The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-12-07

The national defense fund of $4,000. 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-
duct of the war, the patriotism of the |
congress provided the means In the war
revenue act OF June 13, by authorizing a
3 per cent popular loan not to exceed
sl0O.0O0,0O0 and by levying additional i'm
ports and taxes.
OF the authorized loan, 5000 900. 900 were
offered and promptly taken, the subscrip-
tlons 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 a
most encouraging and significant result,
showing the vast resources OF the nation
and the determination of the people to
uphold their country's honor. tJ
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 q, 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 q, when detach-
| ment of the b.ockading 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 memorable epoch In maritime
warfare. The Pacific feet, under Com
modore George Dewey, had lain for some
| weeks at Hongkong.
At daybreak on the first of May the
| American force entered Manila bay, and
after a few hours engagement effected
the total destruction Of the Spanish feet
consisting Of 10 warships and transport.
| besides capturing the naval station and
forts at Cavite, thus annih.lating the
| Spanish naval power In the Pacific ocean
and completely controlling the bay of Ma
Mia, with the ability to take the city at
| will. Not life was lost on our ships, the
wounded only numbering seven while not
a vessel was materially injured.
| The effect of this r1markable victory
upon the spirit of our people and upon
the fortunes of the war was instant. A
prestige Of invincibility thereby attached
to our arms, which, continued throughout
| the struggle. Reini Clements were hur-
ried to Manila under the command of Maj.
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.
|
sibilities attending the enforcement Of
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
at Cardenas, gallant ensign. Worth
Bagley, and four seamen falling. These
grievous fatalities were, strangely enough
among the very few which occurred dur
ing our naval operations In this extraor-
binary 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 as 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.
i On June TO- under a heavy fire. a land
| ing of 900 marines was effected in Guam
tanamo bay where 1t had been determined
| to establish naval station. This inn
. portant and essential port was taken from
} the enemy after severe fighting by the
r marines. who were the first organized
force of the United States to land in Cuba
On June % the advance Of the invading
army under Maj. Gen. Shafter landed al
l 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 Ath 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 nightfall, however. ground within
{ five miles of Santiago was won. The ad
vantage was steadily increased. On July
a severe battle took place, our forces
gaining the outer works of Santiago; or
: the I'd El Caney and San Juan were tax
( en-, after desperate charge, and the in.
t vestment Of the city was completed. The
!. navy co-operated by shelling the towr
e and the coast forts.
e Decisive Naval Battle.
On the day following, July g.. occurred
:, the decisive naval combat of the war The
= Spanish fleet, attempting to leave the
o harbor,, was met by the American squad,
q son. In less than three hours all the
: Spanish ships were destroyed.
= With the catastrophe of Santiago
a Spain's effort upon the ocean virtually
: ceased. The capitulation of Santiago fol
;, lowed
y To those who gained this complete tri
~ umph, which established the ascendancy
y , Of the United States upon land, as the
!, fight off Santiago had fixed our supremacy
= upon the seas, the earnest and lasting
| no "a
y Nor should we alone remember the gal
= lantry of the living. The dead claim oul
A tears, and our losses by battle and disease
: : must cloud any exultation at the resul
o and teach US to weigh the awful cost o.
y y war.
Z With the fall of Santiago, the occupa
, tion OF Porto Rico became the mex
? strategic necessity. Gen. Miles had beef
n assigned to organize an expedition for tn,
e purpose. Fortunately he was already a
y Santiago. On July q he entered Ponce
I from which he thereafter directed opera
a tions for the capture of the island. Th
70 campaign was prosecuted with vigor, AM
y by the 18th of August plOst of the islant
y was in our possession and the acquisition
OF the remainder was only the matter o
] short time.
The last scene Of the war was enacte,
at Manila. its starting place, on Aug. IL
After brief assault upon the works b.
the land forces. in which the squadron as
I sisted, the capital surrendered uncondl
: tlonally. To Gen. Merritt, his officers an
D men. the nation is sincerely grateful.
:, 1t is fitting that should bear testimon
4 to the patriotism and devotion Of tn
= large portion of our army which, al
a though eager to be ordered to post o
greatest exposure, fortunately was no
required outside of the United States
!, They did their whole duty and hav
earned the gratitude of the nation.
e In this connection 1t is u pleasure 70
2 me to mention In terms of cordial ap
y probation the timely and useful work O
e the American National Red Cross unde
e | ha ohl In of Mice OloEo