UNKNOWN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 278, 27 April 1914, Page 6

UNKNOWN

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FANATICAL "110. ..:A.\TAIW)S." Sensational detail c .K.niing the annihilation of a pagan army of Moros, estimated at some i. uu.saiuls of men, by General IVrsliing ~i, . a 1 aitcd States force al .Mindanao, Uic moH southern of tlie 141)0 Philippine isiauds, have j been brought to Syun.j,. by Air J. Wiiit.\ an American planter residing at Lais, in the (lull of Liavao. The tnmnie. which ended ill a practical "clea 1111," lias been apparently brewing for some years, ami nas been caused primarily through ill. murners which from time to time have been committed on Europeans and American officers and soldiers by banus of fanatical Moros, • known as '•Huerniantados," wild run amok for Christians. The methods of the "Huermantado," in preparing himself for the self-imposed sanguinary task are of a peculiar character. He first of all bandages his body in white, and then tlic muscles of his arms and legs are also bandaged. This i is, so it is asserted, in order that ho will have no feeling for what he is going | to do. He ttien arrays himself in white I clotlies, and sallies out on his murder- I | ous mission, a crazy maniac, with, liowj ever a special eye for American officers and soldiers. Up to withiiv a short time ago, when salutary vengeance was wreaked on the men, some of them could be seen almost, every day in Jolo, a small town on 'Sulu Island, some distance from 'Davao, the capital of the) island. After the murder of Captain Mdridgo, an American officer, who wis butchered as ne walked down the street, it was decided that pronounced action was necessary, if the lives of the Europeans living on the island were to be preserved. ■ ' ' ANTIPATHY TO EUROPEANS. Of the population of Mindinao, estimated at about 500,000, iialf of them are said to be partially wild. A large proportion belong to the Visayos tribe, who are Christianised to some extent, but the remainder are Moros (Mohammedan Malays), with practically no religion, and one or two other tribes. The population of Sulu is about 51,389, under a Jiirltan, who acknowledged sovereignty to the United States in 1899.

The antipathy of tne Moros to those natives who have bwomc Christianised is. well known, and tlieir hatred of Europeans, particularly Americans, is vif an intense character. The natives of the island were well armed, ami after committing their atrial ties it was usual for them to retire tp their strongholds.

Their excursions into the town of Jolo became, so frequent and were so often attended by a trail of Wood that the Europeans at last made a practice of shooting every man in white in sight, but even this did not stop the fanatics in their murderous warfare, and as a last chance for them, General Persliing ordered that they should bring 1 in all their arms and ammunition by a certain day. To the command the Moro chiefs returned most insolent answers, and took up a defensive position in three "cattaos" or forts, about four miles away from Jolo. Their arms included machine guns, and they had plenty of ammunitI ion.

1 - THE BA'iTJjE, Central Pershing left Jolo overnight to attack the three strongholds. His force included an Bth infantry regimental section, two mountain batteries, some lignt artillery, and various companies of native scouts. In the course of a parley the general managed to get the Moros separated from tlieir women and children, as he did not wish to slaughter tile latter, and by means of a boat attack he surprised the enemy in an unexpected place. The -fighting, which was of a most stubborn nature, lasted all night and all next day. 'J..e Moros would not surrender, and they neither asked for or gave quarter. They stood in tlieir serried masses, rushed again and again on their hateful invaders, only to oe mowed down at times like corn before the deadly lire ot American artillerv.

General Pershing led tiie American attack in person, and with Captain Charlton distinguished himself for bravery during the progress of the battle. Two of the forts were captured on the first night of the fight, but the third took much longer, and it was not finally occupied until the next day. The Americans lost about 17 killed and jO wounded. The exact loss of the Moros was not fully known, but as their force was put down at tiO(X), ana no prisoners were taken, a fair estimate is that thousands of them were killed. Asked how it was that this news had not been received before, Mr White said the matter had been kept quiet in case of objections lsng made to the slaughter by people in America, and his information came from some of the >flicers who took part in the wattle. It was to be remembered also .that the is-

land of Mindanao, which was near to Borneo, was a very long way from Manila, Mr White adds that things were quiet when he left Davao.