Documents the early twentieth-century battle against Muslim insurgents in the southern Philippines, discussing the fierce debates between military supporters and peace advocates while offering insight into the challenges faced by U.S. forces and the contributions of future general John Pershing.

"It had been two and a half difficult years since General Douglas MacArthur had reluctantly obeyed a presidential order to abandon his American and Filipino forces on the Bataan Peninsula and slip away to Australia to organize the Allied resistance. From Australia, he had famously vowed to return to liberate the Philippines. And the people had believed his vow, their faith in him almost spiritual. Believers snuck out at night to paint his words on...