New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-06-27

ton came. AmsSicp was fighting
In behalf Of . nsighbertng Cypress
ed people In order to free them
from old world tyranny.
III, 900 Wanted, 7SAeoo Respoad.
"Oncs again patriotism famed to
a white heat throughout America.
Three quarters Of million men Of
fered their service at the first cab
for $4,000 volunteers High en-
deavor-in . few days came the
news Of Dewey's victory at Manila
where he sailed into the harbor and
under the very guns Of the land for
tifications defeated the Spanish
fleet-came the news Of Hobson's
heroic attempt to bottle Cervera's
fleet In Santiago by sinking the coll
lier Merrimac across the entrance to
the harbor. Soon shafter was land
ing Daiquiri and Siboney. Then the
skirmish At Las Quasimas where the
Spanish complained that the Amer
cans did not fight under the rules Of
civilized warfare. but, like savaGes
charged on without fear Of death,
when they should have retreated.
Then FL Caney and the charge up
San Juan Hin. 1t was At San Juan
at the "Bleddy Bend" that the third
brigade had four different COM
manders in eleven minutes the other
three all being casualties, 1t was here
In two days fighting on the LIT and
End Of July that we lost IL officers
and $50 men killed with 1900
wounded. Then came the destruc-
ton Of Cervera's entire fleet as 1t
attempted to flee. In a few days
the fall Of Santiago. The picture
changes to Porto Rico where the
1 armistice cut short a successful ex-
petition. Again the picture changes
to thu Philippines. the opening
scene-the night attack near Manila
| on Feb. I. 1899 followed by series
Of battles degenerating az time goes
on into the most difficult type of
guerrilla warfare until finally Fun
ston's dramatic capture of Aguinal-
do breaks the back Of the insured
ton. Soon thereafter the insurrec-
ton comes to an end. Thus Is con-
cluded 4 war which some i'll inform
ed people have termed a minor war,
a war which had called 100000 men
to the colors with. a resultant loss
from battle and disease Of 10000
lives.
THE United States a. . result.
was projected into position OF
world power with possessions on
both oceans. the far PHILIPPINES and
Guam in the Pacific, with Porto
Rico and Cuba. in the Atlantic. At
the outset Of the war the United
States had disclaimed any DISPOSE
ton or intention to exercise sover-
eighty, jurisdiction or control over
Cuba, except for the pacificaticn
thereof, and asserted Its determina-
ton, when that was accom- plished,
to leave the government and control
Of the island to its people. Few ma
lions would have respected such a
promise. Scarce any would have
blamed the United States II she
had retained possession Of Cuba.
! Not so! To the confusion OF those
critics who have accused us OF I'M
perialtsm and desire for conquest.
after a brief period of American
administration our troops were re-
called, the American flag ran down
and over Moro Castle flew and still
flies the flag of Cuba Libre'-a sil-
ent testimonial to the disinterested
! motives OF the American people and
the valor OF her soldiers and
sailors
Dedication Address.
The final address of the afternoon
/! except the presentation address by
! Past Department Commander Theo-
! dore johnson. was the following
i dedication address by William Jones
| of New York. past commander in
! chief of the U. S. W. V.
I'VE are assembled to dedicate
this beautiful monument, the gift OF
the people of the city of New Brit
ain to honor those Of her citizens
who served their country during the
Spanish American war. On behalf
of my comrades of the national Or
ganization, whom I have the honor
to represent on this occasion, ! con-
graduate the comrades OF A. q.
Hammond camp, the citizens COM
mittee and the people Of this city
upon the completion of this beauti-
full memorial which will always
serve as a reminder Of the sacrifices
made by the men Of the Spanish war
and will teach the youth OF your fair
city to honor and respect the men
who were the first to prove to the
world that America loves liberty. not
selfshly for herself, but loves liberty
for liberty's own sake and for the
blessings that liberty saw confer
inpon all who are able to enjoy her
benediction and discharged her re-
possibilities.
ut is particularly fitting that q
monument OF this type should have
been selected. for as you must know
MORO Castle is closely connected
with the events leading up to the
declaration of war with Spain. His
tory tells US that 1t was the SOHer"
Ing of those Cuban patriots who were
confined to its lower regions ana
horrible dungeons which Influenced
to a great extent the report Of the
committee which was appointed by
congress to study conditions in Cuba.
"The Spanish-American war was
fought for men. women and little
children who could make no claim
upon us except the claim Of neigh
bors in distress, OF common hui
mainly and OF a universal brother
hood. 1t is very shallow view
which maintains that the destruc-
ton OF the battleship Maine and the
spirit Of revenge prompted the war
with Spain. 1t was more than two
months after the destruction Of the
,J,;ro 4h.+ ~or uas declared The Il