Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-12-15

operations in that quarter should be ac-
complished by the strong arm Of the
precGpt Of war; which enjons the over
coming OF the adversary and the extinc-
ton of his power wherever assailab1e as
the speedy and sure means to win
peace, divided victory was not rermiSSl
BILE. for no pa:tition of the rights and re-
sponsibilitics attending the enforcement
of q just and advantageous peace could
be thought Of
Operations on Cuba.
Following the comprehensive scheme of
general attack, powerful forces were as
sembled at various points on our coast to
invade Cuba and Porto Rico. Meanwhile
naval demonstrations were made at sew
eral exposed points On May IL, the
cruiser Wilmington and torpedo boat
Winslow We're unsuccessful in an attempt
to silence the batteries at Cardenas
against Matanzas. Worth Bagley and
four seamen falling. These grevious
fatalities were strangely enough among
the very few which occurred during our
naval operations in this extraordinary
conflict.
Meanwhile the Spanish naval prepara-
aa 1fea sqpadren under ADMIRAL
Cervera, which had assembled at Cape
Verde islands before the outbreak Of
cratic movements in the Caribbean sea,
Ssayea EUR military o o,s dots while
Marietta. then nearing home, after. their
lo1 e voyage from San Francisco OF over
$4,000 miles. might be surprised by Ad-
arrival N dispeiled these apprahensions and
lent much needed reinforcement. Not un-
til Admiral Ccrvera took refuge in the
Mss 9f &c to pam aS
military attack upon the Antillean possess
coasts of Cuba and Porto Rico. in
Is he North AtIartic squadron shelled
San On Ma? Man g s. con1 ass schey
ron bombarded the forts guarding the
mouth of Santiago harbor. Neither at
dent that well-ordered land operat tons
were Indispensable to achieve decloeu
advantages.
Hobson's Heroic Act.
The next act in the war thrilled not
OILY the hearts of our countrymen, but
the world by it's exceptional hero.snl. On
the night of June Lieut.. Hobson, aid I'd
by seven devoted volunteers, b!Ockaded
the narrow outlet from Santiago harbor
by sinking the collier Merrinlac in the
channel under q fierce fire from the shore
batteries, escaping with their lives, as by
miracle. but falling into the hands OF
tho Spaniards. 1t is a most gratifying IN
cident of the war that the bravery OF this
little band of heroes was cordially appre-
cated by the Spaniards. who sent a flag
of truce to notify Admiral Sampson Of
their safety and to compliment them upon
their daring act. They were subsequently
exchanged. july 7.
BY June the cutting of the last Cuban
cable isolated the island. Thereafter the
{,,r,o tom, yiCn0r G
June 10, under a heavy protecting IRE: a
landing of 600 marines from the oregon,
Marblehead and Yankee was erected IN
QUAINT anamO bay, where 1T had been de-
termined to establish a naval station.
This important and essential port was
taken from the enemy after severe i1gns-
ganiZed force of the United States to
land in Cuba.
The Santiago Campaign.
The position so won was held despite at
tempts to dislodge our forces. BY June IL
additional forces were landed and strong
" frtrenched On June % the advance
Of the Invading army, under Maj. Cen.
Shafter, landed at Daiquiri. about fifteen
miles east of Santiago. This was acco>1-
plished under great difficulties but with
marvellous dispatch. On June % the move
ment against Santiago was begun. On
June a the first serious engagement took
place, in which the First and Tenth cav
airy and the First United States volunteer
cavalry, Gen. Young's brigade of Gen.
Wheeler's division, participated, losing
heavily. By nightfall, however, ground
within five miles of Santiago was won.
The advantage was steadily increased
On July a severe battle took place, our
forces gaining the oWtWorks OF Santiago;
on July Ell Caney and San Juan were
taken after a desperate charge and the
Investment of the city was; completed
The navy coop GRATED by shellng the town
On the day following this brilliant
achievement of our land forces; July 3,
occurred the decisive naval battle, of the
war The Spanish fleet, attempting to
leave the harbor, was met by the Amerl-
can squadron under command of Commo-
dore Sampson. In less than three hours
all the Spanish ships were destroyed, the
two torpedo boats being sunk and the
Marie Teresa. Almdrante Oquendo, Viz
caya and Cristobol Colon driven ashore.
Tho Spanish admiral and over LOO men
were taken prisoners, while the enemys
loss of life was deplorably large. some six
hundred perishing. On our side but one
man was killed, on the BrookIyn, , and one one
ships were repea tedly struck not ONE was
seriously injured.
Where all so conspicuously distin-
guisned themselves, from the commanders
to the gunners and the unnamed heroes
in the boiler rooms, each and all contrib
uting toward the achievement OF this as
cient nor modern history affords par
alel in the completeness Of the event and
the marvellous disproportion of casualties,
it would be invidious to single out any
one for special honor.
In this connection the president says:
"Nor can we be unmndful of the achiev..
ments of our builders. mechanics and
artisans for their part in the construction
of our war ships"
AS to the success gained by the arms
of me United States in Cuba, the presi-
dent that the earnest ana lasting
era titude of the nation is unsparngIy uus.
'Nor should we alone remember the gal
lanl"y 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 the awful cost of war. how
ever righteous the cause or signal the
victory"
With the fall Of Santiago. the occupa-
ton Of Porto Rico became the next stra-
tegic necessity. Gen. Miles had previous