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Originally Posted by migueldiaz
Yes, indeed.
And on a related matter, it is believed that it was the same seafaring Warays of Samar that made those routine attacks in southern China in the 12th century (in 'The Visayan Raiders of China Coast, 1174-1190 AD' by Efren Isorena, Phil. Quarterly of Culture & Society, June 2004). |
Interesting...never heard of that. I am gonna have to research more of this time. Thanks!
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Originally Posted by migueldiaz
Back to the more recent past, what's that US Marines unit again (early 1900s, and related to the Balangiga encounter) which suffered deaths while simply crossing those mountains of Samar on a patrol mission, due to the difficulties involved? |
The US Marine unit was under Maj Littleton Waller. Not sure on which detachment or which particular Marine unit.
-Going way off on a tangent here..sorry-
Waller was actually tried for executing in the town square his native guides from this expedition. During his trial is also where the controversial order by Gen Jacob Smith publically came out...to kill all natives over 10 years old and turn Samar in to a "howling wilderness"(retaliation and revenge for the Balangiga Massacre). Which became even a bigger stink in American papers and the US government...it fully eclipsed the Waller executions. Smith was quickly put to trial and was set to be charged; but after the trial he was given the choice to resign as Brigadier-General before facing sentence and a court-martial. Waller was also charged, but strangely enough was later acquitted. Waller(USMC) was being tried in a US Army court system. During that time, a court and trial of one military branch could not put to trial another soldier or officer of another branch. So automatically Wallers trial was considered void. Waller was never brought back to trial for the killing of these natives under the Naval court(Marines are under the Navy branch). Interesting being Waller was actually promoted to Colonel shortly after this controversy...I truly believe his promotion was due to this expedition and the respect the Marines had for this great accomplishment. The trek through Samar was the greatest expeditionary track of that era and made Waller a legend. Waller would go on to lead a very successful military career...fighting in WWI and ending his career with the rank of Major General. My brother, who was in the USMC, told me they mentioned this Samar expedition when they learned of Marine Corp lore and history during boot camp.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Littleton_Waller
You can read the basic overall story of Wallers expedition here.
http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/usmchist/samar.txt