The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-12-06
Although our Ships were repeatedly

Although our Ships were repeatedly
struck, not one was seriously injureu
Where all SO conspicuously distin-
guished themselves, from the command
ers to the gunners and the unnamed he
roes in the boiler rooms, each and all
contributing toward the achievement of
this astonishing victory, for which
neither ancient nor modern history af-
fords parallel in the completeness Of the
event and the marvellous disproportion of
casualties, it would be invidious to single
out any for special honor. Deserved pro-
motion has rewarded the more conspicu-
GUS actors-the nations profoundest graf
itude is due to all of those brave men who
by their skill and devotion in few short
hours crushed the sea power of Spain and
wrought triumph whose decisiveness
and far-reaching effects can scarcely be
the achievements of our builders, me-
chanics and artisans for their skill in the
construction of our warships.
With the catastrophe of Santiago
Spain's effort upon the ocean virtually
ceased. A spasmodic effort toward the
end Of June to send her Mediterranean
fleet under Admiral Camara to relieve
Manila was abandoned, the expedition
being recalled after it had passed through
the Suez canal.
Surrender of Santiago.
The capitulation of Santiago followed.
The city was closely besieged by land
while the stationing Of our ships at the
harbor mouth cut of all relief ON that
side. After truce to allow Of the re-
moyal of non-combatants, protracted ne
gotiat. ons continued from July 8 until
July 10, when under menace of immedi-
ate assault. the preliminaries of surren-
der were agreed upon. On the 18th Gen
eral Shafter occupied the city. The cap
itulation embraced the entire eastern end
Of Cuba. The number of Spanish SOL
diers surrendered was q. 900, all oflwhom
the charge of the United States The
story of this successful compaign is told
in the report of the secretary of war,
which will be laid before you.
The individual valor of officers and SOL
diers was never more strikingly shown
to the surrender of Santiago, while the
prompt movements and successive VIC
tories won instanta and universal applause.
To those who gained this complete tri-
umph which established the ascendancy
of the United States upon land, as the
fight off Santiago had fixed our suprem-
acy on the seas, the 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 dis
ease must cloud any e1ultation at the re-
suit and teach us to weigh the awful cost
OF war, however rightful the cause or sig
Campaign In Porto Rico.
tion of Porto Rico became the next STRAIT
egic necessity. General Miles had pre-
viously been assigned to organize an ex-
petition for that purpose. Fortunately,
he was already at Santiago. where he had
arrived on the 18th of July with reinforce
ments for General Skaters army.
With these troops, consisting of 3,145
engineers and one company of the signal
corps, General Miles left Guantanamo on
July 81, having nine transports, conveyed
by the fleet under Captain Higginson,
with the Massachusetts (flagship), Dixie,
Gloucester, Columbia and Yale, the two
landed at Guanica July IS, which port was
entered with little opposition. Here the
fleet was joined by the Annapolis and
Wasp, while the Puritan and Amphitrite
went to San Juan and joined the New
Orleans, which was engaged in blockad-
ing that port. The major general com
manding was subsequently, reinforced by
army corps, by General Wilson with a part
of his division and also by General Brooke
with q part of his corps, numbering in all
16, 973 men and officers. On j uly % he en-
tered Ponce, one of the most important
ports in the island from which he there
after directed the operations for the cap
ture of the island
With the exception of the encounters
with the enemy at Guantanamo, Hermit
guereZ, GOamo and Yauco and an attack
on 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 remainder was only matter of a
short time. At most of the points in the
island our troops We're enthusia stically
welcomed. Protestations of loyalty to the
flag and gratitude for delivery from Span
ish rule met our commanders at every
stage. AS potent influence toward
peace. the outcome of the Porto Rican
expedition was of great consequence, ana
generous commentator is due to those
who participated in it.
Capture of Manila.
The last scene of the war was enacted
at Manila, its starting place. On Aug. 10,
after brief assault upon the works by
the land forces, in which the squadron as
| sisted, the capital surrendered uncondi-
tionally. The casualties were comparn
lively few. BY this the conquest OF the
Phlllpplne islands, virtually accomplished
when the Spanish capacity for resistance
tory on the 1st of May. was formally
sealed To General Merritt, his officers
and men for their accomplishing, devoted
services, for their gallantry il action, the
nation is sincerely grateful. Their long
voyage was made with singular success
and the soldierly conduct of the mon
many of whom were without previous
experience in the military service, de
! serves unmsasurcd praise.