The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-06


miral Camara, to relieve Manila was ADAM
doned, the expedition being recalled after 1t
had passed through the Suez canal
TIE ca)tulation of Santiago followed. The
city was closely besieged 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 noncombatants, pro-
tracted negotiations continued from July {
until July Is, when, under menace of imme-
date assault, the preliminarieS of surrender
were agreed upon. On the 18th General
Shafter occupied the city. The capitulation
embraced the entire eastern END of Cuba.
The number Of Spanish soldiers surrendered
was COO all Of whom were subsequently
conveyed TO Spain at the charge OF the
United States.
The story of this successful campaign is
told in the report of the secretary of war,
which will be laid before you The individ-
ual valor of officers and soldiers was never
more strikingly shown than IN the several
engagements leading to the surrender of
Santiago, while the prompt movements and
successive victories won instant and univer-
sal applause. To those who gained this COM
plete triumph. which established the as
tendency of the United States upon land, as
the fight Of Santiago had fixed our SUI
prenacy on the seas, the earnest and lasting
gratitude Of me Nation IS par1ngly due.
Nor should we alone remember the gallant
ry of the living: the dead claim our tears
and our losses oy 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 PORTO RICO CAMPAIGN.
L
came the next strategic necessity. General
Miles had previously been assigned to or
garize an expedition for that purpose. For
tunately. he was already at Santiago. where
he had arrived on the 18th of July, with
reinforcements for General Skaters army.
With these troops. consisting Of S,415 in
fantry and artillery two companies Of en-
gineers and one company of the signal corps,
General Miles left Guantanamo on July 81,
having nine transports, conveyed by the fleet
under Captain HigginsOn, with the MaSsa-
chusetts (tagship), Dixie, Gloucester, Co
lumbla and Yale the two latter carrying
troops.
The expedition landed at Guanica July 25.
which port was entered with little opposi-
ton. Here the fleet was Joined by the An
napolls and the Wasp, while the Puritan and
Amphitrite went to San Juan and joined
the New Orleans which, was engaged in
blockadlng that port. The major general
commanding was subsequently reinforced by
General Schwann's brigade of the Third
Army Corps, by General Wilson,, with a
part of his division, and also by General
Brooke with a poruOn of his corps, number
ing in all 1857 officers and men. On July
tant ports in the island, from which he
thereafter directed operations for the cap
ture of the island.
With the exception of encounters with the
enemy at Guayama, Hondmuirs Como and
Yacca, and an attack On a force landed at
Cape San Juan, there was no serious re-
with great yigor, and by the 18th Of August
much of the island was in our possession
and the acquisition of the remainder was
only matter of a short time. AT most of
the points in the island our troops were
enthusiastically welcomed. Protestations
of loyalty TO the flag and gratitude for de-
livery from Spanish rule met our command
erS al every stage. AS a potent influence
toward peace the outcome of the Porto
Rican expedition was of great CONSEQUENCE
and generous commentator is due to those
who participated in II.
The last scene of the war was enacted
at Manila-its starting place. On Aug. IS,
after a, brief assault upon the works by the
land forces in which the squadron assisted
the capital surrendered Internationally
this, conquest of the Philippine islands, vir-
tually accomplished when the Spanish ca
pacity for resistance was destroyed by Adj
miral Deweys victory of the LIST of May,
his officers and men, for their uncomplaln-
ing and devoted services, for their gal
grateful. Their long voyage was made with
singular success, and the soldierly condG It
of the men, most of whom were without
previous experience in the military service,
deserves unmeasured praise.
KILLED AND WOUNDED.
The total casualties in killed and wound
ed in the army during the war was as fol-
lows: Officers killed, %; enlisted killed, 257.
Total. ESQ., Officers wounded, 113; enlisted
men wounded, 1,464. Total, 1,577.
OF the Navy-Killed, II; wounded, 67; died
as result of wounds, 1; invaded from
service. 6. Total. o. .sr
1t will be observed that, while our navy
was engaged in two great battles and in
numerous perilous undertakings in the
blockades and bombardments, and more
than $4,000 of our troops were transported
to distant lands and engaged in assault,
and siege and battle and many skirmishes,
in unfamiliar territory, we lost in both
arms of the service a total of 1858 killed
and wounded, and in the entire campaign
by land and we did not lose a gun or a
flag q transport or ship, and, with the
exception of the crew of the Merrimac, not
a solder or sailor was taken prisoner.
On Aug. T. forty-six days from the date
of landing of General Skaters army in
Cuba, and twenty-one days from the sur
render of Santiago, the United States troops
commenced embarkation for home and our
entire force was returned to the United
States as early as Aug. a. They were alb
sent from the United States only two
months.
It is fitting that I should bear testi--
mony to the patriotism and devotion OF
that large portion of our army which,
although eager to be ordered to the post
of greatest exposure, fortunately, were
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 of
the navy. who remained in their depart
ments and stations of the Navy Depart
ment. performed most important duties
connected with the war, and whose requests
for assignment in the field and at sea i
was compelled to refuse because their
services were indispensable here, are en-
titled to the highest commentator. 1t is
my regret that there seems to be no pro-
vision for their suitable recognition.
In this connection, 1t is q pleasure Tor
for me to mention in terms Of cordial
appreciation, the timely and useful work
of the American Red Cross, both IN re-
lief measures, preparatory to the cam
paigns, in sanitary assistance at several
camps of assemblage. and later, under the
able and experienced leadership OF the pres
ident 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 authorities and un-
der their sanction and approval and with
the enthusiastic cooperation or many pa
triotic women and societies in the various
States the Red Cross has fully maintained
it's already high reputation for intense earn
estness and ability to exercise the NOBLE
purpose of it's international organization,
which it has received at the hands or the
American people To the members and
officers of this society, and all VINO alded
them in their philanthropic work, the SIN
cere and lasting gratitude OF the soldiers
and the public is due and IS freely ac-
corded
In tracing these events we are constant
w reminded OF our obligations TO the d.
vine Master for His watchful care over
us and His safe guidance, FOR Whlch the
Nation makes reverent acknoWledSeInent
and offers humble prayer for the contlnu-
ance of His favor.
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.
SipuiDa of the ProtOcOI and Appoint