Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1909-04-15

made against the Sulu MoroS. the
Malanaos. or Lake Moros OF Mlndanao.
held their Wild mountain Businesses
against the most serious attempts OF
Spanish governors general to subdue
them. The last Of these attempts was
under the personal direction OF Lieut..
Gen. Blanco. who succeeded, with
great loss OF life and a large outlay
of money and material, In reaching
Lake Lanao from the north, but failed
to penetrate further by land. A few
gunboats were eventually placed on
the lake and considerable damage was
done to Moro villages along Its shore.
Then came the Spanish-American war
and the withdrawal OF the troops,
which left central Mindanao and the
Rio Grande valley practically as they
were 800 years before. For q time
partially checked In lawlessness, the
Moros reverted to their ancient high
handed, semi-savage practices.
Our forces In the Philippines were
not more than sufficient to handle the
situation In the northern islands until
1899, when Jolo and other important
points In the south were occupied. But
no attempt was made to control the
Lanao Moros until 1901. Depreda'
lions by these Moros had become as
frequent by that time as in the early
days of Spanish rule. Complaints
coupled with requests for protection
came so frequently that positive action
became necessary. At this time Gen.
G. w. Davis. under whom the lake re-
gion was finally opened up, had as
sumed command of Mindanao. A
friendly attitude was taken toward
the Malanaos in the hope that such
amicable relations might be estab
lished as would enable us to contro!
their conduct without the use Of force.
II was determined, however, to put
stop to lawlessness. Garrisons within
reach of the lake were strengthened,
and friendly expeditions into the int
rior were undertaken. Moro resist
ance at once became active. In the
spring of 1902 our troops fought their
way from the south through primitive
forests against great odds, penetrated
as far as the lake, and established
themselves permanently at Camp
Wears.
From this point of vantage, every
possible effort was again made &c
bring about a peaceful understanding.
BY fair treatment and square dealing
we gained the confidence Of many
dattos and made them our friends, but
q large number rejected our overtures
and preferred stubborn adherence to
their policy OF exclusion. They sought
to harass us into returning to the
coast. Rowing bands Of armed Moros
ambushed our troops, attacked wagon
trains and made midnight onslaughts
upon our outposts. In April, 1903, a
resolute resort to arms became neces.
sary, and the stronghold Of Bacolod.
considered by all Moros as impreg
nable, and defended by Moros who
flocked in from all sides of the lake,
was taken by assault after two days
siege. In May another expedition,
floundering through swamps, cutting
through jungles, carrying for miles its
own cannon, enduring cholera in its
ranks, destroying Moro fortresses and
fighting its way step by step. overcame
all resistance and accomplished the
complete circuit Of thelake. Thus Amer.
lean troops entered In the heart Of the
Moro country and stripped the Malay
lords of Mindanao Of the prestige OF
hundreds of years. In Sulu the I'M
ruly element later crossed swords with
our troops, selecting the steep slopes
of Mount Dajo for their last stand.
Our men doggedly assembled the diff
cult mountain side and carried to the
sultan's followers decisive defeat.
The conquest of the Moros has, how.
ever, only begun. 1t will be many gen.
erations before their lawless inclina-
lions can be entirely overcome or their
customs changed. This regeneration
is a question of evolution. The true
conquest must be accomplished by the
tedious process of education. II should
not be accomplished by determination.
copyright. 1905, by Joseph B. Bowles.)