FIGHTING IN PHILIPPINES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16378, 11 March 1924, Page 9

FIGHTING IN PHILIPPINES.

I HEAVY BOMBARDMENT, j BAN FRANCISCO, Feb. s.—After a ■ bombardment 'bv the American cruiser j Sacramento of the- entrenched Coloraims, a fanatical Filipino organisation, at Socorro on Bunas Island, Colonel Bowers a-nd ouei hundred constabularymen effected a landing and charged the natives under a barrage fire laid down by the wav vessel, in truly Great War fashion, reminiseeni of determined fighting in Flanders. Because of difficulty of defence and reembarkation in case of bad weather, Colonel Bowers ordered the town burned and returned to the Sacramento with his mem. One constabularyman was killed in the engagement. The extent of the OoTorums’ casualties was unknown, hut two dead and two seriously burned were later Found in the destroyed town’s shambles. Colonel Bowers subsequently establish, ed a temporary station at, Consolaeion, thus cutting the fanatics off from Siragao Island, where their depredations started with the slaving of 19 constabularyinw. A ba-so was established at Dapa. from which point detachments easily covered Northern Siragao, where several Coloirum bands have been causing trouble. A third company of the constabulary established a station at Parnossingan to prevent the fanatics from crossing to the mainland of Mindanao. Colonel Bowers reported to headquarters in Manila that it was inadvisable: to attempt to penetrate to the interior o.f ihe island. There was a. recrudescence of trouble at Binalbagin sugar central, where Filipinos armed with holes invaded the plant. Manager Charles Koc'her was attacked, but with the. aid of bystanders fought off his bloodthirsty assailants. The American managers of the sugar central were discharged by the Filipino directors who recently took over thc property, hut, according to reports received in Manila, Superintendent Carmichael and his staff refused to accept dismissal and continued to operate thc plant with the Filipino planters in an angry mood. The general situation in the Philippines became so serious that one hundred additional constabula.rymen under Major Velasques left for Siragao and it was stated that should further reinforcements bo necessary, regular troops possibly would foe employed to quell the disturbances in the territory. The trouble apepared to bo more widespread than was at first 'believed. Senator Garin, in the Philippine Senate severely denounced Colonel Bowers for burning Socorro, which he declared was unjustified and unlawful. He intimated the trouble had got beyond' religious fanaticism and ignorance! and asserted that the masses might have been incensed over the tactics of the constabulary. Tt. was known, however, llia.t the insular authorities did not resort- to force until after all peaceful means had been exhausted.