The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-12-07

achievement OF our land forces, July
3. occurred the decisive naval combat
OF the war The Spanish fleet attempt
| ing to leave the harbor, was met by the
American squadron. under command
OF Commodore Sampson. In less than
three hours all the Spanish ships were
destroyed. two torpedo boats being
sunk and the Maria Teresa. Aimirante
Oquendo, Vlzcaya and Cristobal Colon
driven ashore. The Spanish admiral and
over i.300 men were taken prisoners,
while the enemy's loss of life was
deplorably large, some 600 perishing.
On our side but one man was killed
on the Brooklyn. and one man serious
ly wounded. Although our ships were
repeatedly struck, not one was serious
ly injured. Where all so conspicuously
distinguished themselves, from the
commodore TO the P-'rners. and the
unnamed heroes In the boiler rooms
each and all contributing toward the
achievement of this astounding vic
tory for which neither ancient nor
modern history affords parallel In the
completeness of the event and the
marvellous disprOportion of casualties.
II would be invidious to single out any
for special honor. Deserved promotion
mas rewarded the more conspicuous
actors-thc nations profoundest graf
itude Is due to all of these brave men
who, by their skill and devotion, in a
few short hours crushed the sea power
or Spain and wrought Il triumph
whose decisiveness and far-reaching
consequences can scarcely he meas
ured. Nor can we be unmindful OF the
achievements of our builders, mechan-
les and artisans for their skill I'm the
construction of our warships.
With the catastrophe of Santiago
Spain's efforts upon the ocean virtual
ly ceased. A spasmodic effort toward
the end of June to send her Medltt-
erranean fleet, under Admiral Camara,
to relieve Manila was abandoned. the
expedition being recalled after Il had
passed through the Suez canal.
THE FALL OF SANTIAGO.
The G. ilation of Santiago follow
ed. The .ty was closely besieged by
into the harbor cut off all relief on
that side and caused a truce to follow
for the removal of -combatants,
Protracted negotiations continued
from July to July Is, when. under
menace of immediate assault, the pre-
liminaries of surrender were agreed
upon. On the 18th Gen. Shafter oc-
.cupied the city. The capltulation en-
bfaced the entire eastern end of Cuba
The number of Spanish soldiers surren-
dered was $4,000. 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 he laid before you. The in
dividual 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 universal
applause. To those who gained this
complete triumph which established
the ascendency of the United States
upon land as the fight off Santiago had
earnest and lasting gratitude of the
nation Is unsparngly due. Nor should
we alone remember the gallantry 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.
With the fall of Santiago. the occu-
patton of Porto Rico became the next
strategic necessity. Gen. Miles had
previously been assigned to organize
an expedition for that purpose. Fortu-
nately he was already at Santiago,
where he had arrived on the 11th of
July. with reinforcements for Gen.
Shafter's army.
With these troops. consisting of 3,415
infantry and artillery, two companies
of engineers, one company of the Sig
nal Corps, Gen. Miles left Guantanamo
on July 81, having nine transports,
conveyed by the fleet under Capt. Hig-
ginson. with the Massachusetts alag
ship, Dixie, Gloucester, Columbia and
Yale. the two latter carrying troops.
The expedition landed at Guanlca, July
25, which port was entered with little
opposition. Here the fleet was Joined by
the Annapolis and the Wasp. while the
Puritan and Amphitrlte went to San
Juan and Joined the New Orleans,
which was engaged in blockading that
port The major-general commanding
was subsequently reinforced by Gen.
Schwan's brigade of the Third army
corps, by Gen. Wilson, with a part of
his division, and also by Gen. Brooks
with part of Lis corps, numbering in
all 16,9I3 officers and men.
On July p he entered Ponce, one of
the most important ports in the is
land. from which he thereafter directed
operations for the capture of the is
land.
With the exception of encounters
with the enemy at Guayum. Hormi-
guares, Coamo and Yauco, and an at
tack on force landed at Cape San
Juan. there was no serious resistance.
The campaign was prosecuted with
great vigor. and by the last of August
much of the island was in our possess
sion. and the acquisition of the re-
mainder was only matter OF a short
time. At most of the points in the is-
land our troops were enthusiastically
welcomed. Protestations of loyalty to
the flag and gratitude for delivery from
Spanish rule met our commanders at
every stage. AS a potent influence to-
ward peace, the outcome of the Porto
llcan operations was of great conse-
quence and generous commentator Is
due to those who participated in it.
THE CAPTURE OF MANILA.
The last scene of the war was enacted
at Manila, it's starting place. On Au-
gust 10, after brief assault upon the
works by the land forces, in which the
assisted. the capital sur
rendered Internationally. The casual
ties were comparatively few BY this
the conquest of the Philippine islands,
virtually accomplished when the Span
ish capacity for resistance was de-
stroyed by Admiral Deweys victory of
the LIST of May, was formally sealed.
To Gen. Merritt, his officers and men
for their accomplishing and devoted
service. and for their gallantry in ac-
tion. the nation Is sincerely grateful
Their long voyage was made with sin
gular success, and the soldierly con-
duct OF the men, most of whom We're