Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-12-09

denas, gallant ensign, Worth w. Bag
ley, and four seamen falling. These |
grievous 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 IL
the North Atlantic squadron shelled San
Juan de Porto Rico. On May 30, Com
mOdore Schley's squadron bOmbarded
the forts guarding the mouth of San
| tiago harbOr. Neither attack had any
material result. 1t was evident that
well ordered land operations were indis-
/ pensabe to achieve a decisive advan-
tage.
1.-THE president here refers to the mill
/ tary and naval operations on Cuba and
| Porto Rico, and refers to the assumption
of affairs in the latter island by the
! United States government
The total casualties in killed and
wounded in the army during the war
| with Spain were: officers killed, %; en-
! listed men. 251; total, 2SO officers wound
ed, 113: enlisted men wounded, 1864; total,
1871. OF the navy: Killed, Il; wounded
| e.: died as result of wounds, /; invalided
! from service, 6; total, 81.
/ 1t will be observed that while our navy
was engaged in two great battles and in
numerous pcrilOuS undertakings in
| blockade and bOmbardment, and more
than 80 600 Of our troops were transport
/ ed to distant lands and were engaged in
| assault and siege and battle and many
skrmishes in unfamiliar territory, we
! lost in both arms of the service total Of
16GS killed and wounded, and in the en-
tire campaign by land and sea we did not
lose a gun or flag or a transport Of
| ship, and with the exception of the crew
| of the Merrimac, not a soldier or sailor
was taken prisoner
On Aug. I, 46 Gays from the date of the
landing of General Skaters army in
Cuba and y days from the surrender of
Santiago. the Urited States troops COM
menced embarkation for home, and our
entire force was returned to the United
States as early as Aug. "a. They were
absent from the United States only two
months.
The annihlation of Admiral Cervera's
feet followed by the capitulation of
Santiago, having brought to the Spanish
government realizing sense of the hope
lessness of continuing a struggle now
become wholly unequal, it made over
lures of peace through the French am
bassador, who, with the assent of his
government, had acted as the friendly
representative of Spanish interests dur
Ing the war On July 26 NJ. Cambon pre-
Sented a communication signed by the
United States to state the terms upon
which it would be willing to make peace.
On July 30, by a communication ad-
dressed to the Duke of Almodovar and
handed to NJ. Cambon, the terms Of this
government We're announced, substan-
TALLY as in the protocol afterwards
signed. on Aug. 10 the Spanish reply,
dated Aug. I, was handed by NJ. Cambon
to the secretary of state. 1t accepted
unCOndtionally the terms imposed as to
Cuba, Porto Rico and an island of the
l.adrone group. but appeared to seek to
introduce inadmisSible reservations in
regard to our demand as to the Philip
pine islands. COnCeiVing that discussion
on this point could neither be practical
nor profitable, directed that in order to
avoid misunderstanding the matter
should be forthwith closed by proposing
the embodiment in formal protocol OF
i the terms upon which the negotiations for
peace were to be undertaken. The vague
and ineXpliCit suggestions of the Spanish
note could not be accepted, the only re-
Ply being at present as virtual ulti-
matum, draft of protocol embodying
the precise terms rendered to Spain in
our note of July 80 with added stipula-
tions of detail as to the appointment of
commissioners to arrange for the evacua-
ton of the Spanish Antilles. On Aug.
J. NJ. Cambon announced his receipt of
full powers to sign the protocol so sub
mitted. Accordingly on the afternoon of
Aug. II, NJ. CambOn, as the plenipOten-
tiary of Spain, and the secretary of state
rs the plenipOtentiary of the United
States, signed a protocol.
Immediately upon the conclusion of
the protocol issued a proclamation of
Aug. II suspendng hostiites on the part
of the United States The necessary
orders to that end were at once given by
telegraph. The blockade of the ports of
Cuba and San Juan de Porto Rico was in
like manner raised. on Aug. Is the mus
ter out of 100000 volunteers, or as near
that number as was found to be pract
cable, was ordered.
Pursuant to the fifth article of the
protocol | appointed William r. Day,
late secretary of state; Cushman X.
Davis, William p Frye and George Gray,
senators of the United States. and White
law Reid to be the peace commissioners
on the part of the United States. Pro-
Ceeding in due season to Paris they there
met on Oct. l five commissioners SINH
larly appointed on the part of Spain
Their negotiations have made hopeful
progress and trust soon to be able to Law
a definite treaty of peace before the SEN
: ate with a review Of the steps leading to
, its signature.
do not discuss at this time the govern
| ment for the future of the new possess
| SONS NnlCn Will come TO us as the result
! of the war with Spain. Such decision
will be appropriate after the treaty of
peace shall be ratified. In the meantime
and until the congress has legislated
. otherwise it will be my duty to continue
the military government which have ex-
listed since our occupation and give to the
| people security in life and property and
5 encouragement under Just and bene-
ticient rule.
tot loe I,
- different spectator of the extraordinary
events transpiring in the Chinese en-
: pire, whereby portions of its maritime
provinces are passing under the control
I of various European powers: but the
prospect that the vast commerce which
} the necessity of our citizens and the
necessity of our staple productions for
= Chinese use has built up in those regions
: may not be prejudiced through any ex-
! elusive treatment by the new OCCUPANTS
has obviated the need of our country he
: coming an actor in the scene. -
; Meanwhile, there may be Just ground
for dlsquietude in view of the unrest and
revival Oh the olu sentiment of opposition
= and prejudice to an alien people which
pervades certain of the Chinese NOV
! lnces. AS In the case of the attacks unon
' our citizens in SZechuan and at Kntian
in 1895, the United States minfster he G
: Deen instructed to secure the fullest
5 nIeaSure Oh protection for any menaced
t AtnerlCah IN thls and to demand in case
4 of lawless injury to person or nronertV
/ instant reparation appropriate TO the
e. case.
t Our relations with Great Britain have
, continued on the most friendly footing
: Asserting to our request, the protection
l. If Americans and their interests in
= Spanish jurisdiction was assumed by the
diplomatic and consular representatives
l OF Great Britain, who fulfilled their de-
Ilcate and arduOus trust with tact and
zeal piiCitinn hiph rop,n,pp6otinp