Omaha daily bee., 1919-10-01
Long Range Guns Demolished
Forts and Scared Savages
Eight Cottas
Captured.


of Camp Wears shortly before the
Fourth of July. On that day, in the
hope of impressing the natives more
profoundly with the power OF the
United States and with the desire
of further amelioration, Pcrshing in
vitcd the tribal leaders to participate
in celebration at the camp. About
700 dattos and sultans accepted the
invitation. Despite the apparent
friendship of these leaders, there
was an undercurrent Of hostility,
and Pershing knew that while many
of the Moros might be won by
diplomacy-while many had been
won-the subjugation of the tribes
could only be accomplished by force
of arms.
Ventures First Campaign.
August 81, the most severe earth
quake within the memory of the old
est natives of Mindanao shook the
lake region. Rancherias were swal-
lowed BY the earth and many lives
were lost. This seemed to increase
the unrest of the Moros. Ignorant
savages, there were those among
them who believed that the troops
at Camp Wears were responsible tor
the phenomena and had harnessed
the powers of the unseen to wreak
destruction. More Moros took the
offensive against the camp. Failure
to punish the offenders was miscon-
strued as cowardice. 1t was decided
at last to attack the Moros. On
September l8 Pershing set out on
the first of his four memorable ex-
petitions.
What was accomplished by the ex-
petition is best told in Pershings
own words, contained in a report
submitted by him, 1t follows:
"The column left Camp Wears at
I 80 a. M. the 18th instant and ar
hived at Pantauan, about 10 miles to
the southeast, at E a. m.
Two Sultans Resist.
AT Pantauan, a base camp was
established and the operations OF the
expedition were conducted from
there. was informed here by Anal
Pasandalan that Sultan Uli of Gauan,
and the sultan of Bayaboo would not
treat with me, but resist our march
toward their rancherias.
~ proceeded at once in the direc-
ton of Gauan, on Lake Butig. On
leaving Pantauan several armed
Moros were seen at distance, but
no shots were fired on either side.
The trail followed a narrow, wooded
ridge, over which we cautiously pro-
ceeded, reaching Gauan, some three
miles away, at about $50 a. m. The
end of this ridge projected into a
swamp, with Lake Butig on the
south and southwest. The stronger
of the two forts in sight was situated
in our front at the narrow
est part of the ridge, completely
closing the trail, and some 200
yards from the end of the ridge. This
tort was first sighted as we de-
bouched from the woods some 800
wards from it. .-..
How Battle Was Waged.
"The two guns of McNair's bat
terry were numbered and posted on
the right Of Company F. Companies
G and M remained in column of files
on the trail, hidden from view to the
front, but in a position to face the
ridge on our left.
From the hills on the opposite
side Of the lake the Moros kept up
A desnltory fire with Krags and
Remingtons. At distance of some
500 yards to the west Of the small
fort and across the lake several
armed Moros were observed, no
doubt thinking they were beyond
the range of our rifles; but few
we'll directed volleys by Lieutenant
Hawkins scouts either destroyed or
dispersed them.
"At 7 o'clock the next morning,
with all OF the command Except
Company G, which. with the mortar