New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-20
THE MOUNT DAJO FIGHT.
Sensational Reports Manufactured in
Manila, Says General Wood.

Washington March 19-Secretary Taft has re-
ceived two cable dispatches from General Leon
ard Wood. at Manila relative to the Mount Daio
Tight The first is dated yesterday and reads
as follows:
II more detailed information concerning the
facts connected with the Mount Dajo fight is
desired, l suggest that Major Hugh L. Scott be
called upon. He is thoroughly familiar with
the situation, having spent eight months in the
attempt to get these people of the mountain
without fighting.
Major Scott has been on leave Of absence IN
this country. and has just arrived in Washington
in answer to the Secretary's summons. He was
referred to in some of the Manila dispatches as
having caused the trouble at Mount Dajo by the
exercise Of too great Ieniency toward the brigand
Moros.
The second dispatch from General Wood is
dated Manila, to-day, and reads as follows:
Sensational cables sent to the United States
relating the Mount DajO fight were made up
In Manila There has been nc reference in any
cable from MndanaO to the killing Of women and
children on receipt Of Colonel Andrews's con-
densed report from me IN Washington the Amer
lean newspapers cahled for details. The report
ers here had no other information than was con-
tanned in my report to Colonel Andrews, ana
supplied sensational features.
Secretary Taft expects to go before the Mill
tary Committee Of, the Senate some day this
week and will have such information relative to
the Mount Dajo fight and the condition IN that
section Of the archipelago as can be supplied
by Colonel Scott and IN these dispatches from
General Wood. He will also throw some light
the subject Of General Woods mileage when
he made his trip last summer from Manila to
this country and return. circling the globe in
doing 30 The substance Of the Secretary's com
munication Will be comprised in the statement
that this trip was ordered by the army surgeons,
It will also be stated that General Wood re-
turned to the Philippines against the advice Of
the London specialist who operated on his head.
The battle Of Mount Dajo was the subject Of
comment by Mr. Grosvenor and Mr.. Williams
IN the House to-day. Mr. GrosvenOr defended
the army. This gang Of MOros.' he said, be
long to class of pirates and professional thieves
They were an organized band of murderers who
never surrender, but fight until the last one OF
them is dead" In answer 20 the recent crlu
cisn OF Mr. Jones. of Virginia, who said thai
the mountain should have been surrounded anc
the Moros starved into surrender, Mr. Grosvenoi
/ remarked that Mr.. Jones was a farmer by pro-
fessiOn; that the mountain was fifteen miles
around, making this sort Of a Siege Impossible
There was but way to get them out anc
/ that was exactly the plan the American soldier
/ executed and the President exactly RICH
/ when he telegraphed II was a significant feat OF
/ arms" he added.
Mr. Williams criticised the report OF the battle
! What had been said about II was based on Lnl'
! report ne said, and, should later information
present a different situation, Of course the CRU
/ cism based on another report could not stahd.