Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-12-15

The national defense fund of $50 900 900
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.
This fund being inadequate for the con
congress provided the means in the war
revenue act of June 13, by authorizing a
3 per cent popular loan not to exceed
800 600 900 and by leYying additional i'm
ports and taxes.
OF the authorized loan, 5000. 900, 900 were
offered and promptly taken the subscrip-
tions so far exceeding the call as to cover
It many times over, while, preference be-
ing given to the smaller bids no single
allotment exceeded 5000. This was
most encouraging and significant result
showing the vast resources of the nation
and the determination OF the people to
uphold their country's honor.
1t is not within the province of this
message to narrate the history OF the ex-
traordinary war that followed the Span
ish declaration of April 81 but brief re-
cital of its more salient features Is ap-
propriate.
The first encounter of the war in point
of date took place April 27 when detach-
ment of the biockadng squadron made a
reconnaissance in force at Matanzas
shelled the harbor forts and demolished
several new works in construction.
The Manila Campaign.
The next engagement was destined to
mark a mem orable epoch in maritime
warfare. The Pacific feet, under Com
weeks at Hongkoug.
At daybreak on the first of May the
American force entered Manila bay. and
after few hours engagement effected
the total destruction of the Spanish fleet
consisting of 10 warships and transport.
besides capturing the naval station and
forts at Cavite, thus annihilating the
Spanish naval power IN the Pacific ocean
and completely controlling the bay of Ma
Mia, with the ability to take the city al
will. Not a life was lost on our ships, the
wounded only numbering seven, while not
a vessel was materially injured.
The effect of this remarkable victory
upon the spirit of our people and upon
the fortunes of the war was instant.
prestige of invincbility thereby attached
to our arms, which continued throughout
the struggle. ReinforCements were hur-
ried to Ma..lia under the command of Mai.
Gen. Merritt, and firmly established with
in sight OF the capital, which lay helpless
before our guns.
Only reluctance to cause needless loss
Of life and property prevented the early
storming and capture of the city, and
Herewith the absolute military occupan-
cy OF the whole group.
The insurgents invested Manila from
the northern and eastern sides, but were
constrained by Admiral Dewey and Gen.
Merritt from attempting an assault.
No partition of the rights and respon-
slblliies attending the enforcement of a
just and advantageous peace could be
thought of.
on May II the cruiser Wilmington and
the torpedo boat Winslow were unsuccess-
full in an attempt to silence the batteries
a. Cardenas, a gallant ensign Worth
BaRley. and four seamen falling. These
grieYous fatalities We're, strangely enough
among the very few which occurred dur
ing our naval operations in this extraor-
dnary conflict.
Several demonstrations occurred on the
coasts of Cuba and Porto Rico in prepa-
ration for the larger event.
HObsOn and the Merimac.
The next act in the war thrilled not
alone the hearts of our countrymen, but
the world by It's exceptional heroism
on the night OF June Lieut. Hobson
aided by seven devoted volunteers, blocked
the narrow outlet from Santiago harbor
by sinking the collier Merrimac in the
channel, under fierce fire from the shore
batteries, escaping with their lives by
a miracle, but falling into the hands of the
Spaniards.
1t is a most gratifying incident Of the
war that the bravery of this little band
of heroes was cordially appreciated by the
Spanish admiral, who sent flag of truce
to notify Admiral Sampson OF their safety
and to compliment them on their daring
act They were subsequently exchanged.
July Z.
on June TO- under a heavy fire. land
ing of 600 marines was effected in Guam
tanamo bay. where 1t had been determined
to establish naval station. Ihis i'm
the enemy after severe fighting by the
marines, who were the first organized
force of the United States to land in Cuba.
on June u lne afVanCe or the lnNatlng
army under Maj. Gen. Shafter landed at
Daiquiri. about Is miles east of Santiago
THIS was accomplished under great diff
culties, but with marvellous dispatch
ON June % the movement against San
tiago was begun. on the 4th the first
serious engagement took place. in which
the First and Tenth cavalry and the First
United States volunteer cavalry Gen.
Young's brigade Of Gen. Wheeler's d!vi-
sion, participated, losing heavily.
BY ntghtfall. however, ground within
five miles of Santiago was won. The ad-
vantage was steadily increased. On July
l a severe battle took place, our forces
gaining the outer works of Santiago; on
the I'd FL Caney and San Juan were taxi
en-, after desperate charge, and the in
vestment of the city was completed. The
navy co-operated by shelling the town
and the coast forts.
Decisive Naval Battle.
On the day following. July 3. occurred
the decisive naval combat of the war. The
Spanish fleet, attempting to leave the
harbor, was met by the American squad
ron under command Of Commodore Samp-
son. In less than three hours all the
Spanish ships were destroyed.
With the catastrophe of Santiago,
Spain's effort upon the ocean virtually
ceased The capitulation of Santiago fol-
lowed.
To those who gained this complete tri-
umph, which established the ascendancy
fight off Santiago had fixed our supremacy
upon the seas, the earnest and lasting
gratitude OF the nation is unsparingly due
Nor should We alone remember the gal
lantry of the living. The dead claim our
tears, and our losses by battle and diseas
must cloud any exultation at the result
and teach US to weigh the awful cost of
war.
With the fall of Santiago, the occupa-
ton OF Porto Rico became the next
strategic necessity. Gen. Miles had been
assigned to organize an expedition for the
purpose. Fortunately he was already at
Santiago. on July q he entered Ponce,
from which he thereafter directed opera
tions for the capture Of the island The
campaign was prosecuted with vigor, and
by the 18th of August most Of the island
was in our possession and the acquisition
or the remainder was only the matter of
a short time.
The last scene OF the war was enacted
at Manila. its starting place. on Aug. 10.
After brief assault upon the works by
the land forces, In which the squadron as
sisted. the capital surrendered uncondi-
tionally. To Gen. Merritt, his officers and
men, the nation Is sincerely grateful.
1t is fitting that l should bear testimony
to the patriotism and devotion of the
large portion Of our army which. al
though eager to be ordered to post of
greatest exposure, fortunately was not
required outside of the United States