The times., 1898-12-06
Pages 9 to y.

VII tilt seas, iut ttlittol anu 6idt-
itude of the nation is unsparingly due.
Nor should we alone remember the gal
lantry of the living; the dead claim our
tears, and our losses by battle and disease
must cloud any exultation at the result
and teach us to weigh the awful cost of
war. however rightful the cause or signal
the victory.
THE CAMPAIGN IN 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
for that purpose, Fortunately he was al
ready at Santiago where he had arrived
on the 11th- of July with re-enforcements
for General Skaters army.
With these troops, consisting of 3,i15 in
fantry and artillery, two companies of
engineers, and one company of the Sig
nal Corps, General Niles left Guantana-
mo on July u. having nine transorts con-
voyed by the feet under Captain Hig-
ginson with the Massachusetts (hagship).
Dixie, Gloucester. Columbia and Yale, the
two latter carrying troops. The expedi-
ton landed at Guanica July 25, which
port was entered with little opposition.
Here the feet was joined by the Annapo-
lis and the Wasp. while the Puritan aud
AInpntlrlte= went 10 Sin Juan anu lOitleu
the New Orleans, which was engaged in
blockading that port. The Major General
Commanding was subsequently re-en-
forced by General Schwan's brigade of
the Third Army Corps, by General Wilson
with a part of his division, and also by
General Brooke with part of his corps.
numbering in all 1888 officers and men.
On July q he entered Ponce, one of the
most important ports in the island. from
which he thereafter directed operations
for the capture of the island.
With the exception of encounters with
the enemy at Guayama, Hormiguercs,
Co2mo. and Yauco. and an attack on Il
force landed at Cape San Juan, there was
no serious resistance. The campaign was
prosecuted with great vigor, and by the
Eth of August much. of the island was
in our possession and The acquisition OF
the remainder was only matter of q
short time. AT most of the points in the
island our troops were enthusiastically
welcomed. Protestations of loyalty to the
flag and gratitude for delivery from Span
ish rule met our commanders at every
stage As a potent influence toward
peace the outcome of the Porto Rican
expedition WAS of great consequence and
generous commendatiou is due to those
who participated in it.
The last scene of the war was enacted
al Adiiidr itS Stdi titAS pidSt+ vi Aug uSl
Is after brief assault upon the works by
the land forces. in which the squadron
assisted. the capital surrendered uncoa-
ditionslly. The casualties were compaTi-
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 lst of May, was formally
sealed. To General Merritt. his officers
-I,t r1..E.1
voted service and for their gallantry in
action the nation is sincerely grateful.
Their long voyage was made with singu-
lar success. ard the soldierly conduct OF
the men, most of whom We're without
previous experience in the military GER
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, rs; enlisted
men wounded j. 464; total. 1.5U. OF the
navy: Killed. Il; wounded. 67: died as re-
suit of wounds. /; invalided from service
G; total, Of
II will be observed that while our na-
Wy was engaged in two great battles and
in numerous periIous undertakings in
blockade and boa:bardmont, and more
than 5eoc0 of our troops Were transported
to distant lands and Were engaged in as
sault and siege and battle and many skir-
nishes in unfamiliar territory, we lost in
both arms of the service a total of 1,66s
killed and wounded, and in the entire
campaign by land and sea we did not
lose Il gun or Il flag or u transport or
,.-ty1, . ba a~g i'm u+ -I,a
of the Merrinac. not a soldier or sailor
was taken prisoner.
On August = forty-siX days from the
date of the landing of Gen. Skaters ar
my in Cuba. and twenty-cue 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 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 ! was compelled to re-
fuse because their services We're indis-
pensable here are entitled to the highest
cnrf mo In * my Naf
seems to be no provision for their suit
able recognition.
WORK OF THE RED CROSS.
In this connection it is a pleasure for
me to mention in terms of cordial appre-
citation the timely and useful work of the
American National Red Cross both in re-
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-
prevail 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
tifying the confidence and support which
it has received at the hands of the Ameri-
can people To the members and officers
of this society and all who aided them in
their philanthropic work. the sincere and
lasting gratitude of the soldiers and the
public is due and is freely accorded.
In tracing these events we are CONSTANT
ly reminded of our obligations Ia the Ii
"a, n ;S abf f,,l