Chapter VII: In the Philippines

THE supreme testing of Pershing up to this time in his career came in the Philippines. There he was dealing with a strange people who for three centuries had learned their lessons and formed their opinions of the white men from their contact and dealings with the Spaniards, of whom they had seen chiefly the adventurers or those who for the "good of their country" had fled from their homes. To such men the exploitation of the "natives" was a legitimate game and the little brown men had thoroughly learned to play their part in it.

The provinces in which Pershing was to find his field of activity were as difficult as any in the islands. For years the natives had been accustomed to import arms from Borneo and elsewhere. Certain of the tribes were famous also for their skill as forgers of swords, krises and barongs. Every datto had numbers of lantaka or brass cannon and was well skilled in the use of them. Pershing's problem was not only to subdue these men,--farmers, artificers and all alike fighters after their own manner, but he must also at the same time convince them of the good will and helpful intentions of the new Government, which for a time and for their own good was now to control them. Naturally suspicious, treacherous in many ways, the Islands presented difficulties that well might have staggered the young officer.

General Pershing's first term of service in the Philippines was from 1899 to 1903. In the interval between his first and second terms of service as soldier and governor in the Islands, he was back in the United States to serve on the General Staff and also was serving as military attache in the army of General Kuroki in the war between Russia and Japan.

In his first years in the Philippines his work was of a character that made him known to the Army and to the authorities at Washington, but it did not make him widely known to his countrymen.

Briefly stated, his record during his two terms of service in the Philippines is as follows: he was in the field November, 1900, to March, 1901, against General Capistrano, the commander of the insurrectionary forces; he was in command of an expedition against the hostile Moros of Maciu, starting from Camp Vicars, Mindanao, September 18, 1902. In the actions at Guam, September 18, and at Bayabao, September 20, 1902, he had a responsible part. On September 29, 1902, he captured Fort Moru, driving the Moros from that Peninsula on that date. He attacked the Moros at Maciu, September 30, 1902, capturing their two forts and then returned to Camp Vicars October 3, 1902. He was again in action at Bacolod, April 6-8, 1903, and again at Calabui April 9, 1903, and Iaraca River, May 4, 1903. He commanded the first military force that ever encircled Lake Lanao.

In May, 1902, General Chaffee was desirous of securing a young leader to deal with the troublesome and specific problem in the province of Zamboanga, where the fierce and turbulent little Moros dwelt. Many of these people were Mohammedans and had been taught that the swiftest and surest way to secure happiness in the next world was by the slaughter of Christians in this present world. During 300 years they had fought the Spanish invaders, whose every attempt to subdue them had failed.

Pershing in command of five troops of the Fifteenth Cavalry, together with a battery of artillery, a company of engineers and a battalion of the Twenty-seventh Infantry, was stationed at Camp Vicars in the Lake Lanao District of Mindanao. He had taken the place made vacant by the promotion of Colonel Baldwin.

Although the Americans had obtained a foothold on the southern side of Lake Lanao, very few of them had actually become friendly. In fact the Spaniards, in all the years of their occupation, had never subdued the main tribes to subordination.

Among those who especially defied the American authority was the Sultan of Bacalan and 600 of his followers who occupied a stronghold on the western side of Lake Lanao from which they made almost daily forays. Walls of earth and bamboo some 20 feet in thickness had been added to the natural defenses of the position they selected. A moat 40 feet wide and 30 feet deep surrounded the position. The defenders thought it was proof against any possible attack. Friendly overtures failed to make an impression upon their leaders, and their cotta was finally surrounded and their surrender demanded. Still confident of their prowess, they declined to accede to the American Commander's demands and the latter was compelled to assault this strong fortification. Accordingly trees were felled and used to make a crossing over the moat and when all was in readiness the place was taken in a fierce hand-to-hand encounter between the Americans and the Moros. The American success was complete and a severe lesson was taught to Moros in that region. General Pershing completed the conquest of Mindanao Moros by marching his command entirely around Lake Lanao through the dense jungles and swamps bordering the lake.

As a matter of interest several reports made by General Pershing on his work in the Philippines follow, and some in which reference is made to him by certain of his superior officers at that time.

In the later reports sent by Pershing there is manifest the same painstaking carefulness and thorough understanding of his task. He makes recommendations concerning the distribution of the troops in the Philippines, goes into detail about the necessity and the location of cold storage plants, and has positive convictions as to what changes ought to be made in the Subsistence Department. Certain posts also ought to be made permanent. He clearly presents the reasons leading to his conclusions.

