Mike
21-01-2002, 14:17
LIGHTNING FROM THE CLOUDS:
THE U.S. ARMY AND THE MORO WARS
by Dirk deRoos
MAP AND UNIFORM DRAWINGS
BY GREG ROSE
THE MOROS IN 1900
The Moros were, and are the inhabitants of the Southern Philippine Islands (see picture 1 (http://www.dnai.com/~soongliu/SavageAndSoldier/articles/asia/MoroPic1.jpg), 2 (http://www.dnai.com/~soongliu/SavageAndSoldier/articles/asia/MoroPic2.jpg) ). A Malay Muslim warrior elite, in 1900 they numbered 300,000 persons and controlled Mindanao, the second largest of the Philippine Islands, together with a scattering of smaller islands to the south and west of Mindanao known as the Sulu Archipelage (see map (http://www.dnai.com/~soongliu/SavageAndSoldier/articles/asia/MoroMap.jpg)).
Polygamy and slaveholding were significant parts of Moro culture. All a Moro wanted was to be left alone to rob, plunder and fight. The rights for which Lt. Johnson believed the Moros were fighting were fairly straightforward:
The good old rule,
The simple plan,
That he should take who has the power,
And he should keep who can.
Those who denied him these "rights" were his enemies, and the Moro knew how to deal with an enemy in only one way. If the Americans wanted to abolish slavery let them come and try. The Moros were prepared to fight these new invaders as they had first fought the Spaniards nearly 400 years before. As General Pershing wrote in 1913, while still a captain in the Philippines:
The Moro is not at all over-awed or impressed by an overwhelming force. If he takes a notion to fight, it is regardless of the number of men he thinks are to be brought against him. You cannot bluff himÉ
The Spaniards had learned this the hard way. It was, in fact, the early Spaniards who gave them the name Moro, for "Moor" because of their intense Islamic faith. But culturally the Moros were Malays. Mixed with the blood of negro slaves, Filipino tribal hillmen, Chinese, and Dyak pirates the result was a unique and ferociously independent people.
The Moro's only real allegiance, besides his religion, was to his "datu" or chieftain. These "datus" ruled as feudal pirate princelings from numerous fortified "cottas" (i.e., villages) scattered throughout their island domains. The "datus" in turn recognized a general advisory authority in the Sultan of Sulu.
As befits the lair of a robber baron, the "cottas" were heavily fortified, sometimes built of stone, and bristling with old Spanish cannon and brass wall-guns known as "lantakas." A typical "cotta" would be nearly inaccessible wooden pallisaded village with open-walled thatched huts and perhaps a central one story loop-holed stone "keep." One of the huts was invariably used as a mosque. Earthworks frequently surrounded the village.
From these jungle and hill-country stronghold a "datu" would lead his warriors forth in raids upon his neighbors (who were in turn raiding him), or on any unwary travelers or foolish foreign interlopers.
Warfare was a fact of everyday life for the Moro. He was proud, vain, and fearless. And war was more than just a mere pastime. It often had religious overtones.
The Moros believed that one who takes the life of an infidel increases his own rewards in paradise. The more infidels killed the greater the rewards in paradise. One fortunate enough to be killed while slaughtering the enemies of the faithful was guaranteed immediate transportation to the Seventh Heaven.
From time to time a Moro desiring a short road to glory would bathe in a sacred stream or spring, shave off his eyebrows, and after dressing all in white would take a holy oath before the village priest to die killing infidels.
Such a "juramentado" (From the Spanish for one who has taken an oath) then hide a kris or barong under his clothes and sought the nearest town. Once inside he snatched his weapon from its concealment and ran amok slaughtering every living being in his path until he was killed. So long as the breath of life remained in him he fought on, hacking and stabbing.
An each time a "juramentado" died slaughtering enemies of the faith, his friends and relatives celebrated, and always saw, just at dusk, the departed hero riding by on a white horse bound for the abode of the blessed.
