The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-12-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
lcontlnuad trom arpt paHe.l


wnH. by disease IN camp ana fiold, ON.
GERS and mon included. only nys
Tho national defense under tho 50,OOOO 900
fund wua expended In large part by tho
army and tho navy and tho objects for
which II was used are fully shown IN mo
reports VI th0 several secretaries, II was
u most timely appropriation, enabling tho
government 10 strengthen liB defensos
and 10 make preparations greatly needed
IN ease of war. This fund being made
quhto 10 the requirements of equipment
FOR mo conduct NJ tho war. tho patriot
Ism NJ tho congress provided tho means
IN tho whr revenue not 0f June " by auth
orlElnR n Q por cent popular loan not 10
exceed l00.OO0,OO0 and by lcyylng additional
imports and taxes. on tho auihOrlzed
loan ia0.OOO.O0O were offered aud promptly
tlkon from tho subscriptions 20 FAR OK
cecdlnR tho call 10 10 cover n many
times over. whllo preference being given
10 iho smaller bids. no single allotment
exceeded $500 ThIa wns most ol,-
couraglnR ana significant result. showing
tho vast resources OF the nation and tho
determination Of tho people 90 uphold
their oounlryb honor
DEwEY'S GRAND VICTORY
n IL not within the province Of this
message 10 nariuto the history Of tho
extraordinary war that followed the
Spanish declaration OF April n. but a
brief recital Of In moro salient features
iH appropriate. Ino iirnt encounter Of
war In point " date. took place April
"a. when detachment Of the blockadlng
squadron made a reconnaissance IN forc
at MaianEan. shnlled the harbor forii-
noatiOnH ana demolished several now
works In construction. Tho next engage
mont was destined 10 mark memorable
epovh In maritime warfare. Tho Pacific
fleet. under Commodore George Dewey.
had lain for some weeks at iiongkong
Upon tho colonial proclamation OF ncli.
talily being issued and tho customary
"a hours notice being given. u repaired
to Mira bay. near IlonKkonR. whence n
proceeded 20 the Philippine Islands under
tolegrhphlo orders 10 capture or destroy
the formidable Spanish feet then Assem-.
blcd at Manila. A. daybreak on the ist
" May tho American force entered Ma
Mia lay ana after few houra' engage.
mont effected tho total destruction OF
the spanish iioot. consisting Of 10 war
ships and a transport. besides capturing
tho naval station and forts at cayllc.
thus annihllnling the spanish naval power
In tho Pacific ocean and completely con.
trolling tho bay of Manila. with the abll.
ny 20 take tho city az Will Not a llfo
Was lost on our ships. tho wounded mum.
boring only seven. while not vessel waa
materially injured. For this gallant
achievement the congress. upon my rec
ommcndatlon. ftly bestowed upon tho
actors prcfcrIncnl and substantial re-.
ward
Tho eject OF this remarkable victory
upon tho spirit of our people and upon
tho fortunes of tho war was Instant A
prestige Of inyincibllly thereby attached
10 our arms. whlch continued throughout
tie struggle, RclnforccmenH were hur.
rird 20 Manila under the command OF
Major General Merritt ana hrmly cslab.
ilshod within sight OF the capital which
lay hoiplcua before our guns. on the iih
day Of May tho government Was advised
ofilc.hily of the victory At Manila and
ag once inquired u the commander OF our
nc-i what troops were required. The In
formation was received ON the Eth day
OF May. and the nrHl army expedition
sailed May 3 and arrived at Manila June
% Other expeditions soon followed. tho
total force consisting Of ca offirrs and
iSoS men.
Only reluctance 20 cause needless loss
Of lltc and properly prevented the early
storming and capture " the city. and
herewith tho absolute military occupa-
ton Of the whole group Tho insurgents,
mcanNqhllc. had resumed the active hoe.
tiliilos suspended by the incomplete truce
OF Dercmbcr 1897. Their forces invested
Manila on the northern and eastern
sides. hut were constrained by Admiral
Dewey and General Merritt from at.
tempting an assault. II was fitting that
Whatever was 20 be DOM IN the way Of
decisive operations In that quarter should
bo accomplished by the strong arm OF
the United States alone, Obcying the
stern prccvpt OF war. which enjoins the
overcoming OF the adversary and the ex-
tlnclion OF his power wherever assallaho
aA the speedy and sure means to win a
peace divided victory was not pcrmis-
piblc for no partition ot the rights and
responsibilities attending the enforce
mcni Of JUS, and advantageous peace
could b. thought o. Following the COM
Ing OF tho comprehensive scheme OF gen,
cral attack. powerful forces were assem-.
blcd at various points on our coast TO In
wade cuba and Porto Rico, Meanwhile,
naval demonstrations were made at sew
cral exposed points. ON May III the
cruiser Wilmington and tOrpcdo.boat
winalow were unsuccessful In an at
tempt TO silence the batteries AZ Cardcnas,
against MstanEas. Worth Baglcy and
four scamen failing. These grlcvous Ia
talltics were strangely enough among the
worry few which occurred during our naval
operations In this extraordinary conflict.
Meanwhile, the Spanish naval prepare
tlons had been pushed with great vigor.
A powerful squadron under Admiral Ger
vera. which had assembled at the Cape
Verde islands, before tho beginning OF
hoatilitics. had crossed the Atlantic and
by It's crratlc movements In the Carrlb-
bean sea delayed our military operations,
whllo battling the pursuit Of our fleet.
For u time fears were felt lest the ore
gon and Marietta, then nearing home
after their long voyage from San Fran
cisco OF over lb,OOO miles, might be sur
nrised by Admiral Cerveras fleet, but
their fortunate arrival dlspclled the Np-
prohenslons aud lent much needed re.
Not until Admiral Cervera
Cuba, about May ., was It practicable to
plan u systematic military attack upon
the Antlllean possessions OF Spain,
Several demonstrations occurred on the
coast OF Cuba and Porto Rico In propar-
nton for the larger event, on May II
the North Atlantic squadron shelled San
Juan do Porto Rico. on May 80 Commo-
1ore Schley's squadron bombarded tho
forts guarding the mouthde Santiago har-
Dor. Neither attack ~ y material
result II was evIdpl@ J ordered
land operations werj a.NpensOble 70
achieve decided advantage,
HoBsoN's GREAT ACT
The next net In the war thrilled not
alone the hearts OF our countrymen, but
the world, by It's exceptional herolsm.
On the night of June 3 Lieutenant Hob
son, aided by seven devoted volunteers,
blocked the narrow outlet from Santiago