The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-08-04
seoat cOmpanies ieli in the iia.

lof duty
Lieut. Edwin H. Hiehley. or n
list Moro company of scouts. was in
Jnred In the foot and two infantryma
md eleven scouts were wounded.
The, fight was hot one while
lasted and resulted in the capture 0
The entire Moro position with the ea
fceptiop of one Gotta. which was eS
pected to be in the hands OF the a;
ackiug force by nightfall.
The fight at sahepa's Gotta wa,
jagged from early morning also, bu
Tthout casualties among the Anne.
lean forces
We made the first advance wit;
he, 29th, the 5lst and the 52nd con-
i:an!es Of scouts in line. supported b
lent. Thomas F. Van Natta's CUR
;llattoon, up the Matunkup and Pupu
}Vavas ridges, and with Major Shaw
yith NJ. company Of the Sth infantry
and the 40th company OF scouts sup
ported by Lieut.. Carl F. McKinney's
guns on Lanklsan. Amii's strong
hold. All these positions, were cap
ured after very heavy fighting under
most disadvantageous conditions. Ma
ior Snaw's company was under firt
rom three sides through the greater
1art OF the fight.
Capt. Taylor A. Nichols and Lieu,
George C., Charlton accomplished
icme wonderful work with their Nor
20 companies, Nichols captured til
'uyu Cabas fertilization, which wal
ietermindediy defended by It's out
iaw occupants who poured in a gal
ing fire upon the attacking party,
without having a single one OF H.
men hit, due to his thoughtful anc
clever maneuvering. Lieut.. Charlton
captured the Matunkup fertilization.
TO make the last advance. the mer
With their lieutenant at their head
we're compelled to climb the precipi.
'ous by the aid Of the hanging vines
md other. brush. The success OF the
attack with, SO small . loss as result.
I'd, was in no small way due to the
pounding Of the mountain artillery OF
Lieutenant Van Malta and Mckinney,
Who succeeded in keeping, the outlaw
Moros at reasonable distance from
The attacking party until they reach
d the. summit, when reyolvers and
oayonets. were used with great ST.,
cess. No one who has not seen Bag.
SAX with its perpendicular sides over.
hanging with ragged crags, covered
with thick tropical vines and vegeta.
lion, approachable only by difficulty
climbing, can realize
the difficulties the troops had to over.
come, and 1t is truely wonderful that
The loss in dead and wounded were
not greater than they were.
The detachment of cavalry under
Captain Frank L. Pyle and Lieuten.
ant John F. Sayles were In their sad,
dies for twenty-four hours gettir-
supplies and ammunition to the posi-
lion and they are going yet.
The Moros are now in their last
stronghold, driven back step by step,
loggedly fighting every inch Of the
ground, realizing that the end has
come and that only by putting up Il
stronge resistance can they escape
with their lives, but their last strong.
lcld will be taken today or by day
break tomorrow morning The noun.
tain guns which have been doing
most effective work have had to be
.aken up the mountain side by the aid
Of block and tackle. This necessarily
had delayed the result of the cam.
paign. Unquestionably the fortified.
lions could have been taken at rush
cut General Pershing was dctermin.
ed to take his time and not sacrific.
his men in order to save a few hours.
The men, both Americans and Mo-,
scouts. entered the fight with a will.
The American troops especially have
been itching for an opportunity to
wipe out the brutal insults heaped
upon them at the time they were or.
Tered to Jolo pursuant to instruc.
ions from President Taft and they
have blttcd them III In small meas.
IRE and with no small eifec.
effect.
The saddest event in the campaign
occurred this morning when Captain
Nichols. who was boldly leading his
men up the steep incline. was shot in
the head and instantly killed. His
death occurred just as, the troops
were on the point of making their
bayonet charge after most difficult
climb.
AS he fell his body was recovered