The Crittenden record. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1904-1907, 1906-11-23

Weird stories from all parts of tn,
battle field were told the writer tn,
night of the combat. The Moro womer
fought more desperately than the men
One could not tell them from the men
One horrible photograph | have shows
woman with her hair cut short. One
saw Filipino cut Moro woman into
with one slash of bolo. Others saw
Moros kill their own children or use
them as shields in the fight. One sol.
der said that an American soldier
wanting to end the fight there, jumped
down into the trench and killed every
one who attacked him, shooting his
revolver and stabing with his bayonet
in the heat of the battle. OF course
he was badly wounded. A Moro wom-
an threw her baby at a soldier, and
then made at him with barong. She
was shot down. A Moro threw his
baby on row of bayonets, and as il
stuck on one he jumped and killed the
SOLDIER behind the bayonet. Private
Packard, troop, X. 4th. Cav was the
man killed. A brave hospital corps
man was slain while applying, first
aid" to the injured soldiers. His duty
was not on the firing line but he was
there. Now the Americans who jumped
into the trenches and killed indiscrimi.
nately may have been cowardly or they
may have been brave, but it seems "a
me that it takes brave man to lear
to almost certain death, among people
who will spring back when mortally
wounded, and slash vicously with q
knife, hoping to get in one death blow
as they draw their last breath.
Frequently the Moros would fire or
the soldiers sent out to rescue the
wounded Moros who were without
weapons, and take them to the field
hospital where their wounds could be
be dressed by the surgeon.
How could the Americans done other.
wise than they did, the Moros did moi
fight according to the rules Of modern
warfare.
II is impossible for one who was moi
| there 10 conceive the viciousness anC
treachery OF their attacks. While tn,
sight Of the trenches were shocking ia
the extreme TO even harden the nerves,
1t was more then pitiful to see the
American dead. The Americans wer,
fortunate in losing so few men. Yet
II the Moros had used as good Judge.
ment in the fight as our men did, hun.
dreds Of Americans would have been
slaughtered. II was due to the almost
impregnable position Of the Moros that
the loss Of life to our soldiers was Sc
severe. and the wonder Of il Is that m
more Of the Americans were killed. II
was impossible for the American sol
diers TO leave the Moros longer in the
crater Of Bud.-Dajo, as their number
was being continually augmented. II
was impracticable TO try and starve
them out. with their springs Of water
and their great amount Of stores they
had gathered for the fight. A siege
would have been impracticable, too, for
the reason that the remaining Moros
in the Islands, II they thought that I,
was impossible for the Americans 10
win the fight, might have made a fana.
teal attack on the Americans and mas.
sacred the whole garrison.
IL is said by those who have lived il
the Philippines for the last six years
that this battle practically ends the
fighting in the Islands. Wherever
in Mindanao the Moros have b n
thoroughly defeated and the Dattos
have been Inundated, the Moros have
transferred their allegiance to the
Americans.
There is great difference Of opinion
as to whether the Moros wat c h.
ing the battle were friend.
ly or unfriendly. Lieut.. Dorcy report
ed during the tight tina, an agitator had
visited the Moros near Koehler's eamt
urging a bolo attack on the men there.
This was Immediately reported q
koehler and Colonel Duncan and the
camp was at once reinforced. Abou,
1880 A. NJ. March sth. the Sultan Of
Sulu. with a large following. appearec
near Capt. koehler's camp, Lieut.
Dorcy. In charge sent word that h,
/ would be very glad 10 see the Sultan
who was only one hundred yards away
The Sultan returned the word that II
was very tired. having ridden from
Miabung ten miles away. and starte,
back 70 Miabon. His men we're full,
armed. and said they had been boa
hunting, but L looked a. u they ha,
been waiting for an American reverse