The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-12-07

On the day following this brilliant
achievement of our land forces, July
3, occurred the decisive naval combat
of the war The Spanish fleet attempt
ing to leave the harbor, was met by the
American squadron, under command
of Commodore Sampson. In less than
three hours all the Spanish ships were
destroyed, two torpedo boats being
sunk. and the Maria Teresa, Almirante
Oquendo, Vlzcaya and Cristobal Colon
driven ashore. The Spanish admiral and
over 1900 men were taken prisoners,
while the enemy's loss of life was
deplorably large, some 600 perishing.
On our side but one man was killed,
on the Brooklyn, and one man serious
~ wounded. Although our ships were
repeatedly struck, not one was serious
ly injured. Where all so conspicuously
distinguished themselves, from the
commodore to the g'pners. and the
unnamed heroes in the boiler rooms,
each and all contributing toward the
achievement of this astounding vic
tory for which neither ancient nor
modern history affords parallel in the
completeness of the event and the
marvellous disproportion of casualties,
it would be invidious to single out any
has rewarded the more conspicuous
actors-the nations profoundest graf
itude is due to all of these brave men
who, by their skill and devotion, in a
few short hours crushed the sea power
Of Spain and wrought a triumph
whose decisiveness and far-reaching
consequences can scarcely be meas
ured. Nor can we be unmindful of the
achievements of our builders. mechan-
les and artisans for their skill in the
construction of our warships.
With the catastrophe of Santiago
Spain's efforts upon the ocean virtual
ly ceased A spasmodic effort toward
the end of June to send her Meditt-
erranean fleet under Admiral Camara,
to relieve Manila was abandoned, the
expedition being recalled after it had
passed through the Suez canal.
THE FALL OF SANTIAGO.
The capitulation of Santiago follow
ed The city was closely besieged by
land, while the entrance of our ships
into the harbor cut off all relief on
that side and caused a truce to follow
for the removal of non-combatants,
Protracted negotiations continued
from July TO July 10, when, under
menace of immediate assault, the pre-
upon. On the 18th Gen. Shafter oc-
cupied the city. The capitnlation en-
braced the entire eastern end of Cuba.
The number of Spanish soldiers surren-
dered was $4,000. all of whom were
subsequently conveyed to Spain at the
charge of the United States. The story
of this successful campaign is told in
the report of the secretary of war,
which will be laid before you. The in
6ividual Valor of officers and soldiers
was never more strikingly shown than
in the several engagements leading to
the surrender of Santiago, while the
prompt movements and successive
victories won instant and universal
applause. To those who gained this
complete triumph which established
the ascendency of the United States
upon land as the fight off Santiago had
earnest and lasting gratitude of the
nation is unsparingly due. Nor should
we alone remember the gallantry of the
living; the dead claim our tears, and
| our losses by battle and disease must
cloud any exultation at the result and
teach us to weigh the awful cost OF
war, however rightful the cause oil
| signal the victory.
With the fall of Santiago, the occu-
patton of Porto Rico became the next
| strategic necessity. Gen. Miles hac
previously been assigned to organize
an expedition for that purpose. Fortu-
nately he was already at Santiago
where he had arrived on the 18th OF
July, with reinforcements for Gen
Skaters army.
With these troops, consisting of 3,41;
! infantry and artillery, two companies
| of engineers, one company of the Sig
nal Corps, Gen. Miles left Guantanamo
on July 81, having nine transports
conveyed by the fleet under Capt. Hig
ginson, with the Massachusetts, flag
ship, Dixie, Gloucester, Columbia anC
Yale, the two latter carrying troops
! The expedition landed at Guanica, July
25, which port was entered with littl,
opposition. Here the fleet was Joined b!
the Annapolis and the Wasp. while tn,
Puritan and Amphitrite went to Sar
Juan and Joined the New Orleans
which was engaged in blockading tha
port. The major-general commanding
was subsequently reinforced by Gen
Schwan's brigade of the Third arm!
corps. by Gen. Wilson, with a part o
his division, and also by Gen. Brook
with a part of his corps, numbering il
all 16,979 officers and men.
On July 27 he entered Ponce, one o
the most important ports in the is
land, from which he thereafter dlrecte,
operations for the capture of the is
land.
With the exception of encounter
with the enemy at Guayum, Hormi
guares, Coamo and Yauco, and an at
tack on a force landed at Cape Sal
Juan, there was no serious resistance
The campaign was prosecuted witt
great vigor, and by the last of Angus
much of the island was In our posses
sion, and the acquisition of the re
nainder was only a matter of a shor
time. At most of the points in the is
land our troops were enthusiasticall.
welcomed. Protestations of loyalty t
the flag and gratitude for delivery from
Spanish rule met our commanders a
every stage. AS potent influence to
ward peace, the outcome of the Port
Rican operations was of great conse
quence and generous commentator i
due to those who participated in it.
THE CAPTURE OF MANILA.
The last scene of the war was enacte,
at Manila, it's starting place. On Au
gust 15, after a brief assault upon tn
works by the land forces, in which tn
squadron assisted, the capital sur
rendered unconditionally. The casual
ties were comparatively few. BY th
the conquest of the Philippine islands
virtually accomplished when the Span
ish capacity for resistance was de
stroyed by Admiral Dewey's victory o
the 1st of May. was formally sealed
To Gen. Merritt, his officers and mel
for their uncomplaining and devoted
service and for their gallantry in ac
tion, the nation is sincerely grateful
Their long voyage was made with sin
gular success. and the soldierly con
duct of the men, most of whom wer,