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(From the Straits Times Extra, March 11, [1848].) By the arrival here on Monday night of the Spanish war-steamer Reina de Castilla, particulars have been received of a most gallant attack on the Balangigni Pirates. On one or two occasions the Governor-General of Manila had written to the Sultan of Sooloo to exterminate the pirates at Balangigni, but the Sultan having neglected to do so, the Spanish Government very properly undertook the task, and has ably performed it. The Manila authorities resolved to punish the pirates who for years have made descents on the coast of Luconia and carried away into captivity Spanish subjects. The expedition left Manila February 5th, [1848]. The Spanish expedition comprised : On arrival at the chief haunt of the pirates, the Island Balangigni, the place was taken by assault, after a most obstinate and daring resistance, the work of extermination continuing from February 15th to the 25th. Two fortresses, ably defended, were assaulted and taken. The attacking force lost one infantry captain, and twenty privates slain, also ten officers and one hundred and fifty men were wounded. Of the pirates more than four hundred and fifty men were killed ; their resistance was most determined - in vain were they offered quarter - they resolved to perish. At one of the forts assaulted, called Sippac, the pirates finding no chance of escape, commenced slaying their wives and children lest they should fall into the hands of their attackers ; on this the General Commanding interposed, and humanely saved three hundred women and children who were about being put to death with the kris. About two hundred slaves were liberated, some of whom were taken from the Philippines about two years previously, others were Dutch subjects ; the General Commanding offered to convey the latter to Java, but they preferred to go on to Manila. The Spanish took one hundred and twenty-four guns, chiefly brass ; also fired and destroyed about one hundred and fifty piratical prows - called pancos and vintas - razed seven villages and four fortresses called Balangigni, Sungap, Sippac, and Bucontingal. About seven thousand or eight thousand cocoa-nut trees were also destroyed, and all possible means employed to render the island unfit for habitation. Some of the pirates managed to escape, favoured by the occurrence of a severe storm of wind ; but we have reason to believe that the pirates of the island of Balangigni have been annihilated. Great praise is due to the Spanish for the manner in which the expedition was carried out. The above, which is authentic, is all that we have received on the subject. SG & SGTL ; 20 May 1848 ; Pages 114-5. ^ back to top ^ |