Evening star., 1898-12-05

| 'UAt VI utHAEpN the fOrmtdable spanish fleet
then assembled at Manila. At daybreak on
| the lst OF May the American force entered
Manila Bay and after few hours engage
ment effected the total destruction OF the
Spanish fleet. consisting Of ten wsrships and
a transport, besides capturing the naval
station and forts al Cavite. thus annlhtat-
ing the Spanish naval power in the PacIac
Ocean and completely controlling the Bay
"i Manila. with the ability to take the city
| at VIII. Not a life was lost on our ships
the wounded only numbering seven. while
| not vessel was materially injured. For
thls gallant achievement the Congress. upon
my recommendation 5tly bestowed upon
| the actors preferment and substantial re
| ward
| The effect OF this remarkable victory upon
| the spirit of our people and upon the for
| tunes Of the war was instant. prestige Of
invincibility thereby attached to our arms
| which continued throughout the struggle.
| Reinforcemcnts were hurried 10 Manila
under the command Of Major General Mer-
ritt and firmly established within sight Of
the capital, which lay helpless before our
guns
On the 9Th day OF May the government
was advised officially OF the victory at
Manila, snd at once inquiped OF the COM
| mander of our feet what troops would DE
| required. The Information was received or
! the 18th day Of May, and the first army ex-
| redition sailed May 25th and arrived OF
Manila June Both. Other expeditions soon
| followed, the total force consisting of cal
officers and 15,o5S enlisted men,
| Only reluctance to cause needless loss Of
| life and property prevented the early storm
| ing and capture of the city and herewith
the absolute military occupancy OF the
4 IL
| had resumed the active hostiliucs suspend
ed by the uncompleted truce Of December.
| 1897. Their forces invested Manila from
| the northern and eastern side. but were con-
strained by Admiral Dewey and General
| Merritt from attempting an assault. 1t was
| fitting that whatever was to be done in the
| way of decisive operations in that quarter
should be accomplished 10y the strong arm
! of the United States alone. Obeyiug the
| stern precept of war which eujoins the over
| coming of the adversary and the extinction
| Of his power wherever assailabr as the
| speedy and sure means to win peace. di-
| vided victory was not permissible. for no
partition of the rights and responsibilities
| attending the enforcement of a just and ad-
| vantageous peace could be thought Of.
Following the comprehensive scheme of
| general attack. powerful forces were as
1 StAAio4to IL 81 AVuS p'AlllS pll Oul QUASI 10
| invade Cuba and Porto Rico. Meanwhile
naval demonstrations were made AT several
| exposed points. on May 1lth the cruiser
Wilmington and torpedo boat Winslow We're
| unsuccessful in attempt to silence the
| batteries at Cardenas. a gallant ensign
| Worth Bagley, and four Seamcn falling.
| These grievous fatalities were strangely
| enough among the very few which oc-
| Cured during our naval operations In this
| extraordinary conflict.
Meanwhile the Spanish naval preparations
had been pushed with great vigor. A pow
| erful squadron under Admiral Ceryera.
| which had assembled at the Cape Verde
| Islands before the outbreak Of hostilitics,
| nad crossed the ocean, and by Its errattc
movements in the Caribbean Sea delayed
our military plans while battling the pUr-
suit of our fleets. For a time fears were fe'r
est the oregon and Marietta. then nearing
| home after their long voyage from san
| francisco of over 15eo0 miles. might be-
| surprised by Admiral Ceryeras fleet. but
| ,heir fortunate arrival dispelled these APP
| prehensions and lent much needed rein
| ,Urcement. Not until Admiral Ccrvera took
| refuge in the harbor OF Santiago de Cuba.
about May 18th, was il practicable 10 plan
| a systematic naval and military attack
! upon the Antillean possessions OF Spain.
| Several demonstrations occurred on the
| coasts Of Cuba and Porto Rico in prepart-
| ton for The larger event on May 18th ll.
| North Atlantic Squadron shclled san Juan
| de Porto Rico. On May 3O,h Commodore
| Schley's squadron bombardcd the fprtz
guarding the mouth Of Santiago harblr
Neither attack had any material result.
II was evident that wel-orIered land opera
lions We're indispensable 10 achieve a de-
| cided advantage.
| Lieut.. HObsOn's fIeroisnI.
The next act in the war. thrilled not alone
| the hearts of our countrymen bur the world
| by Its exceptional heroism. on the night of
| June 3 Lieutenant Hobson, aided by seven
| devoted volunteers. blocked the narrow out
let from Santiago harbor by sinking the
collier Melrimac in the channel under a
| fierce fire from the shore batteries, cscap-
| ing with their lives as by a miracle. but
| falling into the hands of the Spaniards 10
| is a most gratifying incident OF the war that
the bravery of this little band OF heroes
| was cordially appreciated by the Spanish
admiral. who sent a lae Of truce 10 notify
| Admiral Sampson OF their safety and ID
compliment them on their daring act. They
were subsequently exchanged July 9Th.
BY June eth the cutting Of the last cuban
cable isolated the Island. Thereafter the
| invasion was vigorously prosecuted. ON
June 10th. under heavy protecting fire. a
landing Of Coo marines from the oregon.
Marbiehead and Yankee was effected in
Guantanamo Bay. where il had been de-
termined 10 establish naval station.
This important and essential port WAS
taken from the enemy after severe fighting
| by the marines. who were the first organ
lied force of the United States TO land iu
Cuba.
The position so won was held despite drs-
perate attempts to dislCdge our forces. Ey
June 16 additional forces were landed and
strongly intrenched. on June - the ad-
vance Of the invading army under Mai.
Gen. Shafter landed AT Daiquiri, about fiji
teen miles east of Santiago. This was aC-
complished under great difficulties but with
marvellous dispatch on June - the move
ment against Santiago was begun. on the
24th the first serious engagement tool,
place, in which the First and Tenth Cav
airy and the First United States Volunteer
Cavalry General Young's brigade Of Cen
L