Massacre in the Clouds by Kim A. Wagner

Author:Kim A. Wagner [WAGNER, KIM A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PublicAffairs
Published: 2024-05-07T00:00:00+00:00

However, the attempt to bribe Adam to let the Americans reach the summit would most definitely have resulted in a fight, and Wood did not seem to understand that the Moro chiefs used as intermediaries had long since given up on negotiating with their former followers.14 Wood nevertheless insisted that the Moros “had had ample opportunity to surrender, and knew absolutely that they would be received unharmed if they did so.” Considering the precedent set during the punitive campaigns of preceding years, this was again a rather liberal interpretation of the facts. Although the Americans as a rule encouraged women and children to surrender before attacking a cotta, they did not give any quarter once the fighting started. Wood’s claim was also not borne out by the events at Bud Dajo.

Another instance of blatant dishonesty on the part of Wood was his assertion regarding the killing of women and children: “It was learned that a number of women and children had been killed. I inspected a portion of the rim of the crater, but saw no women or children among the dead, although I know a number were killed.” Yet Kann’s photos clearly show women among the dead in the trenches on the southern summit, as well as Wood himself being present just nearby (see figures 12 and 14). Wood noted that “this, although very regrettable, was unavoidable” and repeated his earlier claim that the women had been indistinguishable from the men and were simply caught in the line of fire—yet again ignoring the actual circumstances of the assault.

Having completed the report, Wood went to see Ide, as he noted in his diary: “Called on Governor-General at half past 4 and suggested to him the propriety of the Commission either approving or disapproving the action of the troops, and presented my report to him.”15 Wood effectively presented Ide with a fait accompli. Ide and the commission could hardly disapprove of an action that the US president had already commended, and Wood thus effectively forced the governor-general to publicly state his support and endorse the account presented in the report. It had been a busy day for Wood, but he still found time that evening to send a telegram to Secretary of War Taft suggesting that Major Scott, who was then in the US, would be able to provide “more detailed information concerning facts leading to Mount Dajo fight.”16 At this point, Taft and Wood were working closely together, on both sides of the Pacific, to mobilize support and make sure that the story could be contained.

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