The weapons and physique of the Moros were particularly suited to this slash and hack school of combat. Moro men were of medium height, and their physical development was often superb. They dressed in tight pants or pantaloons, vest, jacket, sash and small tight turban. Chain mail and plumed helmets were also worn widely, especially by "datus." Rattan or woven fiber armor and hats, a legacy of the Dyak tribes, was sported by the less affluent Moro fighters. Their garments were gaudily colored, and often showily embroidered or ornamented in gold or contrasting colors. Clothing colors included pinks, purples, scarlets, blues, greens, and often contrasting stripes. "Juramentados" frequently dressed all in white, while it was common practice for warriors to don black trousers for fighting. One observer noted, however, a salient point about Moro dress and hygiene, "the more clothes a Moro wears the filthier he is."
All males age 16 or older went about armed constantly unless prevented from doing so by colonial authorities. The Moros made their own steel weapons, which were often beautifully finished, and always admirably adapted to the purpose for which they were intended.
In close combat they usually trusted to a "barong" &endash; a weapon somewhat like a butcher's meat cleaver with a thick back and a razor thin cutting edge. Normally only about 16-18" long, it was capable of inflicting fearful injuries. To lop off a head, arm, or leg with a barong was merely child's play. The strong and skillful warrior prided himself on being able to halve an opponent with a single blow.
The straight "kris" was a narrow bladed, 2-edge sword used for cutting and thrusting. The serpent kris with its wavy double-edged blade was used for thrusting and inflicting a horrible wound. The serpent kris was the classic Malay weapon.
Finally, Moros not infrequently used a straight edged, two-handed sword known as a "campilan." The blade was wide at the tip and narrowed steadily towards the hilt. It was used with great effect for cutting and hacking.
If he was headed for serious fighting the Moro might also carry a large, brightly painted circular shield of lightwood or a broad-headed lance.
The Moro was crazy to obtain firearms, but seldom succeeded. Guns ranged from antique matchlocks and trade muskets to captured Remingtons, Mausers, Springfields and Krags. Colonial authorities severely restricted the supply and ownership of firearms by any Filipino. Gunrunning, in fact, was a very serious offense. In any event, the Moro was an abysmal marksman, and often had no ammunition for captured modern rifles.
Tactics were simple &endash; ambush and rush. Once close enough to use his weapons a Moro was nearly unstoppable.
THE U.S. ARMY AND THE MORO WARS
by Dirk deRoos
MAP AND UNIFORM DRAWINGS
BY GREG ROSE
THE MOROS IN 1900
The Moros were, and are the inhabitants of the Southern Philippine Islands (see picture 1 (http://www.dnai.com/~soongliu/SavageAndSoldier/articles/asia/MoroPic1.jpg), 2 (http://www.dnai.com/~soongliu/SavageAndSoldier/articles/asia/MoroPic2.jpg) ). A Malay Muslim warrior elite, in 1900 they numbered 300,000 persons and controlled Mindanao, the second largest of the Philippine Islands, together with a scattering of smaller islands to the south and west of Mindanao known as the Sulu Archipelage (see map (http://www.dnai.com/~soongliu/SavageAndSoldier/articles/asia/MoroMap.jpg)).
Polygamy and slaveholding were significant parts of Moro culture. All a Moro wanted was to be left alone to rob, plunder and fight. The rights for which Lt. Johnson believed the Moros were fighting were fairly straightforward:
The good old rule,
The simple plan,
That he should take who has the power,
And he should keep who can.
Those who denied him these "rights" were his enemies, and the Moro knew how to deal with an enemy in only one way. If the Americans wanted to abolish slavery let them come and try. The Moros were prepared to fight these new invaders as they had first fought the Spaniards nearly 400 years before. As General Pershing wrote in 1913, while still a captain in the Philippines:
The Moro is not at all over-awed or impressed by an overwhelming force. If he takes a notion to fight, it is regardless of the number of men he thinks are to be brought against him. You cannot bluff himÉ
The Spaniards had learned this the hard way. It was, in fact, the early Spaniards who gave them the name Moro, for "Moor" because of their intense Islamic faith. But culturally the Moros were Malays. Mixed with the blood of negro slaves, Filipino tribal hillmen, Chinese, and Dyak pirates the result was a unique and ferociously independent people.
