New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-06


cisive advantage.
HoBsONS BRAVE DEED
Tho noxt aot in the war thrilled not alone the
hearts of our countrymen but the world, by us
exceptional heroism. On the night OF June
Iieutenant Hobson aided by seven oeVo'eu
volunteers blocked the narrow outlet from San
tiapo harbor by sinking the collier Merrimac III
the channel under a fierce fire from the shoic
batteries escaping with their lives as Wy
miracle but falling into the hands Oh TIC
Spaniards. 1t is most gratifying hciue". ~
the war that the bravery of this little paho VI
heroes was cordially appreciated by the span
ish Admiral who sent a flag of truce 10 ho'iy
Admiral Sampson of their safety ana 10 co'''-
plinent them their daring act lhey "eie
subsequently exchanged July 1T,
Nv June the cutting of the last Cuban caDle
isolated the island Thereafter the invasion
vigorously prosecuted on jun 600 ~, ,a u.,uo
a heavy protecting fire. landing OF wv marines
from the Oregon. Marblehead and YANKEE was
effected in Guantanamo Bay. where IL had nee"
determined to establish p naval statioh ,
|. This important and essential port was ,dnsii
from the enemy after severe fighting by the
marines who were the first organized force OF
the United States to land in CUBA
THE ATTACK ON SANTIAGO
The POSITION so won was held despite desper-
ate ATTEMPTS to dslodge our forces. BY June ~
additional forces were landed and strongly in
trenched On June 90 the advance of the In
vading army under Major-General smarter
landed at Daiquir about fifteen miles east 'ol
santiago This was accomplished under great
diNlcultles but with marvellous dispatch ON
June % the movement against Santiago was
begun On the oath the first serious engage
ment took place in which the LIST and 10Th
Cavalry and the 1st United States Volunteer
Cavalry General Youngs brigade Of General
Wheeler's division. participated, losing heavily
BY nlghtfal, however. ground within i've miles
of Santiago was won The advantage vas
steadily increased. On July | a severe hattie
took place, forces gaining the outworks OF
Santiago On the I'd FL Caney and San Juan
were taken after desperate charge ana IN IN
investment Of the city was completed Inc
Navy co-operated by Smelling the town and the
coast forts.
DESTRUCTION OF CERvERAS FLEET.
On the day following this brilliant achieve
ment Of our land forces. the I'd of July, &C.
Cured tho decisive naval combat of the war
The Spanisi, fleet. attempting to leave the mar
Dor was met by the American squadron under
command Of Commodore Sampson. In less thd"
three hours all the Spanish ships were de-
strovcd the two torpedo boats being sunk, ana
the Maria Teresa. Alnilrante Oquendo Nizcaya
and Cristobal Colon driven ashore. me span
ish Admiral and over 1900 men were taken
prisoners. while the enemys loss or HE was oe-
plorably large. some COO perishns on our Side
but one man was killed. on the Brooklyn, ano
ono man seriously wounded Although our
ships were repeatedly struck, not one was Sc
rioIisly injured Where all so conspicuously
distinguished themselves, from the comnialu..
to the gunners and the unnamed heroes IN the
hoiler-roOms each and all contributing toWarI
the achievement Of this astounding victory
for which neither ancient nor modern hs'o L
affords a parallel in the completeness ol the
event and the marvellous disproportloh OF
casualties. it would be invidious to single OUT
any for especial honor Deserved promotion ION
has rewarded the more conspicuous actors. ana
the Nations profoundest gratitude Is que 20 al
Of these brave men. who by their Skin ana de-
yotior in few short hours crushed the sea
power of Spain and wrought triumph whose
decisiveness and far-reachlng consequences can
scarcely be measured. Nor can we pe ul'iiiIIu-
full Of the achievements of our builders, me
Chanics and artisans Tor thelf SIKH III IN ''h-
struction of our warshios ,,.
With the catastrophe Of Santiago SPAN ell
fort upon the ocean virtually ceaSed. spas spas,
medic cffor, toward the end Of June to SEND
her Mediterranean fleet under Admiral Canara
to relieve Manila abandoned. the expedi-
ton being recalled after it had passed through
the Suez Canal.
THE CAPITUI.ATION OF SANTIAGO
The capitulation Of Santiago followed. The
city was closely besleged by land. while the
entrance OF our ships into the harbor cut OF
all relief on that side. After a truce. 10 a'lo"
the removal of non combatants. protracted ne
COtiatiOnS continued from July - "i'''' ""' ''''
when. under menace of immediate assault. the
preliminaries of surrender were agreed upon
On the 18th General Shafter occupied the city
The capitulation embraced the entire eastern
end of Cuba The number Of Spanish soldiers
surrcndering was - O0O all OF whom were sub
senuently conveyed to Spain at the charge or
the United States The story of this successful
campair IN is told in the report of the Secretary
of War. which will he laid before YOU. Inc IN
diVidua valor Of officers ana soldiers was never
more strikingly shown than III the seNerdi ci-
gagements leading to the surrender or SANTIAGO
while the prompt movements ana successive
victories won instant ana UNIVERSAL aPp.au9s
To those who gained this complete TRIUMPH
which established the ascendancy or the tnited
states upon land the fight of Santiago had
fixed our supremacy on the seas, the eatnes'
and lasting gratitude of the Nation ls uhspai-
ingly due. Nor should we alone remember tne
gallantry Of the living; the dead claim our
tears and our losses by battle and disease
must cloud any eXultation at the result ana
teach us to weigh the awful cost OF war, how
ever rghtful the cause or signal the victory.
THE OCCUPATION OF PORTO RICO
With the fall OF Santiago, the occupation or
Porto Rico became the next strategic necessity
General Miles had previously been assigned 10
organize an expedition for that purpose. Fort
unately he was already at Santiago, where he
had arrived on the 18th Of July with reinforce
ments FOR General Skaters army.
With these troops. consisting OF BIB Infantry
and artillery. two companies of engineers and
one company Of the Signal Corps. General
Miles left GUANTANAMO on July II, having nine
transports conveyed by the fleet under Captain
Higginson. with the Massachusetts, (ilagshp).
Dixie, Gloucester. Columbia and Yale, the two
latter carrying troops The expedition landed at
Cuanica July -, which port was entered with
little opposition. Here the fleet was Joined by
the Annapolis and the Wasp, while the Puritan
and Amphitrite went TO San Juan and Joined
the New-Orleans which was engaged in block
aiding that port The Major-General command
ing was subsequently reinforced by General
SchWan's brigade Of the Third Army Corps; by
General Wilson, with Il part OF his division,
and also by General Brooke. with part of his
ILL 4. 1fIi.. Il rr,nr