Milford chronicle., 1913-06-20
BATTLE WITH
MOROS WAS HOT
Made Desperate Attempt to
Rush American Lines.
FOUGHT ON GRATER'S SIDE
General Pershing Tells How the
Tribesmen Were Beaten Back and
Overwhelmed.

Tribesmen Were Beaten Back and
Overwhelmed.
Probably no feTcer battle since
American occupation" is the descrip-
tion by Brigadier General Pershing Of
the battle with the Moros at Bagsak,
in the Philippines, in his report by ca
BILE to the war department at Wash-
ingtOn.
The Moros made desperate attempts
to rush the American lines, but they
were finally beaten back and over
whelmed Their leader, Anil, and sew
eraI other noted outlaws we're reported
killed, but the total loss of the Moros
is not known.
One American officer, Taylor A..
Nichols, of the Philippins scouts, was
killed; First Lieutenant Edwin H..
Rackley of the Philippine scouts, was
slightly wounded, and three Philippine
scouts, OF the Fifty-hrst company, all
natives, were killed.
General Pershing's report was as
follows:
"On June u the Moros' resistance
at Bagsak was formidable, and their
fort and trenches on the precipitous
side of the crater not only supported
each other strongly, but were defen 7
ed with modern arms. The Moros ia
natically and continuously tried to
rush the American lines. but the care
full disposition of our force held the
American loss to a minimum. Prob
ably there has been no fiercer battle
since American occupation.
Major George c. Shaw, of the Phil
ippine scouts, commanded the right
wing, with Company NJ, Eighth regi-
ment, United States infantry, and the
Fortieth company, Philippine scouts.
Captain Taylor A. Nichols, of the Phil
ippine scouts, commanded the LETT
wing, with the Fifty-frst, Fifty-second
and Twenty-ninth companies, Philip
pine scouts. A mounted gun was wi h
each wing and proved of great assist
ance. At the close of Thursday, Cap
tain Patrick MOylan, of the Philippine
scouts, with two companies, was sup
porting the gun on Mount Bunga. and
the American forces occupied a con-
trolling position on the rim of the
crater.
First Lieutenant Edwin H. Rackley,
Philippine scouts, was slightly wound
ed and three Moro scouts, of the Fifty
first company, were killed. Captain
Taylor A. Nichols was killed in the
early morning dght and is a serious
loss to the army Anil and several
leading outlaws reported killed. Other
Moros losses still unknown"
A cablegram from Major General
Bell not only explains the reason for
the attack upon the Moros stronghold,
but assumes responsibility with Gen
eral Pershing. General Bell said:
"The fight at Bagsak was incident
to the disarmament policy of the gov
ernor general cameron Forbes) and
the governor of the Moro province
adopted after many months of patient
but fruitless negotiations and marked
by promises disregarded by the Moros
A situation arose that I believe left nc
small following, occupying one ward of
the island Of Jolo, were the only Moros
who refused to give up their arms
peacefully. Disarmament was generally /
desired by the Moros themselves, All
of the rest surrendered their arms
months ago. without resisting Under
the circumstances it was impossible |
and unjust to disarmed Moros to per-
NIT a few Of them to retain arms"