Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-12-08

General Miles IeIC GudHtaudAio q Wy
having nine transports conveyed by the
fleet under Captain Higginson, with the
Massachusetts (1agship), Dixie, Glouces-
fer Columbia and Yale, the two latter
CARRYING troops. The expedition Landed
at Guanica July %, which port was en-
tered with little opposition. The Major
General commanding was subsequently
REINFORCED by General Schwanns pri-
gade of the Third Army Corps, by Gener
also by General Brooke, with part or
his corps, numbering in all 1898 officers
and men. ~,
July ~ he entered Ponce, one of the
most important ports of the island, from
which he thereafter directed operations
for the capture of the island. =,
With the exception Of encounters with
the enemy at Guayama, Hermlgueres,
Coamo and Yauco, and an attack on
force landed at Cape San Juan, there
was no serious resistance. The campaign
was prosecuted with great vigor, and by
the 18th of August much of the island
was in our possession, and the acquisition
of the remainder was only a matter OF
short time.
The last scene of the war was enacted
at Manila, it's starting place. Aug. 10,
after brief assault upon the works by
the land forces, in which the squadron
assisted, the capital surrendered uncon-
ditionally. The casualties were compare
lively few. By this conquest Of the Phil
ippine Islands, virtually accomplished
when the Spanish capacity for resistance
was destroyed by Admiral Dewey's vic
tory of the list of May, victory was for
mally sealed. To General Merritt, his Of
fcers and men, for their accompanying
and devoted services, for their gallantry
in action, the nation is sincerely grateful.
Their long voyage was made with sngu-
lar success, and the soldierly conduct or
the men, most of whom were without
previous experience in the military serv-
ice, deserves unmeasured praise.
Total Casualties of the War.
The total casualties in killed and
wounded in the army during the war was
as follows: Officers killed, %; enlisted
men killed, 257;, total, $50; officers
1,464; total 1877. OF the navy: Killed,
II; wounded, 81; died as result Of
wounds, 1; invaded from service, g.;
total, 81.
It will be observed that while our navy
was engaged in two great battles and in
numerous perilous undertakings in block
AIDES and bombardment, and more than
fifty thousand of our troops were trans
ported to distant lands and engaged in
assault and siege and battle and many
skrmishes in unfamiliar territory, we
lost in both arms of the service a total Of
1,66S killed and wounded; and in the en-
tire campaign by land and sea we did not
lose a gun or a flag or a transport ship,
and with the exception of the crew of the
Merrimac not soldier or sailor was
taken prisoner.
Aug. Z, forty-six days from the date of
the landing of General Skaters army in
Cuba, and twenty-One days from the sur
render of Santiago, the United States
troops commenced embarkation for home,
and our entire force was returned to the
United States as early as Aug. "a. They
were absent from the United States only
two months.
1t is fitting that I should bear testi-
mony to the patriotism and devotion of
that large portion of our army which, al
though eager to be ordered to the post of
greatest exposure, was not required out
side of the United States. They did their
whole duty and earned the gratitude of
the nation. It is my regret that there
seems to be no provision for their suitable
recognition.
In this connection it is a pleasure for
me to mention in terms of cordial appre
citation the timely and useful work Of the
American National Red Cross, both in re-
lief measures preparatory to the cam
paigns, in sanitary assistance at several
of the camps of assemblage, and later,
under the able and experienced leader
ship of the President of the society, Miss
Clara Barton, on the fields of battle and
in the hospitals at the front in Cuba.
In tracing these events we are con-
stantly reminded of our obligations to the
Divine Master for His watchful care
over us and His safe guidance, for which
the nation makes reverent acknowledge
ment and offers humble prayer for the
continuance of His favor.
ho ilafin Of (l11oip "a
feet, followed by the capitulation of San
tiago, having brought to the Spanish Gov
eminent realizing sense of the hope
lessness of continuing a struggle now be-
coming wholly unequal, it made overtures
of peace through the French ambassador.
On the Goth of July NJ. Cambon present
ed a communica ton signed by the Duke
of Almodovar, the Spanish minister of
state, inviting the United States to state
the terms upon which it would be willing
to make peace. July 30 the terms of this
government were announced, substantial
" as in the protocol afterward signed.
Aug. 10 the Spanish reply, dated Aug. z,
tary of State. 1t accepted uncondition-
ally the terms imposed as to Cuba, Porto
Rico and an island of the Ladrones
group, but appeared to seek to introduce
inadmissible reservations in regard to
our demand as to the Philippines.
Signing of the Protocol.
Conceiving that discussion on this point
could neither be practicable nor profit
able, directed that in order to avoid mis-
understanding the matter should be
forthwith closed by proposing the embodi-
ment in a formal protocol of the terms
in which the negotiations for peace were
to be undertaken. The vague and mex
plieit suggestions of the Spanish note
could not be accepted, the only reply be-
ing to present as a virtual ultimatum
draft Of the protocol embodying the pre-
else terms % tepaf f t. sca!T = or nets
detail as to the appointment of commits
sioners to arrange for the evacuation of
the Spanish Antilles. On the afternoon
of Aug. II NJ. Cambon, as the plenipoten-
tiary of Spain, and the Secretary of
State, as the plenipotentiary of the Uni
ted States, signed protocol
Immediately upon the conclusion of the
protocol l issued a proclamation on Aug.
S,1SranHinp hnSfiljfiaS on ho ,.f Of