The Holly chieftain., 1924-02-14
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explosion that of u large submarine mine
oer the ship. which in turn caused partial explo-
sohs OF two of the ships forward magazines. In
cidehtally In 1910 the United States raised the
naalne, towed 1t out to sea and sank 1t with the
nag flying and with mnute-gun salutes from its
s,s'er SHIPS This work proved that the conclu-
sions OF the court of inquiry Of 1898 had been
eNacfir correct In every detail.
1he court of inquiry and official red tape delayed
.he war little over month. April II President
mckinley sent a message to congress in which he
SAID: In the name of humanity, in the name of
civilization. In behalf of endangered American In
terests the war In Cuba must stop"
April ID congress passed joint resolution deciar.
ing the people of Cuba to be free and Independent,
demanding that Spain relinquish her authority and
directing the president to the land and naval
forces to bring this about April 81 the American
and Spanish ambassadors received their passports
und Havana was blockaded. Spain declared war
April "a. April 25 congress declared that state
Of war had been in existence since April p.
Stay Dewey destroyed Spanish fleet in Manila
Bay, Philippine Islands. A Spanish fleet under
Cervera crossed the Atlantic and entered Santiago
Bay, Cuba. Sampson and Schley, with combined
fleet. blockaded Santiago. June % Major General
Shafter landed with $4,000 men near Santiago
June "a Gen. Joe Wheeler with regulars and the
Rough Riders" won Las Guasmas. July / FL
Caney and San Juan were stormed by the Ameri
cans. July 8 Cervera's fleet came out, offered bat
tie and was wiped out to the last ship. The
Spanish surrendered Santiago July IT. General
Miles landed on the south coast Of Porto Rico, and
fought his way across the island to San Juan
General Merritt received the surrender of the
Philippines. preliminary treaty of peace
stopped the fighting August r. December 10 the
treaty of Paris was signed.
September %. right in the midst of the treaty
making the Filipinos declared themselves inde-
pendent. February 4. 1899. an insurrection under
Agulnaldo broke out. oddly enough 1t took longer
to subdue the Philippines than 1t did Spain, owing
to the guerrilla fighting. But the Americans
learned the game, beat the native at 1t and finally
captured AguinGldo March 3d. 1901. April %, 1872
saw the end Of the war. Incidentally AgunaIdo
now employed by big American concern rides
about among the natives in big automobile and
explains to them that the white man means well
and that they should work for him.
The Spanish-American has been called a
I little war" 1t was that, in the sense that Spain
was soon beaten to her knees. But 1t was ire
mendousy important war, viewed from its direct
and Indirect results-of which more later 1t GER
tainly was picturesque WARMTH many incidents
that will live long in story
There was Lieutenant Andy Rowan's exploit in
taking word to the junge-hiding Cubans that helm
was coming from Uncle Sam; the Message to
Garcia" phrase has become part of the American
language.
There was Dewey's laconic order, You NAV
fire when ready, Gridley." and the wonderful per.
formance of his fleet, which methodically and ef.
fciently wiped out the Spanish fleet without the
loss of a single man.
There was Hobsons romantically hesolc exploit
of attempting to blockade the Santiago Bay chan.
mel by sinking the collier Merrimac
There the thrilling race Of the battleship
Oregon against time from the Pacific coast around
South America She arrived in fighting trim in
time to do her brilliant part In the destruction of
Cerveras fleet.
There was Captain Bob Evans of the Texas and
and the heroic rescue of Spanlards from the sink.
ing and burning ships.
There ,the dvertng spectacle of the band
of every American warship, perched on the forward
turret In their fighting clothes after Cerveras de
feat and blaring out for the world to hear.
"Therell Be Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight"
"a catchy tune with foolish words which Ameri-