The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-11-26

] war and two smaller vessels. At 10 q. IN
! Commodore Schley cabIed that Cervera's
squadron was at Santiago. On the morn
| ing OF the 3lst with the Massachusetts,
/ Iowa, and New u rleans, he exchanged
| FIRE with the ships inside the harbor ana
| the forts at a range of about 2 200 yards.
On June Admiral Sampson arrived
| off Santiago and found Commodore
Sehley's squaron in column to the west
| ward Of the mouth of the harpor. I'm
| mediately upon the concentration OF these
two forces at Santiago close and efficient
| blockade was established, Admiral
sampson in command. =.
| On the morning of July s, an interview
| having been prearganRed between General
| Shafter and Admiral Sampson, the latter,
| in the flagship New York, left the fleet
| for Sihoney, When the flagship was
about 4 miles east of her blockading
| station, and about 81 miles from the
MORO. the Spanish squadron was seen
1 steaming out of the harbor entrance.
| This was at y. 80 a. m. The vessels of this
bloc aiding squadron were, as usual, in
their designated positions. making o
| semicircle about the harbor entrance,
counting from the eastward in the follow
/ ing order: Indiana, Oregon-the New
| York's place being between these two
| Iowa, iexas and brooklyn. The Massa-
chusetts had gone that morning to Guam
tanamo for coal. The Gloucester and
Vixen lay to the eastward and westward
of the harhor entrance, close to the land.
| The torpedo boat Ericsson was in
company with the flagship.
Admiral Cervera 5 squadron came QUE
OF the harbor In the following order:
Infanta Maria Teresa, Vizoaya, Cristobal
Colon, Almirante Oquendo, and the
| torpedo. boat destroyers Pluton and Furor
| The New York turned and steamed for
| the escaping fleet, tying the signal to
| close in toward the harbor entrance and
attack vessels, but our ships had already.
/ in accordance with standing orders. at
once engaged the Spanish ships with the
/ utmost spirit and vigor, and in the course
| l.20 p H.. the latter were completely
destroyed and sunk, and The famous
victory, with its splendid credit to officers
| and men, was won. Tbe casualties on orr
size we're / man killed and 10 wounded,
most of them iii the drum of the ear by
the coucussion caused by the guns Our
ships suffered no injury Of any account
Admiral Cervera, about 20 officers, and
! 600 men were made prisoners, while
about $50 Spaniards were Killed or
drowned and 100 wounded. These esti-
mates are probably conside rahly below
were rescued from their sinking ships by
our men. The prisoners, excepu the
officers who were sent to Annapolis,
were brought to Portsmouth, n. H.. and
kept in Camp Long, OH Seavey's Island
/ in the harbor of that city until they, were
released. During this timo they were fed
1 and clothed and comfortably cared for.
/ There was little sickness and the wounded
and .ailing soon recovered under good
/ treatment.
The opera tions around Santiago which
ended In its surrender are detailed at
length, and 1T is stated that Gen. Shafter
declined 60 permit Admiral Sa mpson to
be one of the signator.es.to tho capitula-
ton.
OPERATIONS OF THE BLOCKADE.
The blockade was of an extremely
ard uous character, generally unrelieved
by the exhilaration of combat. Many
dev oted officers and crews, from the be-
ginni ng of the war to the end, rendered
most valuable and conscientious service
without opportunity for winning dis
tinction in battle.
/ MARINE CORPS.
The excellent work done by the Marin
Corps during the war with Spain is set
forth in the report of the Colonel Com
mandant.
Too much praise can not be given these
4 officers and men for the gRllantry and
discipline displayed under the trying con-
ditinns which confronted them almost
Immediately upon landing on Cuban SOIL
For three days and nights they wers com
PEELED to remain constantly under arms,
IrepelIing the Spanish attacks, and this,
too in semitropioal country, where the
dense underground afforded shelter to the
sharpshonters of the enemy.
This command remained in camp at
Guantanamo from the 10th OF June to the
9th OF August and did not lose man by
disease, while the cases of sickness was
only per scent. This speaks for the
careful preparation of the battalion for
the service which devolved upon it, and
for the vigilance and care of those in
trusted the health and comfort of the
men.
4 But praise is not alone due to those
officers and men of the Marine Corps who
served with the First Marine Battalion.
The records are full of Incidents in which
conspicuous and gallant service was
rendered.
In view of the prospective increase of
the Navy and the necessity of guarding
the Daval stations which will be needed
in the newly acq uired territory OF the
United States. and especially in view of
the general efficiency displayed by this
Corps, 1t should be increased to at least
s, 600 men and necessary officers, and at
tenrlon is called to the report on this
subject OF its Colonel Commandment.
NAVAL MILITIA.
Prior to the outbreak of hostilities it
was found necessary in the preparations
| for coast defense aud for the purpose of
providing crews for auxiliary ships to
make {, large increase in the enlisted
force of the Navy.