OCR Text |
Show ftecent Engagement with Moros jH Reflects Glory on American Arms H In ono of tho most brilliant feats of nrms ever engaged In by United States troops, a force of nbdut 400 j mon, drawn from tho army, navy and native constabulary, captured a lava mountain hitherto considered Impregnable, Impreg-nable, on the island of Jolo, killing Its COO Moro defenders to tho last man. The engagement opened on tho morning of March C and lasted two ;days, tho troops dragging artillery up an Incline of CO degrees In tho faco ,of a continuous flro of bullets, arrows 'and spears. Tho casualties on tho American sldo wero eighteen killed and fifty-threo fifty-threo wounded. Tho heaviest loss fell upon tho army, nlthough tho native constabulary acquitted itself with great heroism, nearly half its number being killed or wounded. MaJ. Gen. Leonard Wood, In com- ax jw: JXTNCAJT mand of tho forces In tho Philippines, and Brig. Gen. Bliss woro on tho scone, nlthough not nctually engngod in tho conflict. Tho operations woro conducted by Col. Joseph W. Duncan of tho Sixth infantry. I Mount Dajo, up which tho Amerl- cans btrugglcd with their cannon, Is 2,100 foot nbovo sea lovol, and tho small naval furco engaged rendered great service In hoisting tho artillery. The lava sides of the mountain offered hnd footing, nnd block nnd tncklo wcro used In raising tho guns. Tho end enmo on tho morning of March 8, when tho Americans gained tho edgo of tho Immenso crater of tho volcano and poured riflo nnd artillery flro Into the stronghold, of tho enemy until not n living thing remained within with-in it. Tho slaughter was necessary, as tho Moros nro fanatics, and confirmed In the Mohammedan belief that if they dlo In hnttlo they will go straight to heaven. They scorned to surrendor and fought to tho last gasp. Tho biutlo does not lndlcnto that there is to bo another uprising In tho Islands. It merely closes n campaign thnt was brought on by absolute necessity nec-essity Thoro Is no sign of troublo ai'ywhero else In tho archipelago Tho dllllculty wns moroly local, and had no connection with tho conduct of affairs In general, either military or civil, on tho Islands. |