The herald., 1898-12-06

desperate attempts 10 u!oiouEe O"i 10 :,
By June 10th additional forces were landed
and strongly intrenched. June 22d the
advance of the invading army under Mayor
General Shafter landed at Baiqulrl, about
fifteen miles east of Santiago. This was ac'
complished under great difficulties, but with
marvellous dispatch. On June % the move
ment against Santiago was begun
THE SANTIAGO CAMPAIGN
On the oath the first serious engagement
took place, in which the First and Tenth
Cavalry of the First Volunteer Cavalry,
General Youngs brigade of General Wheel
er's division, participated, losing heavily.
BY nightfall, however, ground within hve
miles of Santiago was won. The advantage
was steadily increased On July !, severe
battle took place, our forces gaining the
outer works of Santiago and Ell Caney and
San Juan were taken after a desperate
charge, and the investment OF the city was
completed. The navy co-operated by shell
ing the town and the coast forts. On the
day following the brilliant achievement OF
our land forces, July 3, occurred the de-
cisive naval combat of the war, The Span
ish fleet, attempting to leave the harbor,
was met by the American squadron, under
command of Commodore Sampson. In less
than three hours all the Spanish forces were
destroyed. the two torpedo boats sunk and
the Maria Teresa, Almirante Oquendo, Viz
caya and Cristobal Colon driven ashore. The
Spanish admiral and over 1900 men were
taken prisoners, while the enemy loss OF
life was deplorably large, some SIX hundred
perishing. On our side but one man was
killed and one man seriously injured. Where
all so conspcuously distinguished them
selves, from the commanders to the gun
ners, and the unnamed heroes in the boiler
rooms, each and all contributing toward the
achievement of this astonishing victory tor
which neither ancient nor modern history
affords parallel in the completeness OF the
event. and the marvellous disproportlon OF
casualties, it would be lnvidious to single
out any for special honor. Deserved promo
ton has rewarded the more conspicuous ac-
tors. The nations protoundest gratitude IS
due to all OF those brave men who, by their
skill and devotion in a few short hours
crushed the seapower of Spain apd wrought
a triumph whose decisiveness and tar-reach-
ing effects can scarcely be measured. Nor
can we be unmindful of the achievements Of
our builders, mechanics and artisans for
their skill in the construction OF our war
ships.
With the catastrophe of Santiago, Spain
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.
The capitulation OF Santiago followed. The
city was closely besieged by land, while the
entrance OF our ships into the horbor cut oil
all relief on that side. After truce to al
low of the removal of the noncombatants
protracted negotiations continued from
July until July 10, when, under menace
of immediate assault. the preliminaries Of
surrender was agreed upon. On the llth
General Shafter occupied the city. The oap-
tulation embraced the entire eastern end
of Cuba. The number of Spanish soldiers
surrendered were 22,000, 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 re-
port of the Secretary of War. which will
be laid before you. The individual valor of
officers and soldiers was never more strik
ingly shown than in the several engagements
leading TO the surrender OF Santiago, While
the prompt movements and successive We
tories won instant and universal applause.
To those who gained this complete triumph
which established the ascendancy OF the
United States on land, as the fight OFF San
tiago had fixed our supremacy on the seas,
the earnest and lasting gratitude of the ma
ton is unsparingly due. The dead claim our
tears, and our losses by battle and disease
must cloud any eXultation with the result
and teach us to weigh the awful cost OF war
however rightful the cause or signal the
victory.
OCCUPATION OF PORTO RICO
With the fall OF Santiago, the occupation
of Porto Rico became the next strategic
necessity. General Miles had previously
been assigned to organize an expedition tor
that purpose. Fortunately he was already
at Santiago where he had arrived on the
llth OF July with reinforcements for Gen
eral Skaters army.
With these troops, consisting OF 34l5 in
fantry and artillery, two companies Of en-
glneers and one company OF the signal corps,
General Miles left Guantanamo on July 2l,
having nine transports conveyed by the
fleet under Captain Higginson, with the
Massachusetts alag hip, Dixie, Gloucester,
Columbia and Yale, the two latter carry
ing troops. The expedition landed at Gu
anica July 25, which port was entered with
little opposition. Here the fleet was joined
by the Annapolis and Wasp, while the Pu-
rtan and Amphitrite went to San Juan and
Joined the New Orleans, which was engaged
IN biockading that port. The Major-General
commanding was subsequently reinforced
by General Schwan's brigade OF the Third
army corps, by General Wilson with part
vi his division and by General Brooke with
part OF his corps, numbering III all 1898
officers and men. On July y he entered
Ponce, one OF the most important ports IN
the island, from which he thereafter di-
rrected operations OF the capture OF the
island.
With the exception OF encounters with
the enemy at Guayamo, HermieuGrez, Co
amo and 1auco, and an attack on a force
landed at Cape San Juan, there was no
serious resistance. The campaign was pros
ecuted with great vigor and by the 18th Of
August much OF the island was in our pos
session and the acquisition oi the remainder
m y of q IFr A., g..
OF the points in the island onr troops were
enthusiastically welcomed Prote,tations Of
loyalty to the flag and gratitude for delivery
from Spanish rule met our commanders at
every stage. As a potent influence toward
peace, the outcome oil the Porto Ricln ex
pedtion was oi great consequence. and
generous commendations due TO those " hu
participated in it.
IN THE ORIENT
The last scene OF the war was enacted at
Manila, its starting place On August ID
after a brief assault upon the works BY
the land forces, in Whca the squadron as
sisted, the capital surrendered mcoudl
tionally. The casualties were comparatiyelN
few. Bythis the conquest OF thephlippineIs
lands, virtually accomplished when the
Spanish capacity for rCsIstiuce Was de
stroyed by Admiral Dewey yc,ory of tn,
first of May, was formally sealed. TO Gen
eral Merritt, his officers and men. for thei
uncomplaining and devoted services, TO
their gallantry in action, the nation is sin
cerely grateful. Their long voyage wa
made with singular success aud the soldier
ly conduct of the men, of whom many Wer
without previous experience in the mlitar,
service, deserves nnmeasured praise.
KILLED AND WOUNDED
The total casualties in killed and wounde,
in the army during he war was as follows