e was a yelling crowd of Moros
beating their gongs, rushing to and fro, flourishing their weapons,
and firing their _lantaca_ cannon towards the Americans; but the
range was too great to have any effect. The artillery was brought into
action, forcing many of the Moros to try their fortunes in the open;
but again and again they were repulsed, and by nightfall the Bacolod
ridge was occupied by the troops. The next morning the mortars were
brought into play, and shells were dropped into the fort during all
that day and night. On the third day Captain Pershing decided to storm
the fort; bridges were constructed across the ravines, Maxim guns
poured shot through the loopholes, and finally an assault party of
10 men rushed across the bridge and climbed the parapet, where they
were met by the Moros, with whom they had a desperate hand-to-hand
fight. It was a fine display of American pluck. The attacking party
was quickly supported by more troops, who either killed or captured
the defenders. Finally all the combustible portion of the fort was
burnt to the ground, 12 cannon were captured, and about 60 Moros
were slain. The demolition of Bacolod fort was a great surprise to
the Moros, who had considered it impregnable, whilst the defeat of
the savage Sultan (the _Panandungan_) destroyed for ever his former
unlimited prestige among the tribe. The force was then divided, and
before the troops reached camp again there were several smaller fights,
including the bombardment of Calahui _cotta_. The distance traversed by
this expedition was about 80 miles, the American losses being one man
killed and two officers and 14 men wounded. For this signal victory the
War Department cabled its thanks to Captain J. J. Pershing on May 11.

As to the management of the Moros, Captain J. J. Pershing expresses
the following just opinion, viz.:--"As far as is consistent with
advancement, a government by a Sultan, or a _Datto_, as the case may
be, should be disturbed as little as possible; that is, the people
should be managed through the _Dattos_ themselves," etc. [250]

The last general in command of the District of Mindanao, prior to the
present constitution of the Moro Province, was Brig.-General Samuel
Sumner, who, just before his departure therefrom, wrote as follows,
viz.:--"Murder and robbery will take place as long as we are in the
country, at least for years to come. The Moro is a savage, and has no
idea of law and order _as we understand it