Annual Report of the Lieutenant General commanding
the Army--1901

The command left Cagayan, December 16th, under
Major Case, accompanied by Major J. J. Pershing,
adjutant general, department of Mindanao and
Jolo.

In a narrow gorge 800 feet deep formed by the
river the insurgents were found in three strongly
constructed forts which our troops attacked
without loss. The enemy must have suffered
severely, but his loss was not ascertained. Two
cannon fell into our hands. The 18th and 19th of
December were consumed in surrounding the
stronghold of Maxajambos by gaining a position
commanding Langaran to the south of Maxajambos.
Langaran, which was the headquarters of the
insurgents, was entered on the 20th and
considerable quantity of provisions, ammunitions
of war, cuartels, etc., were found and destroyed.
The insurrectos had made good their escape under
cover of darkness.

On the 28th, the insurgents were discovered a mile
and a half south of Langaran occupying a strong
position which our troops succeeded in reaching
and the enemy was forced to retreat in disorder.
The command then moved on to Talacao but was not
met by any resistance. Such buildings as had been
used by the insurgents for storehouses, etc., were
destroyed as well as supplies. One prisoner was
taken. The surrounding country was thoroughly
scouted without encountering any enemy force. The
troops returned to Cagayan the 31st of December.

From the report of Captain James J. Mays, 40th Infantry, concerning the attack on Cagayan, December 16th to 25th, 1900:

He reports, "late in the afternoon of December
17th insurgents concealed in the brush fired on
horses that were being watered in the canyon. Major
Pershing, who was with the command, took fifteen
men on one bluff and I took about the same number
on another and poured volleys into the canyon,
firing at smoke from insurgent pieces, silencing
their fire. I think we killed some of them, but do
not know. The following morning Major Pershing
crossed the river and joined Captain Millar.
Captain Millar threw shells into Maxajambos and
signaled that the place seemed deserted. During
the day I kept patrols on the plateau. Senor Cruz
came out on the morning of this day and I sent him
to Captain Millar. I questioned him about the plan
of cutting through the timber. He said he never
heard of anyone getting through there and that it
would be very difficult on account of the canyon,
and also that it would end on top of a cliff 400
or 500 feet high. I concluded not to attempt it."

To the Headquarters Department of Mindanao and Jolo.
Cagayan de Misamis, P. I.
February 2, 1901.
The Commanding Officer, Provincial District of Mindanao
and Jolo.

SIR: I am instructed by the department commander
to advise you that General Capistrano, commanding
the insurgent forces in Northern Mindanao, has
signified his wish to meet the department
commander in conference and to direct that you
take whatever measures are possible to insure his
safe conduct accompanied by his staff and that of
any tribes with a pass signed by the commanding
general and countersigned by the adjutant general.
Patrols and expeditionary forces need not be
suspended but should be warned to be at special
pains not to molest unresisting parties of natives
and to take special care not to interfere with
individuals or squadrons, to indicate that their
mission is peaceful.

Very respectfully,
J. J. PERSHING,
Assistant Adjutant General.

To the Headquarters Department of Mindanao and Jolo.
Cagayan de Misamis, P. I.
February 28, 1901.
To the Commanding Officer, 1st District of Mindanao and
Jolo.

SIR: I am instructed by the Department commander
to invite your attention to the fact that there
are at this place ten prisoners of war either now
or recently officers in the insurgent forces. With
one or two exceptions these officers have
voluntarily surrendered one at a time and have
been induced to do so with a distinct
understanding that they would not be closely
confined or otherwise molested so long as they
refrained from all conduct which might be
construed as hostile to the United States.

It is understood that most of these have severed
their connections with the insurgent forces and
have thrown up their appointments as officers.

You will please assemble these men, give them
strict, but fair limits of arrest, extending in no
case beyond the limits of the town of Cagayan de
Misamis and inform them that any violation of
their obligations as prisoners of war, however
slight, will be followed by immediate arrest and
deportation from the Philippine Islands to Guam;
also that they are to report daily in a body at a
stated hour to the Provost Marshal.

The Department Commander further directs that you
assemble all the more prominent citizens of this
and adjoining towns who are known or suspected of
being in sympathy with the insurgents and inform
them that they must refrain absolutely from giving
aid or comfort to them and without communicating
with the insurgent forces in any manner under
penalty of immediate arrest and deportation.

In carrying out the terms of this order you are
directed to exercise considerable vigilance and
the most drastic vigor.

Very respectfully,
J. J. PERSHING,
Assistant Adjutant General.