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

not be aware Of 1t, this old fortress
Is inextricably linked UP with the
history Of Connecticut, at . time
when France and England were at
grips over hegemony in America. In
the last Of the so-called French and
Indian wars, Spain, In conformity
with the Family Compact, declared
war on England. AS result Eng
land sent combined land and naval
force against Havana. Among Lord
Albermale's forces was q brigade of
American volunteers commanded by
Major General Phineas Lyman OF
Connecticut. consisting Of 500 men
from New York, 500 from New Jer-
sey and 1000 from Connecticut. This
latter contingent was the First Reg
iment. the predecessor Of the First
Connecticut in which SO many of you
have served and Of the l69th Infan-
try Of today. Less the Tenth COM
pany which was detached, this reg
iment was commanded by Lieuten-
ant Colonel Israel Putnam. Moro
Castle was besieged, the attackers
secured possession Of covered way.
made lodgment before the right
bastion, sprang a mine and on July
30, 1862, successfully assaulted the
fortress which forced the surrender
of Havana two week later. This eX-
peditionary force returned to New
I n -
having suffered 400 deaths In battle
and from disease. Thus, through the
contributing valor of Connecticut
men. was the Spanish flag run down
for the first time from over Moro
full one hundred years before the
Spanish American War.
This grim fortress witnessed the
awful tragedy of the Maine on Feb.
Is. 1895. Ordered to Havana on d
friendly visit to another friendly ma
ton this proud vessel was destroyed
with loss of two officers. 264 men
killed and 60 wounded. For twelve
years, until 1910. Moro looked out
over the bay upon the tragic re-
mains Of this gallant ship until q
mindful people caused her to be
raised, carried out to sea and sunk.
And even today. Moro looks down
upon the buoy which marks the
final resting place Of so many brave
Americans.
1.-THE destruction Of the Maine
and the consequent findings Of the
naval board ii inquiry were not the
cause Of the Spanish American war.
but rather the incident that brought
that war TO an immediate issue. For
almost half a century the American
people had watched with growing
apprehension the effects of mis-
guided colonial policy in Cuba until
in last desperate effort to quelch
the revolt. the Spanish had resorted
to heartless policy Of establishing
concentration camps, like prison
pens, into which were gathered men
women and children indiscriminate-
ly, without shelter from the ele-
ments. and with little or no food.
Conditions in Cuba were well des-
cribed by Senator Proctor of YER
mont when he said is a speech in
the senate chamber. 1T Is not peace,
nor is it war; 1t is desolation and
distress. misery and starvation
America has never entered into war
lightly without strong provocation,
but our Intervention in Cuba was
particularly actuatcd by the high
est motives Of altruism. President
Cleveland in his annual message Of
1896 spoke on an higher obligation,
which we can hardly hesitate to
recognize and discharge President
Mckinley In his annual message of
the following year referred to our
obligation to ourselves, TO civiliza-
ton, and to humanity, to intervene
with force and promised that If in
tervention came it would be with
out fault on our part and only be-
cause the necessity for such action
will be so clear as 10 command and
support the approval of the civilized
world. America attempted to have
the Cuban situation arbitrated blu.
without success and finally the force
OF circumstances and the pressure
OF public opirion caused the presi-
dent to issue his war message saying
In the name Of humanity, In the
name Ut civilization, In behalf Of en-
dangered American interests. which
give Us the night ana duty TO speak
and to act the war In Cuba must
stop And not long after ihterven-