Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-12-09

of Spain and wrought o triumph whose decis-
iyeneSs and fur reaching effects can scarcely be
measured. Nor con W, be unmindful OF the
achievements of car builders, mech mics and
nr i>ans for thei, skill in .he construct on OF
our warships
THE SURRENDER OF SANTIAGO.
With the catastrophe OF Santiago SPANS eff
fort upon the ocean virtually ceased. spas
modio cffor. toward the end OF June to send
her Mediterra can fleet under Admiral Camara
to relieve Manila was abando ed the expedition
being recalled after 1t had passed through tho
Suoz canal The population of Santiago fol-
lowed Tho city was closely besicgcd y land,
while the entrance Of our ships into the harbor
cut OIL all relief on that side. After u truce to
allow tho -emeyNi OF non oombatants protract-
ed negotiations continued from July 3 until
July Is, when under the IN >nica OF inme iatc
assault the preiminaricS OF surten Ter were
agreed upon. ON the 18th General Shaftcr &C.
cupied the city The capitalization embraced
the entire eastern end Of Cuba The number OF
Spanish soldiers surrendered was 2s0JO, all OF
whom were subsequently conveyed to Spain at
the charge Of the United Stato'
The story OF this succe Ssful clmpllg1 is told
In the report Of tho secretary OF war which will
lie laid before YOU. The individual valcr Of on
GERS and soldiers was ncve' moro strikngly
shown than in the s veral engagements leading
to the surren dor OF Santiago, while the prompt
movements and successi We victories won in
stant and universal applause. TO those who
gained this complete triumph which established
tho ascendeacy of the United States upon land
as the fight oil Santiago had fixed our suprem-
acy on the seas, the earnest gratitude OF the
nation Is unsparingly due. Nor should We alone
remember the gall ,ntry of the living, the deal
claim our tears and losses by battle and disease
must cloud any exultation at the result and
teach us the weight and awful cost Of war. how
ever. rightfu the cause or signal the victory.
With the fall OF Santiago, the occupation OF
Porto Rico became the next stategic necessity.
General Miles had previously been assigned to
organize IN expe lition for that purpose For
tunately he was already at Santiago, where he
had arrived on the nth of July with reinforcc-
ments for General Skaters army.
OCCUPATION or PORTO RICO
With these troops, consisting OF 3,il5 infantry
and artillery, two companies of engineers al
ole company OF the signal corps. General Miles
left Guantanamo on July u hagn, nine trans
por.s conveyed b. the fleet under Captain Hig-
ginson vita the massachusetts Ulagship),
DixiI Gloucester. Columbia and Yale, the two
latter carrying tr JopS. The expedition lanie
at Guanica July -. which port was entered
with little opposition. Here the fleet was
joined by the Annapolis and Wasp while the
joined The sew Orleans, which was en- ;aged in
blockadiny that port The major general COM
handing was subsequently reinforced by Cen
eral Schwanns brigade of the Third army
corps b. General Wilson, with part o! his d.
YlSion and also BIZ General Brooke with par,
of his corps, numbering in all 1898 officers and
men.
On July = he entered Ponce, one 81 the most
important ports in the island, from which he
thereafter directed operations OF tho capture OF
the island.
With the exception of encounters with the
enemy at Guaya,ua Hormguercz, Coanno and
Eauco, and an attack on a force landed at Cape
san Juan. there was no serious ressta zee. 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 re-
maildcr was only matter Of Il short time. At
most of the points in the island, our troop,
were Enthusiastically welcomed Protestaton'
of loyalty to the flag and gratitude for delivery
from Spanish rule met our commanders ut every
stage, As a potent influence toward peace, the
outcome Of the Porto RicaH expedition was OF
great consequence and generous commentator
is due to those who participated n it.
LAST SCENE OF THE WAR.
The last scene Of the war was enacted ut Ma
Mia. its starting place. On August 18th after
brief assault upon the works by the land
ital surrendered Internationally. The casual
ties were comparatively few. BY this conquest
OF the Philippine islands virtually accomplished
when the Spanish capacity for resistance was
destroyed by Admiral Dewey's victory Of the
LIST of May, was formally sealed To General
Merritt, his officers and men for their uncOm-
planning and devoted services for their gal
lantry in action, the nation Is sincerely CRATE
full Their long voyage was made with singular
success, and the soldierly conduct OF the men,
as Of whom many were without previous ex-
pcrience In the military services, deserves I'M
measured praise.
The total casualties in killed and wounded In
the army during the war was rs follows: Omcers
killed, %; enlisted men killed, PSI; total 49,
officers wounded, us; enlisted men wounded
l.i6i; total ,571 Of the navy, killed III wounded
u; died as result OF wounds, one; invalided from
service : total 81.
II will be observed that while our navy was
engaged in two great battles and in numerous
pcrous undertakings in the blockadcs and
bomDarimcrt and mora than ln,'0J OF our troops
were tr0 sport I'd to slant lands, and engaged
in assault and siege and battle and many skirm-
ishes in unfamiliar territory, we lost in both
arms of the service total of l,c6s killed and
wounded; ana in the entire campaigning by
LAID and sea wo did not lose gun or n flag or a
transport n ship and with the exception of
the crew OF the Mer!mac, not u soldier or sailor
was taken prisoner.
On August 7th., forty-six days from the date
of landing of General Skaters army in Cuba
and twenty lone days from the surrender Of San
tiago, the United States troops commenced en-
barliation for home and our entire force was re-
turned to the United States as carly as August
eth. They were absent from the United States
only two months.
1t is fitting that should bear testimony to
the patriotism and devotion of that large por-
-