Omaha daily bee., 1919-10-06

in which they behaved during tn
recent expedition around Lake La
mao.
They are the first military fore
that ever encircled the lake, ant
have accomplished. a feat that ha
generally been deemed impossible
They have had to meet a savag
foe, to overcome great natural OBJ
stacles and to face deadly disease
This was done cheerfully ant
manfully. 49,, lt
"The division commander ha
asked me to add his thanks to m,
own to the officers and enlisted mel
! who formed the Lake Lanao expe
dition and participated in thi
memorable march"
Cable from Taft.
| William Howard Taft, former
president and secretary of war, was
in 1908, civil governor of the Philip
pine islands. He cabled the Wa
department from Manila unde1
date of May 10, 1908:
Capt. John ]. Pershing has com
pleted circuit of Lake Lanao vi;
the east coast from Camp Wears
Had sharp fight at Taraca. Cap
tured 10 forts. many prisoners, 81
lantacas and 90 rifles. All Other
dattos friendly. Our losses, two
killed and four wounded.
Every hostile Lanao datto has
been chastised. All Moros know
OUR friendship is valuable and is
freely extended to all who desire it
| No hostile property, save hostile
forts, has been molested.
Troops have behaved sp1endidly
not only in contending fanatical saw
age foe, but dreaded disease, and
besides had to construct many miles
of road through tropical jungle.
mo more hostilities are antici.
pated beyond occasional sniping."
Praises for Pershing.
On May II, 1908. Elihu Root, ther
secretary of war, in cable to Ma
| jor-G General George w. Davis, com
handing general of the Division O.
the Philippines, sent this message
from Washington:
81 congratulate you and Briga
der General S. S. Summer on the
work done in Mindanao. Express te
Captain John J. Pershing and the
officers and men under his com
mand the thanks of the War de
partment for their able and effective
accomplishment of their Difficult
and important task"
! General Davis submitted thi:
message to General Summer, who
in turn, transmitted it to Pershing
| On June 80, 1908, General Sum
rner sent the following commune
cation to the War department.:
First Body of Whites.
| This is probably the first body
of white men that has ever marched
around the lake and the effect OF
| the Moros must be salutary. Cap
tain Pershing deserves great credi
for his able handling of this diff
cult problem. He and his commant
had to fight savage foe in an TN
known country, to overcome grea
natural obstacles and to fac,
IA dreadful epidemic prevailin,
throughout the country.
THE lake country no longer re
mains an unknown land. We nov
have correct and complete ma,
of the entire lake shores and O
the country between it and the SCI
to the north and south. The higl
mountain ranges to the west an,
east can be explored at a later da,
|if deemed advisable"
General Davis, a few days later
on July 26, 1908. in a report to tn
War department, added this refer
ence to Pershing:
i Report From Davis.
This officers work as com
mander of Camp Wears and in tn
field deserves special mention. H
has displayed rare good judgmen,
infinite patience in dealing wit
these suspicious people, wise fore
sight in preparing for every emer
gency and contingency, and fnall,
!! when nothing remained but to crus
the resistance, so to dispose hi
force as to accomplish the resul
with the least possible loss"
One more report must be quote
that of Secretary of War Root 70
the year 1908.
THE last report of the secretar
of war contained an account of tn
punitive expeditions which had bee
found necessary in the Lake Lana
region in the months of May an
September, 1902. then said:
Some further punishment ma
be necessary, but the present ind
cations since this last experienc
seem to be peaceful
Destroyed Fort.
i "In April, 1908, a body of Amer
can troops under Captain John
Pershing, engaged in the explore
ton of the west shore of Lake La
mao, was attacked by the sultan o
Bacolod and the sultan's fort wa
/ captured and destroyed.
I'm May, while exploring the cas-
shore of the lake, the force unde
Captain Pershing was opposed an
fired upon by Taraca' Moros an
their forts were assaulted and car
| tured.
Both General Summer, in con,
J mand of the department, and Ger
erai Davis, in command of the d
i vision, characterize the conduct c
/ Captain Pershing and his officer
and men in terms of the highes
| commentator.
"On the 18th of May the follow
ing dispatch was sent by the secre
tary of war to General Davis: eth
dispatch which | have previousl
quoted, congratulating Davis an
Summer and expressing thanks t
Pershing and the officers and ME
of his command.