The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-06

SdBellenLS lea0lQE TO the surrender OF
Santiago, while the prompt movements
ana successive victories won instant
and universal applause. To those who
gained this complete triumph, which
has been the ascendancy of the United
States upon land as the fight off San
tlago had fixed our supremacy on The
seas, the earnest, and large gratitude
of the nation is unsparingly due Nor
should we alone remember the gallant
~ OF the living; the dead claim our
tears, and our losses by battle and dis
ease must cloud any eXultation at the
result and teach us to weigh the awful
cost Of war, however rightful the cause
or signal the victory
PORTO RICO.
With the fan of Santiago, the occu-
patton of Porto Rico became the next
strategic necessity. Cen Miles had
previously been assigned to organize
an expedition for that purpose. For
tunately he was already at Santiago.
where he had arrived on the first of
July with achievements for Gen.
Skaters army. With these troops, con-
sisting of 3415 infantry and artillery,
two companies of engineers and one
company of the signal, Gen. Miles left
Guantanamo ON July q. having nine
transports conveyed by the fleet under
Cen Higginson, with the .Massachu-
sets flagship, Dixie, Gloucester CO.
lumbia and Yale, the two latter carry
| ing troops The expedition landed at
Guanica July %, which port was en-
tered with little opposition. Here the
fleet was Joined by the Annapolis and
the Wasp, while the Puritan and Am
phitrite went to San Juan and joined
the New Orleans, which was engaged
in blockading that port. The major
general commanding was subsequently
reinforced by Gen. SchWan's brigade
of the third army corps, by Gen. Wilson
with a part of his division. and also
| by Gen. Brooke with a part of his
corps, numbering in all 1913 officers
and men.
On July 9th he entered Ponce. me
of the most important ports in the is
land from which he thereafter direc-
ted operations for the capture of the
| island
With the exception of encounters
with enemy at Guayama, Hormigue-
ros, Coamo and Nauco. and an attack
| on our force landed at Cape San Juan.
! there was no serious resistance The
4 campaign was prosecuted with great
| vigor and by the twelfth of August
much of the island was in our possess
/ sion and the acquisition of the remain
der was only a matter of a short time.
At most of the points in the island our
| troops were encamped. PrOtestations
of loyalty to the flag and gratitude Tor
! delivery from Spanish rule met our
| commanders at every stage. As a po-
| tent influence toward peace, the out
| come of the Porto Rican expedition was
| of great consequence, and generous
| commentator is due to those who par
| ticipated in it.
LAST SCENE OF THE WAR.
The last scene Of the war was enact
ed at Manila, its starting place. ON
August 49, after a brief assault upon
the works by the land forces, in winch
the squadron assisted, the capital SUI
rendered, Internationally The casual
ties We're very few.
By this conquest of the Philippine
islands, virtually accomplished when
the Spanish capacity for resistance was
| destroyed by Admiral Deweys victory
of the first of May, was formally sealed
To Gen. Merritt, his officers. and men,
| for their accomplishing and devoted
| service and for their gallantry in ac-
! ton, the nation is sincerely grateful
| Their long voyage was made with sim
| gular success, and the soldierly conduct
/ of the men, most of whom were With
out previous experience in the military
| service, deserves unmeasured praise.
! The total casualties in killed and
wounded in the army during the war
with Spain were: officers killed. %; en-
| listed men, 257; total, $50; officers
wounded, 113; enlisted men wounded
| 1854; total 1877. OF the navy, killed
In; wounded, e.; died as result of
wounds. /; invaded from service, 6;
| total 81.
! 1t will be observed that while our
navy was engaged in two great bat
! ties and in numerous perilOus under
ta6ings in blockade and bombardment
and more than 10000 of our troops We're
transported to distant lands and were
engaged in assault and siege and bat
| tie and many skirmishes in unfamiliar
| territory, we lost in both arms of the
service total Of 1868 killed and wound
| ed; and in the entire campaign by land
and sea, we did not lose a gun or a flag
or a transport or a ship, and with the
| exception of the crew of the Merrimac
not a soldier or sailor was taken pris-
/ oner.
On Aug 18th, forty-six days from the
date of the landing of Gen Shafters
army in Cuba, and q days from the
surrender of Santiago, the United
! States troops commenced embarkation
| for home, and our entire force was
returned to the United States as early
| as Aug Gath. They were absent from
the United States only two months.
PATRIOTISM AND DEVOTION
1t is fitting that I should bear testi-
mony to the patriotism and devotion
of that large portion of our army
which, although ready to be ordered tc
the post Of greatest exposure fortunate
! W was not required outside of the
United States They did their whole
duty and, like their comrades at the
front, have earned the gratitude of the
nation. In like manner the officers
and men of the army and OF the navy
who remained in their departments and
stations, faithfully performing most
important duties connected with the
war. and whose requests for assign
ment in the field and at sea [ was COM
PEELED to refuse because their services
were indispensable here, are entitled tC
the highest commentator. 1t is my
regret that there seems to be no pro-
vision for their suitable recognition.
In this connection, it is a pleasure
for me to mention in terms of cordial
appreciation the timely and useful
work of the American National Red
Cross, both in relief measures prepar-
atory TO the campaigns, in sanitary as
gjstanpa at several Of fhn por1pc M