Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-18
Completeness Of the Victory.

messed another great triumph for
American arms. triumph all the
sweeter that no second outpouring Of
blood was needed to win it. The full
details of the fall of Santiago show
that the victory is more complete than
was at first supposed or expected.
ing the final arrangements, trans
porting the prisoners, locating our
quarters, and bringing order and law
to the captured city. but the cam
paign is over, the strain of the battle
is. ended, and it is well to consider the
cost of the victory and its probable
effects.
The campaign was certainly short,
sharp and decisive. Our army was
small but it showed a valor and en-
durance never surpassed, and in the
face of numberless difficulties it was
handled remarkably well. Consider
ing the fierce, desperate nature of the
fighting our loss was not large, quite
the contrary. The main object of the
campaign, the destruction of Ger
veras fleet, has been accomplished as
few dreamed that it would be- And
not only the city of Santiago. Cuba's
ancient capital and its third city in
size, with it's forts and superb harbor
falls into our hands, but also its gar
rison of about $4,000 Spaniards and the
whole of eastern Cuba with numerous
cities and forts, and several thousand
more soldiers.
Those flag of truce negotiations at
which the country fretted We're sue
cessful in convincing the Spanish
commander at last of the hopeless
ness of further resistance The city
and its garrison We're hemmed in and
at our mercy. Diplomacy, with the
bare sword behind it. prevailed And
fortunate, indeed, is it So for another
assault on the inner line of Spanish
defences would have cost our brave
troops dearly, though their victory
were certain. The fall of Santiago
means the salvation of hundreds of
brave young American lives that
otherwise were fated to be cut off by
the bullet in the field or by the yell
low pestilence that stalked in the rear.
The only condition of the Spanish
surrender is that the Spanish troops
shall be returned to Spain. This is
a stipulation that is to our great and
lasting advantage. Indeed, it was
Washington. 1t would be a tax on
our resources to feed and guard this
multitude of prisoners if they were
transferred to this country. 1t would
embarrass our hard worked trans
port service to convey them hither
Their presence here would be a seri-
Gus menace to our health. But once
landed in Spain the captured soldiers
must be cared for by the Spanish gov
eminent. Our absolute control of the
sea is sufficient guarantee that they
will never find their way back to the
western hemisphere, even if their pa
| roles are worthless
Now that the Santiago campaign is
| ended, and can be reviewed in a calm
| judicial spirit as something which has
| passed into history, it must be set
down, in its purely military aspect
as one of the most brilliantly success
full campaigns in modern warfare.
Looking back on all that has been ac-
| complished, it can readily be seen that
the popular Impotence which fumed
at General Shafter and his army as
| slow was ignorant and unjustifiable
Even the embarkation of the troops
of the press stigmatized as tardy and
| bunSling. has now been commended
| by the trained European military at
| tacheS as a remarkable smart per
Torrance. The army landed at Bal
quiri on June % and 30. These three
| short weeks have been crowded with
deeds of superb valor and indomit-
able perseverance. and they are now
crowned with perfect victory. Never
| mas an army of any race in any cause
accomplished more thorough and de-
| cisiVe results in so brief a time. Cen
erai Shafter and his officers and men
have made the work of the army equal
to that of the navy. They have added
new lustre to the military glory of the
great republic and-more than all
that-have struck noble blow for the
great cause of freedom and right
| eouSneSs.
IL hey tell story of that brave Ala
pama fighter. General Wheeler, which
may or may not be true. In one of the