FIERCE BATTLE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8060, 12 March 1906, Page 3

FIERCE BATTLE

REBEL FILIPINOS EXTERMINATED. CAPTURE OF HEIGHTS BY AMERICAN TROOPS. A DIFFICULT UNDERTAKING. HEAVY CASUALTIES. Received 11 1.30 p.m. New* Yohk, March 10. American troops and a naval contingent, assisted by Philippines' constabulary, achioved a victory near Jolo, the capital of Salu, and exterminated the Moro ringleaders, the chief and his followers, who havo been harassing friendly natives for eight months. Colonel Duncan, of the 6th Infantry, conducted two day's operations, in the presence of Generals Wood and Bliss, the action involving the capture of a crater 2300 feet high. The ascent was steep, the last four hundred feet being on an angle of sixty degrees, with fifty feet perpendicular. Many of the ridges were covered with timber and strongly fortified, the Moros being invisible. Blocks and tackle had to be used to hoist the artillery three hundred feet. Sii hundred of tho defenders were killed, the Americans losing fifty-two killed and wounded, including five commissioned officers. The reinforcements sent to the Philippines are now largely explained. Every transport arriving at Manilla was filled with supplies, until enough had arrived to eijuip a Held force, liLy thousand strong. j