The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-09

an expedition for that purpose. Fortu-
nately he was already 1t Santiago
where he a arrived on the 18th of
July with reinforcements for General
Skaters army. With these troops,
consisting Of 3.415 infantry and artil-
ley. W companies OF engineers and
n company Of the signal corps, Gen.
eral Miles left Guantanamo on July
21st, having nine transports conveyed
by the feet unde- Captain Higginson
with the Massachusetts ~tflagship).
Gloucester, Columbia and Yale. the
two latter carrying troops The expe-
dition landed at Guanica July 25th.
which port was entered with little OPP
position. Here the fleet was Joined by
the Annapolis and the Wasp. while
h Puritan and Amphitrite 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
eral Schwan's brigade of the Third
army corps. by General Wilson with
a part of his division. and also by
General Brooke. with 4 part of his
corps. numbering in all 1873 officers
and men. On July 9th he entered
Ponce, one of the most important ports
in the island. from which he thereaf-
ter directed operations for the capture
of the island.
with the exception of u
with the enemy at Guayama, Hormi-
gueros, Coamo. and Yauco, and an at
tao On a force LANDED at Cape "a
juan, there was no serious resistance.
The campaign was prosecuted with
great vigor and by the 18th of August
much of the island was in our posses
sion and the acquisition of the re-
mainder was only a matter Of a short
time. At most OF the points in the
island, our troops were welcomed on
Enthusiastically. ProtestationS of loyalty
to The flag and gratitude for delivery
from Spanish rule met our command
ers at every stage. AS a potent infiu-
ence toward peace the outcome of the
Porto Rican expedition was of great
consequence and generous
datiOn is due to those who participated
in it.
LAST SCENE OF THE WAR.
THE last scene of the war was en-
acted at Manila, its starting place. On
August 18th, after a brief assault upon
the works by land forces in which the
squadron assisted, the capital Surren-
dered Internationally. The casualties
We're comparatively few. BY this thu
conquest of the Philippine islands, viz
tually accomplished when the Spanish
capacity for resistance was destroyed
by Admiral DeWey's victory of LIST of
ANioy = & ~ iCAi oSblCt. ~ Nitlltl al
Merritt, his officers and men for their
accomplishing and devoted service and
for their gallantry in action the ma
ton is sincerely grateful. Their LONG
voyage was made with singular sue
cess and the sOldierly conduct Of the
men, most of whom were without pre-
vious experience in the military SER
vice, deserves unmeaSured praise.
OUR LOSSES IN THE WAR.
1.-The total casualties in killed and
wounded in the army during the war
with Spain were: Officers killed, %:
enlisted men killed, PSI: total, $50; off
ed 1854: total, 1877. OF the navy
Killed, II; wounded. 81: died as result
of wounds, 1: invalided from service,
6; total, 81.
1T will be observed hat while our
navy was engaged in two great bat
ties and in numerous perilouS under
takings in blockade ard bo~mbardment
and more than so. 900 of our troops were
transported to distant lands and were
engaged in assault and siege and bat
tie and many skirmishes in unfamiliar
territory, we lost in both arms of the
service a total of 1,66S killed and
wounded; and in the entire campaign
by land and sea we did not lose a gun
or a flag or a transport or a ship, and
WIFI TIE exception Oh the crew OF the
Merrimac not a soldier or sailor was
taken prisoner. On August 18th, forty
six days from the date of the landing
of Genera Skaters army in Cuba,
and twenty-One days from the surren-
der of Santiago, the United States
troops commenced embarkation for
home and our entire force was return
ed to the United States as early as
August 24th They were absent from
the United States only two months.
TT is fitting that / 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 If greatest exposure, fortunately
was 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 nanne the officers and men of
the amy and of the navy % remain
ed in their departments ard stations
faithfully performing most important
duties connected with the war, and
whose requests for assignment in the
field dnd at sea / was compelled to re-
fuse because their services were in
d~iSpensible here, are entitled to the
highest commentator. 1t is my re-
gret that there seems to be no prOvi-
ion for their suitable recognition.
WORK OF THE RED CROSS SOC1-
ETY..
I'm this connection, it is a pleasure
for me to mention in terms of cordial
for the timely and use
work of the American National
Red Cross Doth in relief measures
preparatory to the campaigns; in SAN
itary assistance at several Of the
camps of assemblage, and later, I'M
de1 the able and experienced leader
ship of the president of the society,
Miss Clara Barton. On the fields of
and in the hospitals at the front
in Cuba. Working in conjunction with
the government authorities and under
their sanction and approval, and with
the enthusiastic cooperation of many
patriotic women and societies in the
various states, the Red Cross has fully
maintained its already high reputation
for intense earneStneSS and ability to
exercise the noble purposes of its in
ternational organization, thus justify
the confidence and support which
it has received at the hands of the
American people. To the members and
of this society and all who aid
ed them in their philanthropic work.