The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1898-08-04
Washington special:

washington special:
The American forces won as bloodless
a victory in Porto Rico as they did at Ma
Mia. The port of Ponce surrendered at
once when a few American vessels pre-
sented themselves The following day
the city, three miles inland, with a popu-
lation of $4,000, captulated Immediately.
Gen. Miles did not find it as hard nut
to crack as Gen. Shafter did Santiago. In
all the Porto Rican operations thus far
not life was lost.
Gen. Miles reports that Illinois and In
diana troops under Gen. Ernst occupied
the port and city of Ponce after a short
skirmish with Spanish troops. Americans
had four men wounded. none seriously,
while the Spaniards lost three killed and
thirteen wounded. Gen. Miles issued a
proclamation declaring the purpose of the
invasion. releasing the Porto Ricans from
their relations to Spain, and expressing
the hope that they will readily accept the
government instituted for them by the
United States. Americans pushed on to-
ward the mountains, and Gen. Miles said
he expected to encounter no insurmounta-
BILE obstacles in his march upon San Juan.
Spaniards fed precipitately before the ap-
proach of the American army.
The inhabitants of Ponce gave the
American troops an enthusiastic welcome.
Gen. Miles issued proclamation in
which he told the Porto Ricans that his
soldiers came to bring them 1.-THE foster
ing arms of a great people" and an order
to give them ''the largest measure Of lib
erty consistent with this military occupa-
tion' and ''the advantages and blessings
of an enlightened civilization" The in
habitants were assured that their prop
erty is to be protected and their pros
perity promoted, while their existing laws
and customs are not to be interfered with.
The hearty reception given to Gen. Miles
troops at Ponce was not due to his proc
lamatiOn. The inhabitants are heart-sick
of Spanish misrule. They know how
much American rule is to be preferred to
it, and they stand in no need Of assurances
that they will be we'll treated.
Gen. Miles and Capt Higginson's dis
patches reporting the capitulation Of
Ponce and describing the strange scenes
incidental to the surrender created gen.
uine sensation in official circles For the
moment the first great victory of the cam
paign in Porto Rico overshadowed inter-
est in the deliberations of the cabinet
anent the terms of peace. Washington
ians were scarcely less enthusiastic over
the victory than the Porto Ricans who Sc
cured freedom from Spanish tyranny for
ever by the descent of the Americans up
on Ponce. Indeed. the capture of the sec
ond city of Spain's most easterly West
Indian colony is looked upon as a greater
victory than the capture of Santa go, in
view of the fact not an American life was
lost, and the. natives celebrated the event
with as much ardor as the soldiers who
ran the gauntlet of the Spanish fire to
achieve it. 1t came so unexpectedly and
the victory seemed to be so complete as
to appear incomprehensible. 1t was ex-
pected Miles would have to fight his way
through the Spanish lines before gaining
the portal of Ponce, and hence the grace
with which the Spanards laid down their
arms and allowed the Americans to enter
the provincial capital passed all under
standing of Spanish character
The capture of Porto Rico eliminates
one of many disputed points which might
arise in considering terms of peace with
Spain. 1t is no longer problematical as to
whether the cession of Porto Rico to the
United States should be condition of
peace. 1t is ours now by right of con-
quest. Its value may be considered in ad-
justing the war indemnity. But the fact
of conquest is already complete.