The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-06

AllutN from July uAlu July 10 MHtHt
under menace of immediate assault, The
preiiminaries OF surrender were agreed
upon. On The 17th Gen Shaftef occupied
the city. The equalization embraced the
entire eastern end OF Cuba. The number
of Spanish soldiers surrendered was D.
coo, all of whom were subsequently con-
vcyed to Spain az the charge OF the United
States. The story OF this successful cam
paign Is told in the report OF the Secre-
tary of War. which will be laid before
you. The individual valor of officers and
soldiers was never more strilSngly shown
than In the several engagements leading
to the surrender Of Santiago, while the
prompt movements and successive Victo-
ries won instant and universal applause
To those who gained this complete tri-
umph, which established the ascendency
of the United States upon land, as the
fight off Santiago had fixed our suprema-
Cy on the seas, the earnest aud lasting
gratitude OF the nation Is unspar.ngly due.
Nor should we alone remember the gal
iantry of the living; tho dead claim our
tears, and our losses by battle and disease
must cloud any exultation at the result
and teach us to weigh he awful cost Of
war however rlghtful the cause or sig
nal the victory.
The Porto Hican Expedition.
With the fall OF Santiago, the occupation
of Porto Rico became the next stragetic
necessity. Gen Miles had previously been
assigned TO organize an expedition for that
purpose. Fortunately, he was already at
Santiago, where he had arrived on July
H. with achievements for Gen. Skaters
army
with these troops, consisting OF 34l5 in
fantry and artillery, two companies of en-
glnccrs and one company of the signal
corps Gen. Miles left Guantanamo on July
y, having nine transports conveyed by the
fleet under Capt. Hgglnson with the Mas
sachusetts (hagship). the Gloucester, the
Columbia and Yale, the two latter carry
ing the troops Tho expedition landed at
Guaulca July %. which port was entered
with little opposition. Here the fleet was
joined by the Annapolis and the Wasp,
while the Puritan and Amphtrlte went 10
San Juan ana joined the New Orleans.
which was engaged in blockading that
port The major general commanding
was subsequently reinforced by Gen.
Schwan's brigade OF the Third Army
Corps. by Cen Wilson with part OF his
division and Gen. Brooke with part OF
mis- corps, numbering ia all 1898 officers
and men.
on July p he entered Ponce, one Of the
most important ports in the island. from
which he thereafter directed operations
for the capture of the island.
With the exception Of encounters with
the enemy at Guayama. Hormgueros, Co.
amo and Yauco and an attack on a force
landed at Cape San Juan, there was no
serious resistance. The campaign was
prosecuted with great vigor. and by Aug
| IL much of the island was IN our possess
sion and the acquisition of the remainder
was on.y the matter of a short time. AZ
| most OF the points IN the island our troops
| were enthusiastically welcomed Protesta-
tons of loyalty 20 the flag, and gratitude
for delivery from Spanish rule met our
| commanders at every stage. AS a potent
influence toward peace the outcome OF
the Porto Rican expedition was of great
Importance and generous concentration is
| due to those who participated In It,
The last scene OF the war was enacted
at Manila, Its starting place. On Aug Is,
after a brief assault upon the works by
| the land forces, in which the squadron as
sisted, the capital surrendered uncondl-
tlonally The casualties were compare
lively few. BY this the conquest Of the
| Philippine Islands. virtually accomplished
| when the Spanish capacity for resistance
was destroyed by Admiral Deweys victory
OF the 1st of May. was formally sealed
! To Gen. Merritt, his officers and men for
! their accomplishing and devoted service
! and for their gallantry In action, the ma
! ton IS sincerely grateful Their long Voy-
! age was made with singular success and
the soldierly conduct OF the men, most OF
whom were without previous experience In
| the military service, deserves unmeasured
/ praise.
Killed and Wounded I'm the War.
The total casualties in killed and wound
ed in the army during the war with Spain
| were: Officers killed, %; enlisted meu
| killed, 257; total, go; officers wounded. ll3
enlisted men wounded. 1,464; total. 1851
! OF the navy: Killed II; wounded 81; died
as result Of wounds. /; invalided from
service, &C.; total, 81 1t will be observed
that while our navy was engaged In two
! great battles and in numerous perilous
undertakings in blockade and lombard
nent, and more than 5000 OF our troops
| were transported to distant lands and were
| engaged in assault and siege and battle
! and many skirmishes in unfamiliar ter
! ritory we lost In both arms Of the ser
/ vice a total OF .eGs killed and wounded
and i'm the entire campaign by land and
! sea we did not lose a gun or flag or a
| transport or a ship, and with the exception
Of the crew of the Merrimac not a sol.
der or sailor was taken prisoner.
! on Aug. Z. forty-six days from
! the date of the landing
Of Gen. shafter's army in Cuba and twen-
| ly-one days from the surrender Of Santi-
ago the United States troops commenced
! embarkation for home, and our entire
| force was returned 10 the United States
| as carly as Aug. q. They were absent
| from the United States only two months
! 1t Is fitting that should bear testimony
/ TO the patriotism and devotion OF thai
| large portion of our army which. although
| eager TO be ordered to the post OF greatest
| exposure, fortunately was not required
outside Of the United States. They did
| their whole duty. and, like their COM
! rades at The front have earned the graft
| tude OF the nation. In like manner the
officers and men OF the army and Of the
| navy who remained in their departments
and stations, faithfully performing most
! important duties connected with the war,
and whose requests for assignment in the
field and at sea. l was compelled to re-
fuse because their services were indis-
pensab,e here, are entitled 10 the highest
| commentator II Is my regret that there
seems 60 be no provision for their suita-
bic recognition.