The Battle of Bayan and Other Battles — John Shaqi
The Battle of Bayan and Other BattlesAllen, James Edgar
History
The Battle of Bayan and Other Battles
Allen, James Edgar
Philippines -- History -- 1898-1946; United States. Army -- History
Oh! the grandeur of that last few moments' bombardment! Not a shell went
astray; the parapet received them all full in the face. In one great
explosion the Moros stood and fired, in one atmosphere of blasted air
and filthy fumes, in one terrible shadow of the coming darkness, in one
continual earthquake. They seemed to go mad, as well they might, for
annihilation loomed in the distance for those who yet remained. As the
soldiers of America drew nearer, many of the Moros actually leaped from
their cover on to the top of the parapet and were seen against the sky
background, wildly firing down at the advancing troops, in the very
midst of the bursting shells.
Hell was surely let loose on those dusky fanatics who manned the
portholes of Pandapatan. Truly, war _is_ hell!
They fought with a fanatical frenzy, but nothing on earth could stop
that line of advancing, invincible soldiers. Up they went, until at
last, it became necessary for the artillery to cease firing.
The troops reached the very walls, and there remained, for entrance was
impossible.
However, after fighting hand to hand until dark, the outer trenches were
taken. With the capture of these trenches the enemy's position was
practically won. But the Moros did not yet give up; on the contrary they
made preparations to resist to the death. They had sworn to die in
battle, and they were admirably carrying out the oath.
SUFFERINGS OF THE WOUNDED.
Darkness had fallen now and it began to rain in torrents. Night fell
terribly for the wounded out there. That awful cry, "Doctor! This way.
Help!" can be heard to this day. It continued throughout the night, but
not in vain, for the artillerymen were out there all night carrying the
wounded off the field and rendering valuable aid to the surgeons. These
men worked like heroes every one, and deserve the greatest credit for
the magnificent gallantry shown during that terrible night's work while
under a constant fire from the enemy.
THE DEFIANT SULTAN'S DOWNFALL.
It seemed that a difficult problem lay before the Americans that night.
It was proposed that a number of scaling ladders be made and that the
place be carried by assault. Accordingly, construction on these ladders
was begun at once, but they were destined never to be used, for at
daylight the white flags were fluttering over the fort and Pandapatan
had fallen.
A GRUESOME SIGHT.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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