The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-09

by them in Manila. Meanwhile Dewey
being without troops, was unable to operate
had to wait till General Merritt. with
troops, was sent across the Pacific from
improved the interval to press the siege of
Manila and to proclaim a republic, VITA
himself at its head The United States had
| destroyed Spain's fleet. he confessed. but
his Filipinos had expelled SPANS army
from the provinces, captured most of IL and
| penned the feeble remnant in the capital. To
the American assumption that the Philip
pines were TO be American, he opposed the
claim that they had won their independence
and would retain it, The capture of Ma
Mia by the rebls would mean the butchery
of the Spanish garrison. For this reason
and for obvious political reasons Dewey
discouraged an assault by the Fflipinos
on the city, expecting to take it himself I'LL
timately and protect it with the American
troops when they arrived. The situation be-
came strained, and there is a prospect that
the Americans will after a time find Ii neces-
sary to fight their cantankerous allies.
In an engagement of minor vessels in
the Winslow, and four others were killed.
HAVANA AND CERVERA.
The apparent plan of campaign of the
Washington government was to take
Havana as the readiest way of securing the
object of the war. Many troops and ships
were assembled at Tampa and Key West
whence they could be speedily transported
to some point on the Cuban coast near
Havana. Various places along the coast
were reconnoitered and some were bonn
barded. Such preparations, if genuine, were
arrested and the whole plan of campaign
was changed on May Is by the announce
ment that Admiral Cerveras fleet of four
formidable war ships and two torpedo boat
destroyers had arrived off Martinique, in
the West Indies. 1t was later seen Oft Cura-
Goa, near Venezuela. On May 10 the Span
lSh fleet entered the harbor of Santiago, on
the southern coast of Cuba. Its presence
modore scbieV it Was nnossih Hoi to
transport troops for the capture of Havana
while Cerveras fleet was in striking dis
lance, it became the chief object of the
army and navy to capture or destroy ,this
fleet.
On May 81 there was a bombardment of
the Spanish forts at the narrow entrance to
the harbor of Santiago, but without result
other than to locate the enemey's batteries
On June 3 Naval Constructor K. p. Hobson
won much distinction by undertaking to sink
the collier Merrimac in the narrow channel
to prevent the escape of CerVera S fleet The
kind treatment accorded the daring South
erner by Cervera when captured created in
the United States a very favorable feeling
toward Spanish officers and lessened the Bit
terness and contempt with which they had
been regarded.
1t was considered imDracticable for our
war ships to follow Cervera into the har-
Dor of Santiago. Mines and batteries threat
ened their safety. 1t was resolved to take
Santiago by land and thus force Cervera
out. On June 10 some 600 marines were
landed at Guantanamo, some distance east
OF Santiago, so as to secure a place where
cur war ships could safely take on coal
attacked by the Spanish and six Americans
We're killed. There a second attack
four days later. By June IL troops began to
leave Key West for operations against San
tiago. and on June % General Shafter landed
his army at Baiquiri short distance east
of the entrance to the harbor of Santiago
Several minor actions attended the ad
vance to Juragua, SeVilla and Siboney. A
general assault was made on July on the
enemy's works and various commanding
positions were captured. The enemy was
pressed back to his inner line of fortifica
tons. The fighting continued on the I'd
with some loss on both sides. So difficult
officers reported by General Breckenridge
1t was proposed by General Shafter to retire
tiago till heavy artillery could be brought
up to meet the fire from Cervera's fleet and
from General Torals batteries
SPANISH FLEET DESTROYED.
Admiral Cerveras dash out of the harbor
on the Sd prevented the discredit Of retir-
ing from the points already gained. The
American fleet under the immediate lead of
Commander Schey, in the Brooklyn, met
the enemy as he emerged and in the chase
that followed destroyed all the enemys
ships and took some 1000 prisoners. Ad-
miral Sampson. in the New York. arrived
on the scene after the action was ended
This important action logically closed the
campaign, as the spanish fleet was the sole
cause of the expedition to Santiago. But it
was resolved to gather the spoils of victory
and the surrender of Santiago and the posts
connected Herewith was demanded by Gen
eral Shafter on July 3, and on July IA the
city, with some 2400G troops, was surren-
dered by General Toral. The terms were
courageous defense. The Spanish were ac-
corded the honors due to brave men, and it
was stipulated in their behalf that they
should be taken TO Spain at the expense Of
the United States.
The joy of victory was dampened by the
announcement on the 18th of july that vel
low fever had broken out in the army Use
of infected buildings and contact with the
natives produced this regrettable result.
Worse than the yellow fever was the ma
larial fever. which decmated the regiments.
A bad climate, heat, incessant rains, unsani-
tary surroundings, deficient food and shame
full lack of medical and surgical treatment
produced the usual effects. The government
had resolved to send the army further in
land to a healthier region, but round robin
signed by number of officers demanded the
withdrawal of the army from Cuba, and this
has been conceded.
An episode of the war was Admiral Ca
mara's voyage to the Red sea in June-as
if on his way to the Phiippines-and his
return after it was announced from Wash
ingtOn that Commodore Watson would be
sent with fleet to harry the coast of Spain
in his absence. On the way to Manila our
ships from San Francisco seized the La
droneS and other Spanish islands in the
Pacific.
After the surrender of Santiago an ex-
peQlJlOn unQer General Miles was sent to
take San Juan, Porto Rico. A landing was
effected July 26 at Guanica on the south
ern coast and soon after Ponce, a town of
some size, fifteen miles distant. was oc-
cupied. The advance toward San Juan is
slow and definite results have not yet been
reached.
Operations have been checked to some ex-
tent by the prospect of peace. On the 26th
of July, through M. Cambon, the French
ambassador. Spain asked what terms of
peace were demanded by the United States
After some elaboration President McKin-
ley replied, demanding the evacuation of
Cuba and the cession of Porto Rico and one
of the Ladrones to the United States. with
certain concessions in the Philippines,
which will be settled by joint commission
The war is supposed to have demon
strated anew the uselessness of lombard
ments. We have bombarded many forts
without result. Torpedo boats have so far
been harmless, being controlled by rapid
fire guns. Smokeless powder is shown to be
preferable both for Infantry and for war
ships. The bad craftsmanship of the Span
ish gunners has attracted much attention
1t is partly the result of having poor guns.
In their forts this seems to have been the
case, but on their war ships 1t seems 20
have been due to want of practice Courage
is useless unless combined with skill