Evening star., 1898-12-05


the report Of the Secretary of War, which
Will he laid before you. The individual
valor of officers and soldiers was neve:
more strikIugly shown than in the several
engagements leading TO the surrender OF
Santiago. while the prompt movements and
successive victories won instant and univer-
sal applause. To those who gained this
complete triumph, which established the
asccudancy Of the United States upon land
as ,ne ngnt off Santiago had fixed our ST.
premacy the seas, the earnest and last
ms gratitude of the nation is unsparinsy y
due. Nor should We alone remember the
gaiautry Of the living; the dead claim our
tears. and our losses by battle and disease
mus, cloud any exultation at the result and
teach Us to weigh the awful cost of wal,
however rshtfuI the cause or signal the
victory.
Occupation of Porto Rico.
Wiin The fan of Santiago the occupation
of FJrIp Rico became the next strategic
neCg-s.ty. General Miles had previously
bee assigned TO organize an expedition for
thai purpose. Fortunately he was already
at Santiago, where he had arrived on the
1ItA Of July with reinforcements for Cen
erai Shafter's army.
With these troops, consisting of 3.415 in
-
gin-ers ana one company of the signal
corps, General Miles left Guantanamo on
July Il. having nine transports convoy ed
by The fleet under Captain Higginson. with
the Mass 'chusetts t1agshipt, Dixie, Glou-
cester, Columbia and Yale, the two latter
carrying troops The expedition landed at
GuaalCa July %, which port was entered
with little opposition. Here the feet was
joined by the Annapolis and the Wasp
while the Puritan and Amphitrite went 10
San Juan and Joined the New Orleans,
which was engaged in biockading that port
The major general commanding was subse-
queItly reinforced by General Schwau's
brigade of the Sd Army Corps by General
Wilson with a part of his division and also
by General Brooke with a part of his corps
numbering in all 16.y13 officers and men.
ON July - he entered Ponce one of the
most important ports in the island. from
which ne thereafter directed operations for
the capture Of the isIard.
With tle exception of encounters with the
enemy Al Guayama. Hormigueros. Coamo
and Yauco. ana an attack on a force landed
at Capt san Juan. there was no serious re-
s.stance. The campaign was prosecuted
with great vigDr, and by the 18th of Au-
gust much Of the island was IN our posses-
sion and the acquisition of the remainder
Was only matter of a short time At most
of the points iii the island our troops were
enthusiastically welcomed. Pru,estations of
loyalty To th- flag and gratitude for deliy-
cry from Spanish rule met our commanders
al every Stage As a potent influence to-
ward peace the outcome Of the Porto Rican
expedition was IF great consequence, and
generous conimendation Is due to those who
participated in It.
The last scene Of the war was enacted at
Manila. its s,arting place. on August 10,
after d brief assault upon the works by the
land forces. il. which the squadron assisted,
the capital surrendered uncondi:ionally
The casualties were comparatively few. BY
this the conquest of the Philippine Islands,
virtually accomplished when the Spanish
capacity for resistance was destroyed by
Acmiral Dew=ys victory Of the LIST Of May,
was formally sealed. To General Merritt,
his Ulcers and m n for the Uncompla ming
and devoted service and for their gallantry
in aC;ipr the nation is sincerely grateful.
Their long voyage was made with singular
success. and the soIdierly conduct of the
men, most Of whom were without previous
experience IN the military service, deserves
Uu.Heasured praise.
The total casualties in killed and wounded
in the Army during the war with Spain
were 'ilitrIS hltlt-lr tHllSled men Killed,
20; total 80; officers wounded. 113: an
listed men wounded, 1,464; total, 1877. OF
the Navy: Killed. Ia; wounded, 81 died as
result Of wounds. l; lnvalded from service,
6. total. u.
II will be observed that while our Navy
was engaged in TWO great battles and in
numerous perioUs undertakings in blockade
and Commandment, and more than 10000 of
our troops were transported To distant
lands and We're engaged in assault ard
siege and battle and many skirmishes in
unfamiliar territory. lost in both arms
Of the service a total of 1tSs killed and
wounded. and in the entire campaign by
land and sea W. did not lose a gun or a
flag or a transport or u ship. and with th-
exception Of the crew of the Merrimac not
d soldier or sailor was taken prisoner.
On August 9TH. for;y-six days from the
date OF the landing of General Skaters
army in Cuba, and twenty-one days from the
surrender of Santiago. the United States
troops commenced embarkation for home,
and our entire force was returned to the
United States as early as August 24th
They We're absent from the United States
only two months
II is fitting that / should bear testimony
TO the patriotism and devotion of that large
TO be ordered 10 the post of greatest ex-
posure. fortunately was not required out
side Of the United States. They did their
whole duty, and ike their comrades at the
'front.' have earned the gratitude of the
Nation In like manner, III. officers and
men Of the Army and of the Navy who re-
mained in their departments and stations
faithfully performing most important duties
Connected with the war. and whose re-
quests for assignment in the field and at
sea ] was compelled to refuse because their
services Were Indispensable here, are en-
titled To the highest commendation 1t ia
ny regret that there seems to be no pro-
vision for their suitable recognition.
In this connection it is a pleasure for me
10 mention In terms Of cordial appreciation
the timely and useful work of the American
National Red Cross both in relief measures
preparatory to the campaigns. in sanitary
assistance at several of tn, camps of as
semblage. and later. under the able and ex-
perienced leadership OF the president of the
society. Miss Clara Barton. on the fields OF
battle and In the hospitals at the front in
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