The Globe-republican., 1898-12-08

| Of Spain and wrought . triumph whose ders..
tveness and far reaching effects can scarcely be
measured Nor can ", b unmindful Of the
achievements Of our builders, mechanics and
| artisans for their skill in tho construction of
our warships.
THE SURRENDER OF SANTIAGO.
| With the catastrophe Of Santiago SPANS ef-
| fort upon the ocean virtually ceased. A SPAS
modic effort toward the end Of June to send
her Mediterraa can feet under Admiral Camara
| TO relieve Manila was abando led the expedition
being recalled after it had passed through the
Suez canal. The capulation Of Santiago fol-
! lowed The city was closely besieged oy land,
while the entrance Of our ships into the harbor
cut on all relief on that side. After truce to
allow the removal Of non-combatants protract-
| ed negotiations continued from July until
July 10. when under the menace Of imme late
assault the preliminaries Of surrender were
agreed upon. On the 18th General Shafter oc-
cupied tho city. The capitulatiou embra:ed
the entire eastern end Of Cuba The number of
Spanish soldiers surrendered was 1000. all Of
whom were subsequently conveyed to Spain 1t
the charge Of the United States.
The story Of this successful campaign Is told
In tho report OF the secretary Of war which will
be laid before you. The individual valor Of ON
GERS and soldiers was neve. more strikingly
shown than In the ;, veral engagements leading
to the surrender Of Santiago. while the prompt
movements and SUGGEST We victories won in
slant and universal applause. To those who
gained this complete triumph which established
the ascendency Of the United States upon land
as the fight Oh Santiago had fixed our suprem-
acy on the seas, the earnest gratitude Of the
nation Is unSparingly due. Nor should We alone
remember the gallantry Of the living. the dead
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. rlghtful 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 an expe iition for that purpose For.
tunately he was already at Santiago. where he
had arrived on the 18th OF July with reinforce
ments for General Skaters army.
OCCUPATION OF PORTO RICO.
With these troops, consisting Of 3. AIS infantry
and artillery, two companies OF engineers and
one company Of the signal corps. General Miles
left Guantanamo on July p having nine trans
ports conveyed by the feet under Captain Hig
ginson with the Massachusetts, (dagship),
Dixie. Gloucester. Columbia and Yale. the two
latter carrying troops. The expedition landed
at Guanica July ., which port Was entered
with little opposition. Here the feet was
Joined by the Annapolis and Wasp. while the
Puritan and Amphitrite went to San Juan and
Joined the New Orleans which was eng aged In
blockading that port The major general COM
manding was subsequently reinforced BY Gen.
eral Schwann's brigade of the Third army
corps by General Wilson, with part Of his di-
vision and also by General Brooke with part
of his corps, numbering in all l6.973 omcers and
men.
On July q he entered Ponce. one of the most
n 10 ho
thereafter directed operations Of the capture Of
the island.
With the exception of encounters with the
enemy at Guyana, Hormiguerez, Coamo and
Yauco and an attack on o force landed at Cape
San Juan, there was no serious resistance 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-
mainder was only matter Of short time At
most Of the points in the island, our troop,
were enthusiastically welcomed Protestations
Of loyalty to the nag and gratitude for delivery
from Spanish rule met our commanders at every
STAGE As potent influence toward peace, the
outcome Of the Porto Rican expedition was Of
great consequence and generous commentator
IS due to those who participated lit
LAST SCENE OF THE WAR
The last scene Of the war was enacted at Ma
Mia, its starting place On August 18th after q
forces, In which the squadron assisted, the cap
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
fuL. Their long voyage was made with singular
success and the soldierly conduct Of the men,
as Of whom many were without previous ex-
perience in the military services, deserves un-
measured praise.
the army during the war was as follows: Onlcers
killed, %; enlisted men killed, 257; total I'D;
officers wounded, 113; enlisted men wounded
1.46a; total 81 Of the navy. killed II: wounded
81; died as result Of wounds, one; invaded from
service 6; total 81.
It will be observed that while our navy was
engaged In two great battles and in numerous
perilous undertakings in the blockades. and
bombardment and more than 50. 900 Of our troops
were transported to distant lands. and engaged
in assault and siege and battle and many skirm-
ishes in unfamiliar territory, We lost In both
arms OF the service a total Of 1.66S killed and
wounded; and in the entire campaigning by
land and sea We did not lose gun or o Tag or .
transport or a ship. and with the exception Of
the crew Of the Merimac, not soldier or a sailor
was taken prisoner.
On August It'll, forty -six days from the date
Of landing OF General Skaters army In Cuba
and twenty -one days from the surrender Of San
tiago, the United States troops commenced en-
barkation for home and our entire force was re-
turned to the United States as early as August
9th. They were absent from the United States
only two months.
It Is fitting that should bear testimony to
the patriotism and devotion Of that largo pof-
ton Of our army which, although eager TO be
ordered to the post Of greatest exposure. for
tunately was not required outside Of the United
States. They did their whole duty and like
their comrades at the front. have earned the
gratitude Of the nation In like manner. the
ofncers and men Of the army and of the navy
who remained In their departments and sta.
lions Of the navy. performing most important |
duties connected with the war. and whose re- |
ouests for assignment in the field and at sea IL