Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1898-12-09
Hobson,s Heroism.

the world, by its exceptional heroism.
On the night of June 3 Lieutenant Hob
son, aided by seven devoted volunteers,
blocked the narrow outlet from Santiago
harbor by sinking the collier Merrimac in
the channel under a fierce fire from the
shore batteries, escaping with their lives
as by miracle, but falling into the
hands of the Spaniards. 1t is most graf
flying incident of the war that the brav-
cry of this little band of heroes was cor
daily appreciated by the Spaniards, who
sent flag of truce to notify Admiral
Sampson of their safety and to compli-
ment them upon their daring act. They
were subsequently exchanged, July Z.
BY June the cutting of the last Cuban
cable isolated the island. Thereafter the
invasion was vigorously prosecuted June
10, under a heavy protecting fire, land
ing force of 600 marines from the oregon,
Marblehead and Yankee was effected at
Guantanamo bay, where 1t had been de-
termined to establish cable station. This
important and essential port was taken
from the enemy after severe fighting by
the marines, who were the first organized
force of the United States to land in Cuba.
The position so won was held despite the
desperate attempts to dislodge our forces.
BY June 16 additional forces were landed
and strongly intrenched.
June % the advance of the invading
at Daiquiri, about Is miles east of Santi-
ago. This was accomplished under great
difficulties, but with marvellous dispatch.
On June 20 the movement against Santiago
was begun.
On the oath the first serious engagement
took place in which the First and Tenth
cavalry and the First volunteer cavalry,
General Youngs brigade of General
Wheelers division, participated, losing
heavily. By nightfall, however, ground
within five miles of Santiago was won.
The advantage was steadily increased.
On July a severe battle took place, our
forces ge ming the outer works OF Santiago,
and Ell Caney and San Juan were taken
after desperate charge and the invest
ment Of the city was completed. The
navy co-operated by shelling the town
and the coast forts.
Destruction of the Armada.
On the day following this brilliant
achievement of our land forces, July 3,
occurred the decisive naval combat of the
war. The Spanish fleet, attempting to
leave the harbor was met by the Ameri-
can squadron under command of Commo-
dore Sampson. In less than three hours
all the Spanish ships were destroyed.
Two torpedo-boats were sunk and the Ma
ria Teresa, Almirante Oquendo, Vizcaya
and Cristobal Colon were driven ashore
were taken prisoners While the enemys
loss of life was deplorably large, some
200 perishing, on our side but one man
was killed and one man seriously wounded.
Although our ships were repeatedly struck
not one was seriously injured. The men
also conspicuously distinguished them
selves, from the commanders to the gum
ners and the unnamed heroes in the
boier-rooms, each and all contributing
toward the achievement of this astound-
ing victory, for which neither ancient nor
modern history affords a parallel in the
completeness of the event and the marvel
Gus diSproportion of casualties 1t would
be invidious to single out any for special
honor. Deserved promotion has rewarded
the mere conspicuous actors-the nations
profoundest gratitude is due to all of those
brave men who by their skill and devo-
tion in a few short hours crushed the sea
power of Spain and wrought a triumph
whose decisiveneSS and far-reaching eff
fects can scarcely be measured. Nor can
we be unmndful of the achievements of
our builders, mechanics and artisans for
their skill in the construction of our war
ships.
With the catastrophe of Santiago,
Spain's effort upon the ocean virtually
ceased. A spasmodic effort toward the
end of June to send her Mediterranean
fleet, under Admiral Camara to relieve
Manila was abandoned, the expedition be-
ing recalled after it had passed through
the Suez canal.
Surrender of Santiago.
The capitulation of Santiago followed.
The city was closely besieged by land,
while the entrance of our ships into the
harbor cut off all relief on that side. After
truce to allow of the removal of the
noncombatants, protracted negotiations
continued from July 8 until July Is, when,
under menace of immediate assault, the
preliminaries of surrender were agreed
upon. On the nth General Shafter occu-
pied the city. The capitulation embraced
the entire eastern end of Cuba. The num-
Der of Spanish soldiers surrendered was
$4,000, all of whom were subsequently con-
veyed to Spain at the charge of the
United States. The story of this success
full campaign is told in the report of the
secretary of war which will be laid be-
fore you.
Invasion of Porto Rico.
With the fall of Santiago the occupa-
tion of Porto Rico became the next STRAIT
egic necessity. General Miles had pre-
viously been assigned to organize an ex-
pedition for that purpose. Fortunately
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 S4l5 infantry
and artillery, two companies of engineers
and one company of the signal CORPS Gem
eral Miles left Guantanamo July 81 hay-
ing nine transports conveyed by the fleet
under Captain Higginson, with the Mas
sachusetts (hagshlp) Dixie, Gloucester
Columbia and Yale, the two latter carry
ing troops. The expedition landed at
Guanica, July 25, which port was entered
with little opposition.s Here the fleet was
Joined by the Annapolis and Wasp. while
the Puritan and Amphitrite went to San
Juan and Joined the New Orleans, which
was engaged in blockading that port The
major-general commanding was subse-
quently reinforced by General Schwann's
brigade of the Third army corps, by Cen
eral Wilson with a part of his division
ana also by General Brooke, with a part