Pretty Nasty Action in the Philippines

[Whig]

Good thing these soldiers had their Krags! I read through an article about the Philippine Insurrection and was shocked at the terrible killing and insurgent activity against the American soldiers throughout that region. The insurgents would attack Americans and chop off their heads with Bolos. The Americans executed many insurgents and hanged them or killed many with water torture. They killed one insurgent priest who had helped set up an attack on American soldiers using sacrificial wine from his church. Later, at a military hearing about all of these brutal killings and torture, the response was that these insurgents who were killing American soldiers were not human, they were savages and deserved to be killed.

There were also many black regiments used during this war in some of the terrible tropical regions that were rife with tropical diseases that frequently killed Americans. There was an unusual far-reaching belief that blacks were immune to these tropical diseases that were common in these jungles and were the best soldiers to fight. They were called "immune regiments". Of course, this was not true. Fascinating history our country lived through.

But, they had their Krags and fought hard. I'm not a war historian and was amazed at this information and the pictures. No wonder so many of these soldiers were messed up when they returned home to America.

[Whig]

More pictures...

[waterman]

As I understand it, the war with the insurrectos went on long after the Krags were replaced. Many islands, lots of people. I don't think the Moslem people in the south and west ever quit resisting.

[butlersrangers]

War is ugly. Some wars are uglier than others, with torture, ghastly brutality, clashes of cultures & religions, and immense collateral damage.

"Our Little Brown Brothers" were actually a complex mix of tribes and ethnic groups. None of which desired to be a colony of a European or American power.

Aspects, magnitude, and location of Philippine warfare changed after the capture of Aguinaldo, in March 1901. U.S. control of Luzon became stable after some insurrectionist hold-outs surrendered or were assassinated in 1902.

During 1901 and 1902, hostilities shifted south to Visayas and Samar Island.
A massacre of U.S. Troops at the village of Balangiga led to U.S. Army and Marines retaliating with horrific reprisals,
that made 'Samar Howl' and outraged some of the American and World public.

'The Moro Wars' (1902-1913), were fought on the southern islands of Mindanao and Jolo, against Muslim bands.
(The Moros had by agreement with the U.S., refrained from joining the Insurrection).
These early agreements had tolerated Moro slavery (and probably piracy) and were 'revised', around 1902.

The Muslim Moros were a terrible opponent, expecting no 'quarter'. They used drugs, bindings, and armor, in preparation for their suicidal 'Juramentado' attacks,
against U.S. outposts.
The Moro hold-outs were only defeated through incredible battles, that exterminated them in volcanic mountain refuges. Philippine Scouts and Constabulary played a role in the defeat of the Moros.

U.S. Soldiers and State Volunteers were embroiled in at least 15 years of continuous warfare in the Philippines, to achieve a degree of 'Pacification'.

(It should be noted that Funston's locating and capturing Aguinaldo on Luzon, was aided when Insurrectionist correspondence was intercepted, by a patrol led by Lt. Parker Hitt, while 'Hiking through the Philippines', in 1901).

[butlersrangers]

Political PR and Damage Control?

During the 1904 - St. Louis World's Fair, 200 members of the Philippine Constabulary and 500 Philippine Scouts, including their Bands, entertained the Public Visitors.

There was also a Philippine Village to showcase aspects of the new 'American Possession'.

Photos of the Constables and Scouts show them initially armed with 'Trapdoor' carbines and bolos.
Eventually, they appear to have been rearmed with Krag cavalry carbines, during performances at the Fair.

It appears to have been a bit of a 'dog & pony show' to sell the Public on the progress of 'Civilization'.

[butlersrangers]

Attached photo: Jolo island - 1st Battle of Bud Dajo - in 1906.

How do you cope with being involved in a battle with sights like this?

Maybe, posing with captured items, hugging a dog, boating or nurturing a child?

[butlersrangers]

Before 'radio', the heliograph offered rapid communications, with adequate Sunlight.

Hotchkiss 3-inch 'mountain gun' likely during preparations for 'Sulu Expedition', circa 1905.

The gun could be disassembled and transported by three mules. It did great execution against Moro strongholds.

The 'rope brake' did little to tame recoil. Apparently the B.L. Hotchkiss mountain gun was known to 'flip' on occasion!

(It was probably a therapeutic escape to personalize one's hat).

[ebruce]

It's 8AM on Saturday morning. I'm about to start my second mug of coffee. And, have just finished again reading this post and replies. Appreciate post and responses. Hope there will be further updates. Sincerely. bruce.

[Dick Hosmer]

Re "bodies" photo - woman, or heat bloat?

[butlersrangers]

Men, women and children, these Moros were not surrendering. It was like Masada in ancient Israel.

The Moros felt they were in an impregnable 'fortress', at elevation, in the bowl of an extinct volcano.

"Moros are always Moros" - Parker Hitt