Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-12-09

and significant result, showing tho Vast re-
,ources OF the nation a3d tn. do ermlnation OF
the pc jpls 70 uphold their ratlcn's horcr.
THE BATTLE or MANILA.
I. IS rot With, the province of this mes sage
10 rrats the history OF tn, cytraordlna y war
inat followed the Spanish declaration OF April
list. but brief rscit IL OF its more salient fen
lures is ap ,ropriate The first encounter OF the
war in point OF date, took place April "a, when
u detachm"n, ~ the blcckading squadron maze
u icccnn iSanre in force ut Matan2as. sh He'd
the harbor and demoli he'd s,v, ral new works
in const uctiCn. tn n xt en- agement
was destined 10 mark memorable
epoch in maritime warfare. The Pacific fleet,
under Commodore George Dewey, had lain for
some weeks at Hong Kong Upon the colonial
proclamation OF neutrality being issued and the
, customary twenty-four hours notice being
given. il repaired to Mrs bae. near Hong Kong,
whence 1t proceeded to the Philippine islands
under telegraph orders to capture or destroy
the formidable spanish ileet then assembled ut
Manila. At daybycuk On the list OF May. the
anne lean force entered Manila bay and sitter u
few hours engagement effected the total de-
struction of the Spanish iect, consisting OF ten
wagsh!ps and q transport, besides capturing the
naval station and forts at Cavitc, thus annihil-
ating tho Spanish naval power in the Pacific
ocean and completely controlling the buy Of
Manila with the ability TO luke the city at will.
y OF u life was lost on our ships, tho wounded
only numbering seven while no, vessel was
materially injured For this gallant achieve
meat the Congress, upon my Recommendation
htly bestowed uron the actors preferment and
substantial reward.
The effect Of this remarkable victo v upon the
spirit OF our people and upon the fortunes Of
the war was instant. prestige of invinci-
bllity thereby attached TO our arms which con-
tinued throughout the struggle. Reinforce
ments were hurried to Manila under the COM
mand Of Major General Merritt and firmly
established W thin sight OF the capital which lay
helpless before our guns. On the tn day OF
May the government was advised officially Of
the victory Mt Manila, and ut once inquired OF
the commander OF our fleet what troops would
be required. The information was received on
the 10th day OF May and the first army eypedi-
tion sailed May 10Th and arrived ut Manila
June 3 tn. Other expeditions soon folio wed,
the total force consisting af vi oiIlrcrs and l5.
o.. men.
Only reluctance 20 cause needless loss OF life
and property proven cd the early stormn, and
capture Of the city and IisfcGlsl tho cbsolut to
military occupancy Of tho whole group. The
Insurgents meanwhile, had resumed the active
hostilites suspended by the uncompcted truce
o. December, 1891 Their forces inve ited Ma
rila from the northern and eastern side, but
were tOHStTHlLct. ~ Aunlriil DSWey anu tfs
eral Merritt from attempting an assault 1t
was fitting that whatevcr was to be done in the
way Of decisive operations in that quarter
should he accomplished by the strong arm OF
the United States alone. Oboying the stern pre-
cept of war which cnjDiaS the overcoming Of
the adversary ana the cxtincvo of his power
wherever assa!lable as the speedy and sure
means TO WIN peace divided victory was not
permissible for no partition of the rights
.1ph Al hn .fnt
ment OF a just aad advantageous peace could
be thought of. Following the coming OF
the com. rehcnSive scheme OF general attack,
powerful forces were assembled at various
poin on our coast to Invade Cuba ard Porto
Rico Meanwhile naval demonstrations were
made at several exposed points. On May II
tho cruiser Wilmington and torpedo boat
WinsloW were unsuccessful IN an attempt to
silence the batteries mt Cardenas, against
Matanzas, Worth Bagley and four sesmen fall
ing. Taese grievous fatalities were strangely
enough among the very few which occurred
during our naval operations in this extraordin-
ary conflict.
Meanwhile the Spanish naval preparations
had been pushed with great vigor. A powerful
squadron under Admiral Cervera, which had
assembled at the Cap, Verde islands before the
outbreak Of hostilities hud crossed the ocean
and by its cratic movements In the Caribbean
sea delayed our military operations while
baffling the pursuit Of ou; fleets. For time
fears were felt lest the Oregon and Marietta,
then nearing home after their long voyage from
San Francisco OF over $4,000 miles, might be
surprised by Admiral Cervera's fleet. but their
fortunate arrival dispeled the apprehensions
and lent much needed reinforcements Not
until Admiral Cervera took refuge in the har-
Dor of San .iago de Cuba about May -, was it
practicable to plan o systematic military at
tack upon the Antillean possessions OF Spain
Several demonstrations occurred on the
coast OF Cubs and Porto Rico In preparation
for larger event On May 10 the North ATTAIN
tic Squadron shelled San Juan de Porto Rico.
On NAY 80 Commodore Schley's squadron bonn
barded the fort guarding the mouth OF Santi
ago harbor. Neither attack had any material
result. 1t was evident that well ord rel land
operations we're Indispensable to achieve . d.
cided advantage
SINKING OF THE MERRIMAC.
The next act in the war thrilled not alone tho
hearts of our countrym N, but tna 1orld, oy iti
exceptional heroism. On the night OF Juli D.
Lieutenant Hobson aided by 5. zen devoted
volunteers, blocked tn narrow outlet from
Santiago harbor by iniiin, the collier -uerri-
mac in the channel. under q fierce fire from tn
shore Batteries and escaping wi h their ltvoS
as by miracle, but falling into to hands II
the Spaniards 1t o most gratifying Incident
of the war that tao avcrJ OF TINS LITTLE band
OF heroes was cordially appto;i ted by the
SpAniards who 3sut dag Of tru,c to notify
Admiral Sampson OF their safety and to COM
pliment them upon their daring act. They
wcre subsequently, exclaimed July I.
By June Z, the cutting III the last Cuban cable
isolated the island. Thereafter the invasion
was vigorously prosecuted. On June ~, under
a heavy protecting fir, q | nding force OF G0)
marines from the Oregon. Marbehead and
Yankee was effected in Guantanamo bay, where
it had been determined to establish naval
station. This important and essential port
was taken from tide enemy after severe
fighting by the marines. who were
the first organized forces OF the United States
to land in Cuba.
DESTRUCTION OF CREvERA'S FLEET.
The position 50 won was held despite deeper
ate attempts to dislodge our forces b. June
Ii I'D itional forces were landed and strongly
entrenched. On June ~ the advance o. the in
vading army under Major General Shafter
landed ut Daiquiri, about fifteen miles east of
Santiago. This was accomplished under great
diIicu ties, brt with marvellous dispatch. On
June q the movement against Santiago was
begun. On the eth the first serious engage
ment took place in which the First and Tenth
cavalry and the First Volunteer cavalry Cen
eral Young's brigade OF General Whaeler's di-
vision Dnrti -inuted losing heavily. Nv night