Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-12-08


tho psople TO uphold their nations honor,
4 THE BATTLE OF MANILA.
II IA not within the province Of this message
10 ngrrate tho history OF tho extraordinary war
that followed the Spanish declaration OF April
glst, but brief recital OF Its more salient fea-
turos Inappropriate. The irst encounter Of the
war Ia point OF date took place April "a when
q detachment Of the bookadlng squadron made
reconnaissance In force at Matanzas, shelled
tho harbor aud demoli he'd several new works
In construction, Tina mkt engagement
was destined 10 mark memorable
opoOh inuafitlmo warfare, Tho Paolno fleet,
under Commodore George Dewey, hnd lain for
some weeks ut Hong Kong Upon the colonial
proclamation OF neutrality being Issued ana the
customary twenty-four hours notice being
given, II repaired 10 Mrs bay, near Hong Kong,
whence II proceeded 10 the Philippine islands
under telegraph orders 10 capture or destroy
tho formidable Spanish fleet then assembled NJ
Manila, Az dnybreak on the LIST OF May, the
American force entered Manila bay and after o
fow hours engagement, effected tho total de-
Btruotlon OF the Spanish feet, consisting OF ton
warships and transport besides capturing the
naval station and forts nj CaVito, thus annlhil-
atlnR the Spanish naval power In tho Pacific
ocean and completely controlling tho bny OF
Manila with the ability 10 tato the city at will,
Not d life was lost on our ships, the wounded
only numbering seven, while not vessel was
materially Injured For this gallant achieve
mont tho Congress, upon my recommendation,
htly bestowed upon the actors protermont and
substantial reward
Tho effect OF this remarkable Victory upon the
spirit Of our people and upon the fortunes OF
tho war was instant, A prestige OF inylnci-
blllty thereby attached 10 our arms, which con-
tlnued throughout tho struggle Reinforce
ments were hurried 10 Manila under the COM
mand OF Major General Merritt aud firmly
established within sight OF the capital which lay
helpless before our guna On the eth day OF
May the government was advised otiioially OF
the victory ut Manila, and ut once inquired OF
the commander OF our feet what troops would
BIO required, The information was received on
the 10th day OF May and the FIRST army oxpodi-
tion sallod May a6th and arrived ut Manila
June 9Jth. Other expeditions soon folio wed,
tho total force consisting Of WI officers and ib-
0js men,
Only reluctance TO cause needless loss OF life
and property prevented the early stormlng md
capture OF the city and herewith tho absolute
military occupancy OF the whole group, The
Insurgents meanwhile, had resumed the active
hostillties suspended by tho uncompeted truce
OF December, 1897 Their forces invested Ma
Mia from tho northern and eastern side, but
were constrained by Admiral Dewey and Goa
oral Merritt from attempting an assault IL
was fitting that whatever was TO DO done In the
way of decisive operations In that quarter
should bo accomplished by tho strong arm OF
the United States alone, 0beyng the stern pre-
cept OF war which enjolns tho overcoming Of
the adversary and tho extinction OF his power
tVh aggnilnhla ~ tina anApuU and
means 10 win peace, divided victory was not
permissible, for no partition OF the rights
and responsibilities attending tho enforce
ment OF o Just and advantageous peace could
DO thought Of Following tho coming OF
tho comprehensive scheme OF general attack,
powerful forces were assembled nt various
points on our coast 10 invade Cuba and Porto
Rico. Meanwhile naval demonstrations were
made az several exposed points. On May II
the cruiser Wilmington and torpedo boat
Wnsow were unsuccessful In an attempt 10
silence the batteries at Cardcnas, against
Matanzas, Worth Bagey and four seamen fall
Ing. These grlevous fatalities were strangely
enough among the very few which occurred
during our naval operations In this extraordin-
ary conflict.
Meanwhile tho Spanish naval preparations
had been pushed with great yigor, A powerful
squadron uuueT AulHlTul NtINoIu, WnlVn Huu
assembled NJ the Capo Verde Islands before the
outbreak OF hostlltios had crossed tho ocean
and by It's erratc movements In tho Caribbean
sea delayed our military operations while
bathing tho pursuit OF our fleets, For o time
fears were felt lest tho Oregon md Marietta,
then nearing homo after their long voyage from
Sun Francisco OF over $1,000 miles, might BIO
surprised by Admiral Corvcras feet but their
fortunate arrival dlspolled tho apprehonslons
and lent much needed endorsements, Not
until Admiral Cervera took refuge In the har-
Dor OF Santiago do Cuba about May 0, was IL
practicable 10 plan systematic military at
tack upon tho Anthem possessions OF Spain
Several demonstrations occurred on tho
coast OF Cuba and Porto Rico In preparation
for o larger event, On May 10 tho North ATTAIN
tic Squadron shellod San Juan do Porto Rico
On May 30 Commodore Schloy's squadron bonn
bardod the forts guarding the mouth OF Santi-
ago harbor. Neither attack had my material
result II was evident that we'll ordered land
operations were indispensable to achieve de-
cided advantage
SINKING OF THE MERRIMAC.
The next oct In tho war thrilled not alono the
hearts OF our countrymen, but tho world, by Its
exceptional herolsm On the night OF june g.,
Lieutenant Hobson aided by seven devoted
volunteers blocked tho narrow outlet from
Santiago harbor by sinking the collier Merri-
mac In the channel under fierce fire from the
shore batteries and escaping with their lives
ns by q miracle, but falling into the hands Of
the Spanlards. II 1, o most gratifying Incident
OF the war that the bravery OF this little band
OF heroes was cordially appreciated by the
Spanlards, who sent flag Of truce TO notify
Admiral Sampson OF their safety and 70 COM
pllmont them upon their during act They
were subsequently exchanged July7.
BY June z, the cutting OF the last Cuban cable
isolated the island. Thereafter the invasion
was vigorously prosecuted. on June 10, under
heavy protecting fire, o landing force OF 600
marines from the Oregon, Marblehead and
Yankee was effected In Guantanamo bay, where
It had been determined to establish . naval
station. This important and essential port
was taken from tide enemy after severe
fighting by this marines, who were
the first organized forces OF the United States
to land In Cuba.
DESTRUCTION OF CREvERA'S FLEET.
The position so won was held despite desper-
otto attempts TO dlsodgo our forces. BY June
10 additional forces woro landed md strongly
entronched. On June % tho advance OF the In
yading army under Major General Shaftor
landed at Daiquirl, about fifteen miles east OF
Santiago, This was accomplished under great
difficulties, bnt with marvellous dispatch On
juno 20 the movement against Santiago was
begun. on tho cath the nrst serious engage
ment took place, In which the First and Tenth
cavalry and the First Volunteer cavalry, Gem
eral YounRs brigade OF General Wheeler's d.
vision, participated, losing heavily. BY night
fall, however, ground within Ave miles OF San
tiago was won. The advantage was steadily
increased, On July q severe battle tool,
place, our forces gaining the outer works Of
Santiago, und 1cl Cuney and San Juan were
| talten after n desperate charge and the invest