Evening star., 1898-12-05

| service was invaluable to the executive in
directing the operations of the army and
navy. With a total force of over 1900 the
| loss was by disease in camp and field, off
| GERS and men included, only five
| Fhe National Defense Fund of 50000 900
was expended in large part by the Army
! and Navy, and the objects for which it was
| used are fully shown in the reports OF the
several Secretaries. 1t was most timely
appropriation, enabling the Government to
strengthen Its defenses and make prepara-
| uens greatly needed in case of war
This fund being inadequate to the require
ments of equipment and for the conduct of
! the war, the patriotism of the Congress
| provided the means In the war revenue act
! of June 18th by authorizing a three per cent
popular loan not to exceed four hundred
million dollars and by levying additional
| imposts and taxes OF the authorized loan
| two hundred millions were offered and
promptly taken, the subscriptions so far
| exceeding the call to cover it many times
over, while. preference being given to the
| smaller bids, no single allotment exceeded
| five thousand dollars. This was a most en-
couraging and significant result, showing
| the vast resources of the nation and the
country's honor.
1t is not within the province of this mes
sage to narrate the history of the extraor-
| binary war that followed the Spanish decla-
| ration of April 21st, but a brief recital of
| its more salient features is appropriate.
| The first encounter of the war in point of
| date took place April 27th, when a detach-
| ment of the blockading squadron made a
| reconnaissance in force at Matanzas she'll
| ed the harbor forts, and demolished several
| new works in construction.
Dewey's Remarkable Victory.
The next engagement was destined to
| mark memorable epoch in maritime war
| fare The Pacific feet, under Commodore
George Dewey. had lain for some weeks at
Hong-kong. Upon the colonial proclama-
| ton of neutrality being issued and the Gus
! tomary twentyfour hours notice being
given, it repaired to Mrs Bay, near Hong
| Kong, whence it proceeded to the Philippine
Islands under te!egraphed orders 10 cap
| ture or destroy the formidable Spanish feet
| then assembled at Manila. At daybreak on
| the 1st of May the American force entered
Manila Bay and after a few hours engage
nent effected the total destruction of the
Spanish feet, consisting Of ten warships and
d transport, besides capturing the naval
station and forts at CaVite, thus annihilat
ing the Spanish naval power in the Pacific
Ocean and completely controlling the Bay
of Manila, with the ability to take the city
at will. Not life lost ships,
the wounded only numbering seven, while
not a vessel was materially injured. For
this gallant achievement the Congress, upon
my recommendation, fifty bestowed upon
the actors preIerment and substantial re-
ward.
The effect of this remarkable victory upon
the spirit of our people ana upon the for
tunes Of the war was instant. A prestige of
invincibihty thereby attached to our arms
which continued throughout the struggle
ReInforcements We're hurried to Manila
| under the command of Major General Mer-
| ritt and firmly established within sight of
| the capital, which lay helpless before our
guns.
On the 9TH day of May the government
was advised officially of the victory at
Manila, and at once inquired of the COM
mander of our fleet what troops would be
required The information was received on
the 18th day of May, and the first army ex-
redition sailed May 25th and arrived off
Manila June Both. Other expeditions soon
followed, the total force consisting of 641
Only reluctance to cause needless loss Of
life and property prevented the early storm
ing and capture of the city, and herewith
the absolute military occupancy of the
whole group. The insurgents meanwhile
had resumed the active hostilities suspend
ed by the uncompleted truce of December,
1897. Their forces invested Manila from
the northern and eastern side, but were con-
strained by Admiral Dewey and General
Merritt from attempting an assault. 1t was
fitting that whatever was to be done in the
way of decisive operations in that quarter
should be accomplished by the strong arm
of the United States alone. Obeying the
stern precept of war which enjons the over
coming of the adversary and the extinction
of his power wherever assailabe as the
speedy and sure means to win peace, di-
vided victory not permissible, for no
partition of the rights and responsibilities
attending the enforcement of just and ad-
vantageous peace could be thought of.
Following the comprehensive scheme of
general attack, powerful forces were as
sembled at various points on our coast to
invade Cuba and Porto Rico. Meanwhile
naval demonstrations We're made at several
exposed points. On May 11th the cruiser
Wilmington and torpedo boat Winsiow were
unsuccessful in an attempt to silence the
batteries at Cardenas, gallant ensign,
Worth Bagley, and four seamen falling.
These grievous fatalities were strangely
enough among the very few which oc-
Cured during our naval operations in this
extraordinary conflict.
Meanwhile the Spanish naval preparations
had been pushed with great vigor. A pow
erful squadron under Admiral Cervera
which had assembled at the Cape Verde
Islands before the outbreak of hostilities
had crossed the ocean, and by its erratic
movements in the Caribbean Sea delayed
military plans while battling the pur-
suit of our fleets. For time fears were felt
lest the Oregon and Marietta, then nearing
home after their long voyage from San
Francisco of over 1900 miles, might be
surprised by Admiral Cervera's fleet, but
their fortunate arrival dispelled these ap-
prehensions and lent much needed rein
forcement. Not until Admiral Cervera took
refuge in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba
about May 10Th, was it practicable to plan
a systematic naval and military attack
upon the Antilean possessions of Spain.
Several demonstrations occurred on the