
gade-he has no use for life under de
feat, nor any idea of stopping fighting
until ne is shot. The resistance of these
men was to the death.
mo other Philippine natives thar
the MOros needed such an exhibition OF
American determination as this, ant
now that the men of Jolo have had it
they will require no further demonstra
ton of our purpose"
The Sixth Infantry is now at Helena
Nebraska, and Col Duncan is return
ing to join his regiment. He and Cap
tain Atkinson We're ordered to Manila
as witnesses in the trial of Captaiy
Kochler who was accused of making
frivolous charges against Colone
Scott and who, when reprimanded by
General Wood, wrote an explanation
that was considered disrespectful anC
because of which he was again tried