The evening times., 1898-12-05

at Manila, its starting place. On August
Is. after a brief assault upon the works by
the land forces in which the squadron
assisted the capital surrendered uncon-
ditionaIly. The casualties were compara-
lively few BY this the conquest of the
Philippine Islands, virtually accomplished
when the Spanish capacity for resistance
was destroyed by Admiral Dewey's VIC
tory of the 1st of May, was formally
sealed To General Merritt, his officers
end men for their accomplishing and de-
voted service and for their gallantry in
action the nation is sincerely grateful
Their long voyage was made with singu-
lar success. and the soldierly conduct of
the men, most of whom were without
previous experience in the military SER
vice deserves unmeasured praise.
SLIGHT LOSSES OF THE WAR.
The total casualties in killed and
wounded in the army during the
war with Spain were: Officers
killed. %: enlisted men killed. 257;
total. $50; officers wounded, 113; enlisted
men wounded. 1,46i; total. 1,5T. OF the
navy: Killed II; wounded. o.; died as re-
suit of wounds, l; invalided from service,
6; total. 81.
1t will be observed that while our ma
Wy was engaged in two great battles and
in numerous perilous undertakings in
blockade and bombardment and more
than 30 600 of our troops were transported
TO distant lands and We're engaged in as
sault and siege and battle and many skir-
mishes in unfamiliar territory, We lost in
both arms of the service a total of l,66S
killed and woundedE and in the entire
campaign by land and sea We did not
lose a gun or flag or a transport a
ship and with the exception of the crew
of the Merrimac not soldier or sailor
was taken prisoner.
On August Z. forty-siX days from the
date of the landing of Gen. Skaters ar
my in Cuba and twenty-one days from
the surrender of Santiago. the United
States troops commenced embarkation
for home, and our entire force was re-
turned to the United States as early as
August "a. They We're absent from the
United States only two months.
PRAISE FOR THE ARMY.
1t is fitting that 1 should bear testimony
to the patriotism and devotion of that
large portion of our army which, al
though eager to be ordered to the post
of greatest exposure. fortunately was not
required outside of the United States
They did their whole duty. and. like their
comrades at the front, have earned the
gratitude of the nation. In like manner,
the officers and men of the army and ma
wy who remained in their departments
and stations faithfully performing most
important duties connected with the war
and whose requests for assignment in the
field and at sea l was compelled to re-
fuse because their services We're indis-
pensable here, are entitled to the highest
commendation. 1t is my regret that there
seems to be no provision for their suit
able recognition 90
WORK OF THE RED CROSS.
In this connection it is pleasure for
me to mention in terms of cordial appre-
citation the timely and useful work of the
lief measures preparatory to the cam
paigns, in sanitary assistance at several
of the camps of assemblage, and later.
under the able and experienced leadership
of the president of the society, Miss Clara
Barton, on the fields of battle and In the
hospitals at the front in Cuba Working
In conjunction with the governmental au-
thorities and under their sanction and ap-
proVai, and with the enthusiastic Coop
GRAFTON of many patriotic women and So
cieties In the various States, the Red
Cross has fully maintained its already
high reputation for intense earnestness
and ability to exercise the noble purposes
of its International organization, thus JUS
ufying the confidence and support which
1t has received at the hands of the Ameri-
can people, To the members and officers
Of this society and all who aided them In