The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1898-12-07

dcient increase MADE TO the navy Tor
coast defense =
wrr Revenue Provided.
This fund being inadequate to the
requirements of equipment and for the
conduct of the war. the patriotism of
the congress provided the means IN
thoriZing per cent popular loan not
to exceed S400.000.000, and by leVyfng
additional mpoSts and taxes.
OF the authorized loan 100000. 900
were offered and promptly taken, the
subscriptions SO far exceeding the call
as to cover 1t many times over. while,
preference being given to the smaller
Sc, 900.
message to narTate the history of the
extraordinary war that followed the
Spanish declaration of April 81 but
brief recital of its more salient feat
The first encounter of the war in
point of date took place April 81 when
a detachment of the blockading squad
ron made a reconnaissance in force at
MatanZas, shelled the harbor forts AID
demolished several new works in con-
struction-
to mark a memorable epoch in mari
time warfe"e. The Pacific feet, under
Commodore George Dewey, had lain
for some weeks at Hongkong.
At daybTeak on May 1 the Amer
lean force entered Manila bay. and
after few hours engagement effected
feet, consisting of 10 warships and a
transport, besides capturing the naval
station and forts at Cavite, thus ami
hilating the Spanish naval power IN
the Pacific ocean aud completely con-
trolling the bay " Manila with the
ability to take the city at will, Not a
| life was lost on our ships, the wound
| ed only numbering seven, while not
a vessel was materially injured.
Eject OF Dewey's Victory.
For this gallant achievement, the
congress, upon my recommendation,
fifty bestowed upon the actors prefer
ment and substantial reward.
The effect of this remarkable victory
upon the spirit Of our people and upon
| the fortunes of the war was instant
prestige of inVincibility thereby
| attached to our arms, which continued
ments were hurried to Manilla under
] command of Major General Merritt
| and firmly established within sight OF
the capital, which lay helpless before
| our guns.
only reluctance to cause needless loss
| CT life and property prevented the ear
| and Herewith the absolute military oc-
cupancy of the whole group.
The insurgents meanwhile had re,
| sumed the active hCStilities suspended
Their forces invested Manila fron
! were constrained by Admiral Dewey
| and General Merritt from attempting
| an assault
On May IL the cruiser Wilmington
and torpedo boat Winslow were unsuc-
| ceSsful in an attempt to silence the bat
teries at CarGenas; a gallant ensisII,
These grievous fatalities were
strangely enough among the very few
| which occurred during our naval cp-
| erations in this extraordinary conflict.
| Several demonstrations occurred On
the coasts of Cuba and Porto Rico il
4 Tar @ In
May Is the North Atlantic squad IN
| shelIed San Juan de Porto Rico.
| The next act in the war thrilled not
| alone the hearts of our countrymel,
but the world, by its exceptional hero
| ism. On the night of June 8 Lieuten-
| ant Hobson. aided by seven devoted
volunteers. blCckaded the narrow out
| let from Santiago harbor by sinking
| the collier Merrimac in the channel,
under fierce fire from the shore bat
| teries, escaping with their lives as by
a miracle. but falling into the hands
of the Spauiards They were subse-
| Quently exchanged July Z.
On June 10. under a heavy protecting
| fire, a landing of 600 marines from the
| Oregon, Marblehead and Yankee was
| effected in Guantanamo bay. where it
had been determined to establish a
naval station
First Force on Cuban Soil.
This important and essential port
was taken from the enemy after Sc
| we're lighting by the marines, wi o
were the first organized force of the
United States to land in Cuba
The position SO won was held de-
our forces. BY June Is additional
trenched
On June % the advance of the army
under Major General Shafter at Da-
qufri, about Is miles east of Santiago,
was accomplished under great difficult
ties, but with marvellous dispatch.
On June % the movement against
Santiago was begun. On the Gath the
first serious engagement took place,
and the First United States volunteer
| cavalry, General Young's brigade of
| General WNeeler's division participant
| ed. losing heavily.
By night fall. however, ground with
| in five mics of Santiago was won.
| The advantage was steadily increased.
On July / q severe battle took place
| our forces gaining the outworks of
Santiago; on the I'd FL Caney and San
Juan were taken %after a desperate
charge, and investment of the city was
completed.
The navy co-operated by Smelling the
! town and the coast forts.
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
american squadron under command of
| Commodore Sampson. In less than
three hours all the Spanish ships were
|
Junk, and the Maria Teresa, Almirante
oQuendo, Vizcaya and Cristobal Colon
| driven ashore.
The Spanish admiral and over 1900
men were taken prisoners, while the
enemy's loss of life was deplorably
large. some 600. perishing:
| The capitulation of Santiago follow
ed. On the 18th, General Shafter occu-
pied the city. The capitulatien en-
! hraced the entire eastern end of Cuba.
The numb7r of Spanish soldiers sur
rendered vas $4,000, all OF whom We're
subsequently conveyed to Spain at the
charge of the United States.
Occupation of Porto Rico.
With the fall of Santiago the occu-
| patton of Porto Rico became the next
strategic necessity. General Miles h ii
| previously been assigned to organic
an expedition for that purpose. For
tunately he was already at Santiago.
where he arrived on July IL with re-
Inducements for General Skaters
army.
infantry and artillery, two companies
| of engineers, and one company of tie
signal corps. General Miles LETT Gual--
| tanamo on July 81, having nine trans
.