The times., 1898-12-03

| hauled down and the American flag
| raised. The prisoners captured at Manila
! We're nearly 1900; also 22.000 stand OF
| arms.
The cablegram sent August II to Gen.
| Merritt containing the text OF the Presi-
dents proclamation directing a cessation
| of hostilities, was not received by him
| until August 16.
Casualties: II enlisted men killed, 10
officers and sc enlisted men wounded.
| Capture of Porto Rico.
The Porto Rico expedition under Maj.
| Gen. Miles, commanding the army, sailed
from Charleston. July 8. and landed at
Guanica, July 25 Other troops under
Gen. Brooke arrived at Guanica. Guaya-
| ma, Ponce and Arroyo, from July q to
August 16 After engagements at Guani-
ca and Yauco. the Spaniards being de-
| feated, the navy entered the harbor OF
| Ponce. Other actions followed the Ameri-
| can advance In six successful engage
ments Gen. Miless losses were three en-
| listed men killed, four officers and thirty
| six enlisted men wounded. Many Span
| iards had been killed and wounded, and
| a large portion of the island occupied
when the protocol was signed. August IL.
| Congress has ratified the cession of the
| Hawaiian Islands to the United States on
|
%. The American flag was raised over
| the islands August II.
| The order to muster out 100000 volun-
| teers was issued August IS.
| THE army was organized, armed and
equipped (no supplies being on hand other
than those for the regulars. save Spring
! field muskets), and 80, 600 men of this force
were transported by land and sea TO bat
tlefields in the tropics u, 900 miles apart,
I phlr fhAx. tla..ir tariAS hot a
single defeat. and all within the period of
| one hundred and thirteen days from the
| declaration of war to the signing of the
! protocol.
This great achievement can be credited
to no Individual; II belongs to the nation.
| 1t was accomplished through the dntelli-
| gence and patriotism of all who served,
| from the commander-in-chief TO the pri-
vate in the ranks. 1t also speaks vol
| umes for the prompt, patriotic and intelli-
| gent assistance of the people who fur
| nished in SO short period the supplies
necessary to prepare this great army for
| the field. To the heroic men who served
| in distant lands the country will ever offer
a true need of praise; but the mighty
army In camp. ready and eager to take
| the field, should also be given equal credit.
| II was their presence, ready at an hour s
notice for any emergency, that overawed
resistance would be in vain
| Increase of Army Recommended.
In recommending that the reSu az army
be permanently increased TO 100000 men,
Secretary Alger says:
IN view of the needs of a military
force in the islands occupied by the Unit
ed States the increase is earnestly rec
commended. with the requisite officers;
that a portion of this army be recruited
from the inhabitants of those islands to
be mustered into the service of the Unit.
ed States, and commanded by officers Of
our army. discretion, however, 10 b. given
to the President to make appointments of
officers from the force so recruited
These men are acclimated, u.de.s AMI
the language and habits of Their coun-
trymen, and their enlistment will not only
give them employment but also have a
tendency TO enable the Government to get
into closer touch with their people than
it would otherwise be able to do This
would also relieve our own people from
| serving in those climates to a large eX-
: tent. and would. moreover, enable the
volunteers TO be mustered out of the SER
,, vice and return to the ayocations of civil
. life.
( | and the volunteer is very sharply drawn
The regular enters the service be cause he
prefers the life of soldier. Not SO The
S volunteer. He enlists for an active cam
f paign. When that is over and the enemy
, has laid down its arms, he at once de
n sires to return TO civil life.
in the cities of Cuba Porto Rico, anJ
n the Philippines there should. also be en-
ployed and sworn into the service Of th
: United States a constabulary force fol
: police duty-men who have had expert
n ence and who can speak the language
: of those islands. thus relieving our sol
:. ders from that work"
u 1t is stated that to supply food fo
: the destitute, especially in Cuba, mus
. tax this Government greatly for a tim
II at least.
THE deaths in the army from May
s to October !, including killed, died o
/, wounds and of disease, were 2,9l0. TIL
ID smallest death rate recorded of any arm
r in history, a most gratifying fact when
s is considered that over 5000 OF ou
troops, born and reared In the TEN per
IS ate zone, were campaigning in tropica
l. climates, subject to rain and heat almos
unprecedented"
I'd Would it not be wise economy for tn
l. Government of the United States TO cor
m struct a substantial railroad, practcali
* the whole length of the Island of Cubs
"a with branch roads to the leading cities @
VI the coast?" says Secretary Alger. Sue
y a road would. of course, cost large sun
II perhaps $50, ,000, eco; but it would give en-
III ployment TO the people of Cuba, teac
them habits of industry, be Undue,
ment for them to cultivate their farm
,r and thus furnish supplies for the Labor
l. ers andsfor market when the road is cor
structed. This, in my judgment, Is al
solutely essential to the pacifcation an
L. development of that great island.
er will bring its minerals, lumber and agr
ST cultural products to market and open u
communication with all parts of the is
rp and with the least possible delay. II
&. road would be a good property. and whe
as IL had served its purpose for the Govern
is ment could be sold for its cost. If sue
)n an Improvement is not made, the Co
sh ernment will no doubt expend fully tn;
he amount in charity.
IL Even if this road be built, there
immediate necessity for q large appr,
or priation to relieve the destitute. Man
n of the Cubans have no means of supper
in no homes, little clothing. no animals
1t, farming tools and no seed for planting
n The question of sanitation of the citi,
lis of Cuba and Porto Rico to stamp o,
e the scourge of yellow fever is treated, an
ng it is recommended that a sufficient pa
he of the customs duties and other tax,
in collected in those islands should be e,
pended for that work.
d. Military relief for the people in II
l. Yukon region is also treated, and Il
- erection in Washington of a suitab
monument "as a fitting tribute to Il
memory of that distinguished soldie
Gen. Grant is strongly urged.