Bells.

This is coolbert:

Bells of St. Mary's this is not!

From the New York Times and the article by Richard C. Paddock.

Trophies of war to be returned!

"U.S. Set to Return Philippine Bells That Once Tolled to Mark a Massacre"

"BANGKOK — The American soldiers were eating breakfast in Balangiga’s town square when Filipino villagers, including men disguised in dresses, attacked them with bolo knives. Forty-eight Americans died."

A monument [American soldiers as depicted in bronze], foreground, in Balangiga’s town plaza depicting the breakfast scene in 1901 when Filipino soldiers attacked American soldiers. Credit image: Jes Aznar for The New York Times

Unarmed American soldiers attacked without a whole lot of provocation. The mere presence of these American foreigners was enough to cause the Filipino to attack?

Troops unarmed at the behest of their commander. That officer-in-charge not wanting to create "an incident".

Those bells the significance of which not made totally clear. Ringing loud and clear and to the initiated [Filipino] signalling the attack to commence! Now you know the rest of the story.

coolbert.