Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-12-08

of the whole group. The insurgents mean
while had resumed the active hostlltles
suspended by the uncompleted truce OF
December, 1897. Their forces invested
Manila from the northern and eastern
side, but were constrained by Admiral
Dewey and General Merritt from at
tempting an assault. 1t was fitting that
whatever was to be done in the way OF
decisive operations in that quarter should
be accomplished by the strong arm or
the United States alone.
Following the comprehensive scheme OF
general attack, powerful forces were as
sembled at various points on our coast
to invade Cuba and Porto Rico. Mean
while naval demonstrations We're made
at several exposed points. May IL the
cruiser Wilmington and torpedo boat
Winslow were unsuccessful in an attempt
to silence the batteries at Cardenas and
Matanzas, Worth, Bagley and four sea-
men falling.
Meanwhile the Spanish naval prepare
tons had been pushed with great vlgor.
A powerful squadron under Admiral Ger
vera, which had assembled at the Cape
Verde Islands before the outbreak of
hostilities had crossed the ocean, and by
it's erratic movements in the Caribbean
Sea delayed our military operations while
battling the pursuit of our fleets. Not
until Admiral Cervera took refuge in the
harbor of Santiago de Cuba about May
8 was it practicable to plan systematic
military attack upon the Antillean pos
sessions of Spain.
Several demonstrations occurred on the
coast of Cuba and Porto Rico in prepara-
ton for the larger event. On May IL the
North Atlantic squadron shelled San Juan
de Porto Rico. On May 30 Commodore
Schley's squadron bombarded the forts
guarding the mouth of Santiago harbor.
Neither attack had any material result.
Hobson's Daring Act.
The next act in the war thrilled not
alone the hearts of our countrymen, but
the world, by its exceptional heroism. On
the night of June 3 Lieutenant Hobson,
aided by seven devoted volunteers, block
ed the narrow outlet from Santiago har-
Dor by sinking the collier Merrimac in
the channel, under fierce fire from the
shore batteries, escaping with their lives
as by a miracle, but falling into the
hands of the Spaniards. They were sub
sequently exchanged July Z.
BY June the cutting of the last Cuban
cable isolated the island. Thereafter the
invasion was vigorously prosecuted. On
landing of 80 marines from the Oregon,
Marblehead and Yankee. was effected in
Guantanamo Bay, where it had been de-
termined to establish a naval station.
This important and essential port was
taken from the enemy after severe fight
ing by the marines, who were the first or
ganized force of the United States to
land in Cuba. The position so won was
held despite desperate Attempts to dis
forces were landed and strongly intrench-
ed. On June %, the advance of the in
vading army under Major General Shaft
err landed at Baiquiri, about fifteen miles
east of Santiago. This was accomplished
under great difficulties, but with marvel
GUS dispatch. On June % the movement
against Santiago was begun. On the 18th
in which the First and Tenth Cavalry
and the First United States Volunteer
Cavalry, General Young's brigade Of
General Wheeler's division, participated,
losing heavily. BY nightfall, however,
ground within five miles of Santiago was
won. The advantage was steadily in
creased. On July l severe battle took
place, our forces gaining the outwork of
Santiago; on the I'd Eel Caney and San
Juan were taken after desperate
charge, and the investment of the city
was completed. The navy co-operated by
Smelling the town and coast forts.
Destruction of, Cervera's Fleet.
On the day following this brilliant
achievement of our land forces, July 3,
occurred the decisive naval combat of the
war. The Spanish fleet, attempting to
leave the harbor, was met by the Ameri-
can squadron, under command Of Com
modore Sampson. In less than three
hours all the Spanish ships were destroy
the Maria Teresa, Almirante Oquendo,
Vizcaya and Cristobal Colon driven
ashore The Spanish admiral and over
thirteen hundred men were taken prison
ers, while the enemy's loss of life was de-
plorably large, some 600 pershing. On
our side but one man was killed, on the
Brooklyn, and one man seriously wound
ed. Although our ships were repeatedly
struck, not one was seriously injured.
Where all so conspicuously distinguish
ed themselves, from the commanders to
the gunners and the unnamed heroes in
the boilerrooms, each and all contribut-
ing toward the achievement of this as
founding victory, for which neither an
Gent nor modern history affords par
allel in the completeness of the event and
the marvellous disprop0rtion of casualties,
it would be invidious to single out any for
especial honor. Deserved promotion has
rewarded the more conspicuous actors
the nations profoundest gratitude is due
to all of those brave men who by their
skill and devotion in a few short hours
crushed the sea power of Spain and
wrought a triumph whose decisiyeness
and far-reaching consequences can
scarcely be measured. Nor can we be I'M
mindful of the achievements of our build
ers. mechanics and artisans for their skill
in the construction of our warships.
With the catastrophe of Santiago
SPANS 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,
Capitu1ation of santiago.
The capitulation of Santiago followed
The city was closely besieged by land
while the entrance of our ships into the
harbor cut off all relief on that side.
After truce to allow of the removal of
non-combatants, protracted negotiation
continued from July 3 until July Is,
when, under menace of immediate as
sault the preliminaries of surrender were
agreed upon. On the 18th General Shat
ter occupied the city. The capitulation