The evening times., 1898-12-05

the HlSHt OF June 5, Lieut.. ftoDSOn, aided
by seven devoted volunteers, blocked the
narrow outlet from Santiago harbor by
sinking the collier Merrimac in the cham
mel. under a fierce fire from the shore bat
teries. escaping with their lives by a
miracle, but falling into the hands of the
Spaniards. itsiS most gratifying Incl
dent CT the war that the bravery of this
little band Of 'hefoes was cordially appre-
ciated by the Spanish admiral who sent
a flag of truce 10 notify Admiral Samp-
son of theig safety and to compliment
them on theft dafing act. They We're sub
sequently exchanged July T.
TAKING "F GUANTANAMO.
By June the cutting of the last Cuban
cable isolated the Island. Thereafter the
invasion was vigorously prosecuted. On
June 10, under a heavy protecting fire, a
landing of 600 marines from the Oregon
Marblehead and Yankee was effected in
Guantanamo Bay, where it had been de-
termined TO establish a naval station.
This important and essential port was
taken from the enemy after severe fight
ing by the marines, who We're the first or
ganized force of the United States to land
in Cuba.
The position so won was held despite
desperate attempts to dislodge our
forces. by June 10 duulL4OHdi lG-EtS were
landed and strongly intrenched. On June
% the advance of the Invading army un-
der Major Gen. Shafter landed at Bal
quiri about fifteen miles east of Santa
go. This was accomplished under great
difficulties but with marvellous dispatch
On June 23 the movement against Sam
tiago was begun. On the 24th 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. Whee er's
division, participated, losing heavily. By
nightfall. however, ground within five
miles of Santiago was won. The advan-
tage was steadily increased. On July /
severe battle took place, our forces
gaining the outworks of Santiago: on the
I'd El Caney and San Juan We're taken
after d desperate charge, and the invest
ment of the city was completed. The
navy co-operated by sheling the town
and the coast forts.
CERVERA'S FLEET DESTROYED.
On the day following this brilliant
achievement of our land forces. the 81 of
July, occurred the decisive naval combat
OF the war. The Spanish fleet, attempt
ing to leave the harbor. was met by the
American squadron under command Of
Commodore Sampson. In less than three
hours all the Spanish ships were destroy
ed the two torpedo boats being sunk.
and the Maria Teresa, Amirante Oqu n
do Vizcaya and Cristobal Colon driven
ashore. The Spanish admiral and over
| 800 men were taken prisoners, while the
enemy's loss of life was deplorably large
some 600 perishing. On our side but cne
man was killed, on the Brooklyn, and
one man seriously wounded. Although
our ships We're repeatedly struck. not one
| was seriously injured. Where all so con-
| spicuously distinguished themselves,
from the commanders to the gunners
and the unnamed heroes in the boiler
rooms, each and all contributing toward
; the achevementiof this astounding vic
tory. for which Beither ancient nor mod
ern history affords parallel in the COM
pleteness of the event and the marvellous
dlsproportion OF casualties, it would be
invidious TO single out any for esp cial
honor. Deserved promotion has reward
ed the more conspicuous actors-the ma
tons profoundest ratitude IS due to a !
of these brave men who by their SIX II
and devotion in a few short hours crush
ed the sea power of Spain and wrought a
triumph whose decisiveness and far.
| reaching consequences cs:s scarcely b.
| the achievements of our builders. me-
chanics, and artisans for their skill in
the construction of our warships
With the catastrophe of Santiago Spain's
effort upon the ocean virtually ceased. A
spasmodic effort toward the end of June
10 send her Mediterranean feet under Ad-
miral Camara TO relieve Manila was aban-
doned. the expedition being recalled after
1t had passed through the Suez Canal.
THE FALL OF SANTIAGO.
The capitulation of Santiago followed.
The city was closely besieged by land,
while the entrance of our ships into the
harbor cut off all relief on that side.
After a truce to allow of the removal OF
noncombatants protracted negotiations
continued from July Sd until July 18th.
when, under menace of immediate assault.
the preliminartes of surrender were agreed
upon. On the 18th General Shafter Ocu-
pied the city. The capitulation embraced
the entire eastern end of Cuba. The num-
ber of Spanish soldiers surrendering was
%, 900, all of whom were subsequently con-
veyed to Spain at the charge of the Unit
ed States. The story of this successful
campaign is told in the report of the Sec
retary of War, which will be laid before
you. The individual yalor of officers ard
soldiers never more strikingly shown
than in the several engagements leading
to the surrender of Santiago while the
prompt movements and successive victor
les won instant and universal applause.
To those who gained this complete tri-
umph. which established the ascendency
nf the United States upon land the
fight off Santiago had fixed our supremacy
on the seas. the earnest and lasting graf
itude of the nation is unsparingly due
Nor should we alone remember the gal
lantry of the living; the dead claim our
tears, and our losses by battle and disease
must cloud any exultation at the result
and teach us to weigh the awfulcost of
war. however rightful the cause or signal
the victory.
THE CAMPAIGN IN PORTO RICO.
With the fall of Santiago the occupation
of Porto Rico became the next strategic
necessity. General Miles had previously
been assigned to organize an expedition
for that purpose. Fortunately he was al
ready al Santiago, where he had arrived
on the 18th of July with re-enforcements
for General Skaters army.
With these troops, consisting of 3, AS in
fantry and artillery, two companies of
engineers, and one company of the Sig
mo on July q, having nine transorts con-
voyed by the fleet under Captain Hig-
ginson with the Massachusetts (fagship),
Dixie, Gloucester, Columbia and Yale, the
two latter carrying troops. The expedi-
ton landed at Guanica July 25, which |
port was entered with little opposition.
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