The times., 1898-12-03

teresting but COIorIess Document.
The annual report of the Secretary of
War was given out for publication yes
terday afternoon. The document is
voluminous one, covering 2Sl printed
pages, and describing military matters
and movements from the destruction OF
the battleship Maine in the harbor of
Havana to the peace confererce at Paris.
The Introductory chapter states that
war with the kingdom of Spain was de-
clared April q, 1895 BY proclamation of
April % the President called for 125 600
volunteers, and ON May % he called for
an additional force of 5000. Congress
also authorized an increase of the regu-
lar army to 81 600 men, and in addition
provided for sixteen regiments of volun-
teer infantry Qmmunes), cavalry, and en-
gineers.
The appropriation of s5O00o.e0l for tie
national defense, made by Congress On
the 9Th day of March last without dis
senting vote, reused the enthusiasm Of
into one patriotic thought.
.At that time the defenseless con-
dition of our harbors and ocean cities
and towns caused great apprehension
among the people along the coast. The
Fastening of work on fortificat.ons and
the placing of mines in our harbors was
therefore of the first Importance; and, ac-
cordngly. every energy was bent from
that time forward by the chief of en-
giHeers and chief of ordnance to that
| end In addition to those already in
place. 1S5 guns, including mortars. We're
mounted; lG2 seacoast carriages provided;
l3 temporary batteries constructed at i'm
! portant points and over l,5G0 subma inc
mines planted in 2S different ha' bors.
ION April 15 orders were issued con-
| centrating the regular army in camps i'll
the Southern States, where the yolunt GERS
| followed, nearly l25. 900 having been mus
tered into service by May 81,
Soon after the declaration Of war. a
movement was contemplated looking TO
the investment of Havana. and orders TO
| that effect were issued; and also fot a
reconnaissance In force along the south
| coast of Cuba but the movement of the
cnemy's fleet changed these plans and
eliminated in the campaign of Santiago
American Army in Action.
The report then gives an outline OF
the three campaigns-in Santiago, the
Philippines, and Porto Rico.
On June Il Maj. Gen. Shafter. with his
command, sailed from Tampa for Santi-
| ago. On June % his troops landed al
| Rsiquiri. Two days later the engagement
of La Guasima occurred; and on July !
3 and the battles of Ell Caney and Sar
Juan Hill, in front of Santiago, wert
fought. After the cessation of firing
about noon, on the 3d. the surrender o
the Spanish forces was demanded by Gen
Shafter. This being refused, the com
manding general of the Spanish forces
was notified that the bombardment o
Santiago would begin at noon of the 5th
thus giving two days TO enable the womei
and children 10 leave the city.
On July the Spanish fleet fed iron
the harbor and was destroyed by OH
navy. The surrender being again de
manded on July 4, negotiations We're re
newed. No engagement, however, too
place until July 10, when, at p. M, tn
Spaniards opened fire, which was 500
silenced. On the morning of the mex
day. the bombardment was renewed, an
continued until p. m, when, upon an
other demand for the surrender of tn
enemy, the firing ceased and was nc
again renewed.
Gen. Miles arrived at Gen. Shafter
headquarters on July 12, and on July
the Spanish General Toral surrendere
Santiago and over % 600 men. The Anne,
I ican flag was hoisted over the governor
palace on that afternoon.
In reference to the American casualtit
in the Santiago campaign, Secretary A
ger says:
.'Twenty-three officers and 237 enliste
men were killed: 90 officers and 1,S32 Ell
listed men were wounded. Some criticisl
having been made that there was lac
of surgeons present, it should be state
that there were seventy-four surgeons
attendance at time of battle, and sevent
Joined Immediately afterward, and ths
of 1,i31 wounded but 13 died frol
! wounds.
American VaIor in Manila.
The rapid and effective work of Majt
General Merritt's command in the Phi
ippines is next described. This NOV,
: ment commenced May %, the first exped
! ton arriving off Manila June 80. 9th
!. troops arrived July II, 25 and 81, Augu
- q, "a, and 81.
on July 81 the Spaniards made a shal
E attack on our forces on the Gala Roa
August the Spanish commander W;
a notified to remove all non-combatan
: from Manila within forty-eight hours. {
( same date he replied that the Spani.
IN were without places of refuge for t
lie wounded and the sick women and .ch
y dren then lodged within the walls.
August 8 a joint demand was made f
the surrender of the city, signed by Ge
Merritt and Admiral Dewey The capita
general offered to consult his governmer
;, If time were allowed in which to cor
n municate by way of Hong Kong. Tt
' was refused, on account of the time 7
e quired and the urgent need of relievi,
es our troops from the trenches and t
!. great exposure to unhealthy conditions
~ a bivouac during the rainy season.
- August Il orders were issued for the a
vance, and on the 18th the comb.neI a