The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-05

coast of Cuba and Porto Rico in prepara-
ton for the larger event on May 15 the
de Porto Rico.
on May 30 Commodore schIey's squad
mouth of Santiago harbor. Neither attack
had any ma terial result. 1t was evident
dispensabie to achieve a decided advant-
age;
alone the hearts of our own cOuntrymen,
but the world. by its exceptional herOism.
aided by seven devoted volunteers, block
ed the narrow outlet from Santiago harbor
channel, under a fierce fire from the shore
batteries, escaping with their lives as by
Spaniards. It is a most gratifying Incl
little band of heroes was cordially appre-
of true to notify Admiral Sampson Of
their daring act. They were subsequent
~ exchanged July z.
By June the cutting of the last Cuban
cable isolated the island. Thereafter the
invasion was vigorously prosecuted; On
Tune 10, under heavy protecting fire,
landing force of 600 marines from the Ore
gon, Marblehead and Yankee was effected
in Guantanamo bay. where it had been
This important and essential port was
ing by the marines, who were the first
organized force of the United States to
land in Cuba.
The position so won was held. despite
the desperate attempts to dislodge our
forces. By June 16 additional forces were
landed and strongly entrenched. On June
z the adFance OF me invading army un-
This was accomDIisbed Under great dir
hculties, but with marvellous dispatch. On
was begun. on the "A the first serious
engagement took place. in which the First
and Tenth cavalry and the First VOIun-
teer cavalry, General Young's brigade of
General WheeIer's division participated,
losing heavily. BY nightfall, however,
ground within five miles of Santiago was
advantage n
creased. On July and 2 a severe battle
took place, our forces gaining the outer
ana the investment Of the city was com
the town and the coast forts On the day
following this brilliant achievement of
our land forces. July 8. occurred the de-
cisive naval combat of the war. The Span
was met by the American squadron. I'M
der command of Commodore Sampson. In
less than three hours all the Spanish ships
were destroyed the two torpedo boats
sunk and the Mariae Teresa, Almirant
OquendO, Vizcaya and Cristobal Colon
driven ashore. The Spanish admiral and
over 1900 men were taken prisoners, while
the enemy's loss of life was deplorably
large, some six hundred perishing- on
our side but one man was killed and one
man seriously wounded. Although our
ships were repeatedly struck, not one was
injured. Where all so cOnspic-
uOusly distinguished themselves, from the
to the gunners and the I'M
named heroes in the boiler rooms, each
and all contributing toward the achieve
neither ancient nor modern history af-
fords q parallel in the completeness of the
event and the marvellous disprOpOrtiOn of
casualties, it would be invidiOus to single
out any for special honor. Deserved pro-
motion has rewarded the more cOnSpicu-
0us actOrs-the nations prOfOundest graft
tude is due to all of those brave men who
by their skill and devotion in few short
hours crushed the sea power of Spain and
wrought triumph whose decisiveness and
far reaching effects can be scarcely meas
ured. Nor can we be unmindful of the
achievements of our builders, mechanics
and artisans for their skill in the con-
structiOn of our warships.
With the catastrophe of Santiago
SPANS effort upon the ocean virtually
ceased. spasmOdic effort toward the
end of June to send her Mediterranean
feet under Admiral Camara to relieve
Manila was abandoned the epeditiOn be-
ing recalled after it had passed through
the Suez canal The capitulation of San
tiagO followed. The city was closely be-
sieged by land, while the entrance of our
ships into the harbOr cut off all relief on
that side After a truce to allow of the
removal of nOn-cOmbatants, protracted
negotiations continued from July until
10, when, under menace Of immediate as
5ault, the preliminarieS of surrender were
agreed upon.