Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-12-14
lot a vessel was materially injured. For

tige of invincibility thereby attached to
our arms, which continued throughout the
Manila under the command of Mai Gen.
Merritt and firmly established within sight
OF the capital, which lay helpless before
government was advised Officially Of the the
victory of Manila, and at once inquired of
the commander Of our fleet what troops
received on the 18th Of May, and the the first Il st
army expedition sailed May 25 and ar
rived off Manila June 80. Other expeditions
of GAL officers and 1868 men.
Following the comprehensive scheme of
general attack powerful forces were as
sembled at various points on our coast to
invade Cuba and Porto Rico. Meanwhile
naval demonstrations were made at several
WRnpe 9ns na orp My Bat the W FsssT
were unsuccessful in an attempt to silence
the batteries at Cardenas, against Matan-
Rgsy and fGur f
CURED during our naval operations in this
extraordinary conflict.
Advance of Cervera's Fleet.
Meanwhile the Spanish naval prepara-
lions had been pushed with great yigor. A
powerful squadron under Admiral Cervera,
which had assembled at the Cape Verde
had crossed the ocean and by its erratic
movements In the Caribbean sea delayed
our military operations while battling the
felt lest the Oregon and Marietta, then
nearing home after their long voyage from
San Francisco of over $4,000 miles. might
but their fortunate arrival dispelled these
apprehensiOns and lent much needed reen-
forcements. Not until Admiral Cervera
Cuba about May was it practicable to
plan systematic military attack upon the
Antillean possessions of Spain.
coasts Of CUBA ana Porto Rico in pr e rae
ton for the larger event Or Nay l2 the
Schleys squadron bombarded the forts
guarding the mouth Of Santiago harbor.
Neither attack had any material result. It
tons were indispensable to achieve de-
cisive advantage.
Hobson's Band of Heroes.
The next act in the war thrilled not alone
the hearts of our countrymen but the world
Of June Lieut.. Hobson. aided by seven
devoted volunteers. blocked the narrow
outlet from Santiago harbor by sinking the
fierce fire from the shore batteries escap-
ing with their lives as by a miracle, but
falling into the hands of the spaniards. It
that the bravery Of this little band Of
heroes was cordially appreciated by the
spaniards, who sent flag Of truce to notify
compliment them on their daring act. They
were subsequently exchanged July7
Fall of Guantanamo.
BY June the cutting of the last Cuban
cable isolated the island. Thereafter the
June 10, under a heavy protecting fire,
landing of 600 marines from the Oregon,
Marblehead and Yankee was effected in
mined to establish naval Station. This
important and essential port was taken
from the enemy after severe fighting by
OF the the 1s
The position so won was held, despite des-
perate attempts to dislodge our forces: BY
June Is additional forces were landed and
vance of the invading army under Maj.
Gen. Shafter landed at BaiQuiri. about Is
miles east of Santiago: This was accom-
marvellous dispatch.
The Santiago Campaign.
, On June % the movement against San
tiago was begun: On the Path the first Sc
FlG n1s engagement a took place in which the
United States volunteer cavalry, Gen
Young's brigade Of Gen. Wheeler's division
participated, losing heavily. BY nightfall
tiago was won. The advantage was stead
lily increased. On July /, severe battle
took place, our forces gaining the out
and San Juan were taken after a desperate
charge, and the investment of the city was
completed. The navy cooperated by shell
ing the town and the coast forts.
Sinking of the Spanish Fleet.
On the day. following this brilliant
occurred the decisive naval combat Of the
war. The Spanish fleet, attempting to
Leave the the har6or, was met by the American
Sampson. In less than three hours all the
Spanish ships were destroyed. the two
t taI"sl boats being sunk, AND the Maria
Cristobal Colon driven ashore. The Span
ish admiral and over 1900 men were taken
prisoners. while the enemy's loss was de-
our side but one man was killed, On the
wounded. Although our ships were re-
peatedly struck, not one was seriously in
jured: Where all so conspicuously dis
tinguished themselves, from the command
ers to the gunners and the unnamed heroes
ing toward the achievement of this as
founding victory, for which neither an
Gent nor modern history affords parallel
marvellous disprOportlOn of casualties, 1t
would be invidio4s to single out any for
especial honor. Deserved promotion has
nations profoundest gratitude Is due to all
of those brave men who by their skill and
devotion In few short hours crushed the
whose decisiveness and far-reaching con-
sequences can scarcely be measured. Nor
can we pc unIu1ndtul OF the achievements
of our builders, mechanics, and artisans
for their skill in the construction Of our
Warships.
With the catastrophe Of Santiago spain's
effort upon the ocean virtually ceased. *
spasmodic effort toward the end of June
to send her Mediterranean fleet under Ad-
miral Camara to relieve Manila was
abandoned, the expedition being recalled
after It had passed through the Suez
canal.
Capture of SANTIAGO.
The capitulation of Santiago followed.
The city was closely besieged by land, while
the entrance of our ships into the harbor
to allow Of the removal of noncombatants
protracted negotiations continued from
July until July Is, when, under menace
of immediate assault the preliminaries Of
surrender were agreed upon. On the 18th
Gen. Shafter occupied the city. The capitu-
lation embraced the entire eastern end Of
Cuba. The number of Spanish soldiers sur
rendered was 1000, all of whom were sub
sequently conveyed to Spain at the charge
OF the United States.
Occupation of Porto Rico.
With the fall of Santiago, the occupation
of Porto Rico became the next strategic
necessity. Gen. Miles had previously beer
assigned to organize an expedition for that
purpose. Fortunately he was already at
Santiago, where he had arrived on the 18th
of July, with reenforcements for Gen.
Skaters army. With these troops, consist
ing of 3,415 infantry and artillery, two COM
panies OF engineers and one company of
the signal corps, Gen. Miles left Guantana-
mo on July q, having nine transports con-