The Jasper news., 1917-07-12
BLsMoK eJAK
pFRSNIklG


Captain Pershlng and he Strengthened
under the burden and carried 1t to the
end.
In 1899 he became adjutant general,
executive officer of the department of
MindanaO and Jolo. In this capacity
he studied the Moros and the Moro
problem. He tried in every honorable
way to conciliate the native chiefs and
judges or dattos, but the Moros would
not take the word of a white man.
Later they learned that Pershing's
word was never broken.
Finally, after studying the question
from every possible viewpoint, he de-
cided that the only way to subdue the
natives was to prosecute campaign
against them. Washington colncided
with this view and Pershlng went into
the jungle.
Every foot of the way, through mud
dy roads little better than jungle trails,
where guns and caissons sometimes
sank hub deep and had to be raised by
planks and levers; through insect in
tested forests. in an atmosphere
fraught with fever and malaria, he
had to fight against crazed Mohamme-
dan warriors, who believed that to die
Staying Christians insured them of a
life In heaven with white horse to
ride and beautiful hourls to wait upon
them.
Against odds like this the expedition
fought and cut Its way to the Lake
Lanao country, where the Moros had
gathered in force.
At Bayan Captain Pershing gave the
rebels their first taste of American
fighting. The battle resulted in brill
liant tactical victory for our troops,
and the expedition pressed forward.
Destroyed 40 Forts.
most powerful of the native rulers, re-
fused to surrender. With battalion
of infantry, squadron of cavalry and
section Of guns Pershing moved
against him and threatened to demol-
ish his fort unless he gave in.
The sultan was defiant. He dreamed
that his stronghold was impregnable.
In two days 1t was n memory and the
American troops had received upon
their bayonets the last maddened
charge Of the Moro band. The Ameri-
cans had two men. wounded.
One after the other 40 Moro forts
fell under Pershlng's assaults and the
island of Mindanao was at peace two
Americans having lost their lives.
Then the Pershing smile succeeded
the fighting grimness of his fnce and
the Moros became his friend. They
made datto of him and they submit
ted to his judgment in their legal dis
putes, and the United States made him
military governor Of the department.
For this work he was advanced to the
grade of brigadier general, although
SG2 officers had priority over him.
For a time Pershing was relieved Of
his Philippine duties because of Ill
health, but the Moros Of Jolo continued
| to make trouble and he was sent back
! to subdue them as he had the rebels
of MindanaO. 1t was a bigger task,
and one the magnitude of which has
GER except in time of actual war.
Pershing picked command of men
every one of whom he knew down to
the last private. He loved them all as
children and they loved him as BLACK
Jack" and "Fighting John" Pershing.
face the general didn't know and whom
he could not call by name.
The Moros-men, women and chill
drep-had taken refuge and fortified
themselves In the crater of Bud Dajo,
an extinct volcano, or the Island of
Jolo. Pershing announced to his men
that he was going to drive the rebels
out of the crater If 1t took ten years
to do 1t.
There were 600 Moros, everyone of
them imbued with the faith that each
Christian he slew would be his slave
In the Moro heaven, lurking under the
rim of the big hole In the top of the
mountain.
Guerrilla Warfare.
The addition of a band of Filipino
scouts brought the American forces up
to about one thousand men. Every
inch of the way from the shore of the
island they had to fight against the
hidden enemy.
Outposts were stabbed In the night
by naked savages, who wrlggled
through the tall grass without sound
Pickets and patrolling parties were
fallen upon and slain by beast-men,
who swung from the branches of tropi.
cal trees and palms like panthers, but