The Moro's only real allegiance, besides his religion, was to his "datu" or chieftain. These "datus" ruled as feudal pirate princelings from numerous fortified "cottas" (i.e., villages) scattered throughout their island domains. The "datus" in turn recognized a general advisory authority in the Sultan of Sulu.
As befits the lair of a robber baron, the "cottas" were heavily fortified, sometimes built of stone, and bristling with old Spanish cannon and brass wall-guns known as "lantakas." A typical "cotta" would be nearly inaccessible wooden pallisaded village with open-walled thatched huts and perhaps a central one story loop-holed stone "keep." One of the huts was invariably used as a mosque. Earthworks frequently surrounded the village.
From these jungle and hill-country stronghold a "datu" would lead his warriors forth in raids upon his neighbors (who were in turn raiding him), or on any unwary travelers or foolish foreign interlopers.
Warfare was a fact of everyday life for the Moro. He was proud, vain, and fearless. And war was more than just a mere pastime. It often had religious overtones.
The Moros believed that one who takes the life of an infidel increases his own rewards in paradise. The more infidels killed the greater the rewards in paradise. One fortunate enough to be killed while slaughtering the enemies of the faithful was guaranteed immediate transportation to the Seventh Heaven.
From time to time a Moro desiring a short road to glory would bathe in a sacred stream or spring, shave off his eyebrows, and after dressing all in white would take a holy oath before the village priest to die killing infidels.
Such a "juramentado" (From the Spanish for one who has taken an oath) then hide a kris or barong under his clothes and sought the nearest town. Once inside he snatched his weapon from its concealment and ran amok slaughtering every living being in his path until he was killed. So long as the breath of life remained in him he fought on, hacking and stabbing.
An each time a "juramentado" died slaughtering enemies of the faith, his friends and relatives celebrated, and always saw, just at dusk, the departed hero riding by on a white horse bound for the abode of the blessed.
The weapons and physique of the Moros were particularly suited to this slash and hack school of combat. Moro men were of medium height, and their physical development was often superb. They dressed in tight pants or pantaloons, vest, jacket, sash and small tight turban. Chain mail and plumed helmets were also worn widely, especially by "datus." Rattan or woven fiber armor and hats, a legacy of the Dyak tribes, was sported by the less affluent Moro fighters. Their garments were gaudily colored, and often showily embroidered or ornamented in gold or contrasting colors. Clothing colors included pinks, purples, scarlets, blues, greens, and often contrasting stripes. "Juramentados" frequently dressed all in white, while it was common practice for warriors to don black trousers for fighting. One observer noted, however, a salient point about Moro dress and hygiene, "the more clothes a Moro wears the filthier he is."
All males age 16 or older went about armed constantly unless prevented from doing so by colonial authorities. The Moros made their own steel weapons, which were often beautifully finished, and always admirably adapted to the purpose for which they were intended.
In close combat they usually trusted to a "barong" &endash; a weapon somewhat like a butcher's meat cleaver with a thick back and a razor thin cutting edge. Normally only about 16-18" long, it was capable of inflicting fearful injuries. To lop off a head, arm, or leg with a barong was merely child's play. The strong and skillful warrior prided himself on being able to halve an opponent with a single blow.
The straight "kris" was a narrow bladed, 2-edge sword used for cutting and thrusting. The serpent kris with its wavy double-edged blade was used for thrusting and inflicting a horrible wound. The serpent kris was the classic Malay weapon.
Finally, Moros not infrequently used a straight edged, two-handed sword known as a "campilan." The blade was wide at the tip and narrowed steadily towards the hilt. It was used with great effect for cutting and hacking.
If he was headed for serious fighting the Moro might also carry a large, brightly painted circular shield of lightwood or a broad-headed lance.
The Moro was crazy to obtain firearms, but seldom succeeded. Guns ranged from antique matchlocks and trade muskets to captured Remingtons, Mausers, Springfields and Krags. Colonial authorities severely restricted the supply and ownership of firearms by any Filipino. Gunrunning, in fact, was a very serious offense. In any event, the Moro was an abysmal marksman, and often had no ammunition for captured modern rifles.
Tactics were simple &endash; ambush and rush. Once close enough to use his weapons a Moro was nearly unstoppable.