The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-05


given, IL repaired TO Mrs bay, near Hong
Kong, whence IL proceeded 10 the Philip
pine islands under telegraph orders 10
capture or destroy the formidable Span
tsh fleet then assembled at Manila.
At daybreak on May the American
force entered Manila bay and after few
hours engagement effected the total de-
struction OF the Spanish fleet, consisting
OF 10 warships and transport besides
capturing the naval station and forts at
Cavite. thus annihilating the Spanish
naval power In the Pacific ocean and
completely controlling the bay OF Ma
Mia, with the ability to take the city at
will. Not life was lost on our ships
the wounded only numbering seven,
while not a vessel was materially injured.
For this gallant achievement the con-
gress, upon my accommodation, fitly
bestowed upon the actors permanent ana
substantial reward.
The effect OF this remarkable victory
upon the spirit of our people and upon
the fortunes OF the war was Instant A
prestige Of invincibility thereby attached
TO our arms which continued throughout
the struggle. Reinforcements were
hurried TO Manila under the command OF
Major General Merritt and firmly estab-
lished within sight OF the capital, which
lay helpless before our guns.
On May the government was advised
officially OF the victory at Manila and at
once inquired OF the commander OF our
|
fleet what troops would be required The
| information was received on the 18th OF
May and the first army expedition sailed
! May 20 and arrived off Manila June 30.
! Other expeditions soon followed, the
total force consisting Of Gil officers and
IL 05S enlisted men.
Only reluctance to cause needless loss
| OF life and property prevented the early
| storming and capture of the city. and
/ Herewith the absolute military occu-
! pancy OF the whole group
The insurgents meanwhile had re-
sumed the active hostilities suspended
/ by the uncompleted truce of December
! 1897 Their forces invested Manila from
J the northern and eastern sides. but were
constrained by Admiral Dewey and Gen.
/ eral Merritt from attempting an assault.
| ii was fitting that whatever was to be
! done i'm the way of decisive operations in
| that quarter should be accomplished by
] the strong arm of the United States alone
! Obeying the stern precept OF war which
! cnjoins the overcoming OF the adversary
and the extinction of his power wherever
! assailable as the speedy and sure means
! to win a peace. divided victory was not
permissible. for no partition Of the rights
and responsibilities attending the en-
forcement OF "A just and advantageous
peace could be thought Of.
Following the comprehensive scheme
Of general attack. powerful forces were
TO invade Cuba and Porto Rico. Mean
} while naval demonstrations were made
at several exposed points. On May IL
the cruiser Wilmington and torpedo boat
! Winslow were unsuccessful in an at
tempt 10 silence the batteries at Car
denas a gallant ensign, Worth w. Bag
ley, and four seamen falling. These
Crievous fatalities were strangely enough
among the very few which occurred dur
Ing our naval operations in this ex-
traordinary conflict.
Several demonstrations occurred on The
coasts of Cuba and Porto Rico in prep
aration for the larger event. On May Ii
the North Atlantic squadron shelled San
| Juan de Porto Rico. On May 80, Com
modore Schley's squadron bombarded
the forts guarding the mouth of San
| tiago harbor. Neither attack had any
material result. III was evident that
we'll ordered land operations were indis-
rensable to achieve decisive advan'
tage
fThe president here refers to the mill.
tary and naval operations on Cuba and
Porto Rico, and refers 10 the assumption
: of affairs ip the latter island by th'
United States government
The total casualties in killed ant
wounded in the army during the wa
with Spain were: Officers killed, %; en-
listed men. 257: total. $50; officers wound
ed, 11S: enlisted men wounded, 1854 total
1877. OF the navy: Killed, Ia; wounded
s.: died as result of wounds, L; invalicet
from service, 6; total. 81.
1t will he observed that while our nav!
was engaged in two great battles and II
numerous perilous undertakings IL
blockade and bombardment, and NOR
than 80 600 of our troops were transport
ed to distant lands and were engaged II
assault and siege and battle and man.
skirmishes in unfamiliar territory, w
-, h.,sl hos 10 al n
1868 killed and wounded and in the en-
tire campaign by land and sea we did no
lose a gun or a flag or transport or
ship. and with the exception of the GREY
of the Merrimac. not soldier or sailo
was taken prisoner.
on Aug. Z, As days from the date of tn
landing OF General Skaters army 4
Cuba and n days from the surrender O
: Santiago. the Urited States troops com
menced embarkation for home, and ou
: entire force was returned TO the Unite
States as early as Aug. "a They wer
absent from the United States only tw
; months.
The annihilatlon of Admiral Cervera'
! feet, followed by the capitulation q
= Santiago, having brought To the SPANS
government realizing sense of the hope
lessness of continuing a struggle no'
become wholly unequal, IL made ovei
lures of peace through the French am
/
> government, had acted as the frlendl
l representative of Spanish interests dui
ing the war. On July &c NJ Cambon pre-
sented a communication signed by IN
: Spanish minister Of state, inviting IN
y United States to state the terms upo
u which ii would be willing TO make peacl
D on July 80. by n communication ac
dressed TO the Duke Of Afmodovar an
: handed to NJ. Cambon. the terms OF tn
! government were announced, substar
; TALLY as i'm the protocol afterwarG
signed. ON Aug. 10 the Spanish repl.
: dated Aug 4 was handed by Nj. Cambo
TO the secretary Of state. II accepte
; unconditionally the terms imposed as
y Cuba. Porto Rico and an island OF II
Ladrone group. but appeared 10 seek
= Introduce inadmissible reservations
!, regard TO our demand as TO the PhiliI
pine islands. Conceiving that discussio
- on this point could neither he practc
" nor profitable. | directed that in order
avoid misunderstanding the matte
u should be forthwith closed by proposir
: the embodiment i'm a formal protocol
5 the terms upon which the negotiations 4
= peace were TO be undertaken. The vagi
> and mex plicit guuOasfiops of tho Spanig