The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1898-12-21

man or q snip on our s'd" wa lost Aud
ia. ~ n August l3,h 1875 the city Of
Mauiia WAS captured through the joint
operation of Drwey's ships and the
United States army under the command
OF General Merritt, that bad been trans.
ported across the Pacific. This battle
was fought one day alter the cessation of
hostiities was ordered but before the
news Of it reached the Philippines
The other battles were fought in the
West Indies. Our navy maintained
blockade of Havana and the west end
of Cuba throughout the struggle. THIS
led to the capture of a large number OF
Spanish vessels. But the decisive bat
tie occurred in the east end of the island
at tie we'll fortified harbo- of Santiago.
Here in Nav a Spanish squadron com
manded by Admira CeTveTa took refuge
and was promptly blockaded by our
ships under Commodore Schley and
these we're later joined by those under
Rear Admiral Sampson, who took COM
maud OF the entire feet. While at
tempting to make the blockade complete
the collier MeTrimac was sunk in mar
row channel leading to the harbor
This exploit was performed amid storm
OF shot and shell from the forts by Lieu.
tenant r. Hobson and seven others
who were taken prisoners and afterward
exchanged.
General Skater landed near by with
an army OF Is 600 men, and after severe
| fighting, took the outer defences OF San
tiago July II In this campaign our
total loss was $50 killed and 400 wound
ed and missing. The Spanish loss was
believed to be greater.
The fall Of the city now seemed GER
tain. Cervera's six ships sailed out past
the Merrimac on July 3rd and tried to
escape but they were Immediately at.
tackled by the blockadiDg feet and were
at once sunk or wrecked great many
Of the Spanish were killed and besides
those killed 300 sailors were taken pris-
| oners, while only one man on our side
was killed aud only few wounded
On July 14th the Spanish surrendered
the city tog ther with the east en1 OF
the island and an army of $4,000 men to
the United States, in preference to incur.
ring an assault.
A few days later General Miles set out
| to seize Puerto Rico with an army Of 22,-
600 men, and landed on the 25th of July.
He had taken large part OF the island
| without much opposition when the ces-
sation of hostilities was ordered.
Ga August II, 1898, a protocol WAS
signed at Washington for the cessation of
| hostilties and a meeting of commission
ers to negotiate formal treaty OF peace,
not later than October LIST, at Paris.
| The protocol provided for the aband-
onment OF Cuba by Spain and the ces
sion OF Puerto Rico aud one OF the La
| drones to the United States. The dispo-
sition OF the Philippines was left to be
decided in the final treaty OF peace. in
the meantime Manila was to be occupied
by the United States
| One result of our war with Spain and
Commodore Dewey's victory in the
Philippines WAS to convince many that
the Hawaiian Islands should come under
our flag
The little Republic of Hawaii had for
several years been desirious OF annexa-
ton. This was al last accomplished by
a joint resolution of Congress signed by
President Mckinley, July z, 1898
To the poor people OF Cuba and the
Philippines the enlightenment OF Amer
lean freedom, Justice and liberty has
come as water TO thirsty traveller in
the desert, and instead OF down trod-
den, abject people living in misery and
subsection, a new manhood will arse
which shall redeem these islands and
lift them and their people to that place
among nations for which they were d.
9 gned. While their wonderful fertility
and productiveness shall enrich not only
themselves but also those who haye set
them free. '',
AS in the dawn OF day the clouds and
mists disappear, so from our nations
night of depression and war the glad
lights are appearing which presage the
return OF the rising sun OF prosperity to
shed its glorious light on all
Miss BIRDIE Wilson,
ABBEvILLE, Miss.