Evening Star Newspaper, December 5, 1898, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. A: — PUBLISHED DAILY. EXCEF™ SUNDAY, AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania Ave., Cor. 11th St., by The Evening Star Newspaper Company. 8. 3. KAUFFMANN, Pres’t. New York Office, 49 Potter Building pines iridateendi Evening Star is served to subscriters fm by carriers. on thelr own account. at 10 f meek, or #4 cents per eh. By "s or Causda—postage prepaid—S0 cents ir, $1 per year, witt tuple Sheet added, $3.98, t the Post Office at Washington, D. C., asx uiall matter.) mai! sube riptions mast Se patd tm advance. advertising made known on application. Che Hoening Star. —= BUSINESS POINTERS. Business will be good this fall. An advertisement in a daily Paper bears fruit quickly « itty. Everybody who has money which to buy things ly paper. m reach more than twice as many Washington purchasers through the co No 14,280, WASHINGTON, D. 0, MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1898. TWO CENTS, BXTRA! PRESENTS MESSAUE Review of Events Since the Last Ses- Sion Of Congress THE WAR WITH SPAIN DISCUSSED ucrease Of Both the Army and Navy Strongly Recommended, THE FINANCIAL QUESTION TOUCHED UPON Work of the terior Departments Briefly Al- luded To---The National Capital Centennial x b 3 ren rs: tt , st rank: w st stn M s € fHE CUBAN QUESTION. e ex ‘ ws und ‘ t ° r s Spain s re tsongble ° - rreve y mmitted r Y which it wa f , r country = t ulministra tic a6 © of the 5 ¢ xain the favor of s nor to ble to extend thetr int the © extent « ritory t h s. while the military ellie ntinued ' : orded the vast num- uF a . @xhaus i destitute 1 stripped of ‘ nade and fear and h range region d % unsym- 1 ol ber the mortalit x the htfully increase Cons mates from Spanish Beorces § jeaths among these di t pe over forty per cent from t ‘ Weyler's decree of recon- ‘ ation wv forced. With the acqui- excence of panish authorities a scheme was adopted for relief by charitable contr butions raised in this country and Jistriv- uted jer th ection of the consul-gen- ers 1 the al consuls, by noble and earn Hividual effort through the or- genize Post Office and In-/ "ss | | | | pres | } } ( ands of lives were thus saved ul many thousands more were inaccessibl to such forms of aid. The war continued on the old footing without comprehensty developing only the same spasmodic encounters, b: ren of st result, that had marked t course of the earlier ten years’ rebellion Well us the present insurrection from ii start. No alternative save physical exbaus ombatant, and therew but how neture, on wi rightfully 1g eV the poise and sturdy od sense nguishing er that this shockir ati ial char blow, falling ndy rpon 1 deeply 1 not move to resolve da and ze disorder at ur door: ble such a deed, by whom Yet the instinct of justic F nd the y awaited v of the estigation at set foot of the al of inquiry established that the origin le explosion was external by n lack responsi- sis in our 1 < ward Cuba w s belief million dollars f th i and for ch and purpose ¢ with, to be expe dat the cretion f the Presi- That th's act of prevision came none soon was losed when the applica- tion of the was undertaken. Our oasis were tically undefended. Our Navy needed large provision for increased amur 1 suy lies, and even numbers sudden attack from the which modern of continental quired pain comprised ghest Army nen and munitions. type Our als en- ement of The de- preparation for the eaded contingency is told in the reports of the Secretaries of War and of the Navy, and need peated he It is suffi- cient to say that the outbreak of war, when p. is of the hurried is not be r come, found our na jon not unpre- - > m the conflict Note of the Powers. > we S the apprehension of strife confined to our own country. felt the continental April 6th, thr envoys, addre: coming It was which, on ugh their ambassadors and sed to the xecutive an ex- f hope that humanity and mod- eration might mark the course of this Gov- ernment and people, and that further nego- uations would lead to an agreement which, while securing the maintenance of peace weuld afford all necessary guarantees for the re. blishment of ord>r in Cuba. In responding to that representation, I said I shared the hope the envoys had express2d that peace might be preserved in a manner to terminate the chronic condition of dis- turbance in Cuba so injurious and menac- ing our interests and tranquillity, as well as shocking to our sentiments of hu- manity; while appreciating the hu- by powe: to and | manitarian and disinterested character of the communication had made on be- half of the I stated the confidence of this Government, fer its part, that equal appreciation would be shown for its own carnest and unselfish endeavors to fulfil a duty to humanity by e nding a situation the indefinite prolongaticn of which had be- come insufferable. SUN animated by the hope of a peaceful solution and obeying the dictates of duty, no effort was relaxed to bring about a speedy ending of the Cuban struggle. Ne- gotiations to this object continued actively with the Government of Spain, looking to the immediate conclusion of a six months’ armistice in Cuba, with a view to effect the recognition of her people's right to in- dependence. Besides this, the instant re- vecation of the order of reconcentration they rwers ” agencies of (he American Red ' was asked, so that the sufferers, returning a condi- | to their homes and aided by united Ameri- can and Spanish effort, might be put in a way to support themselves, and, by orderly resumption of the well-nigh destroyed pro- ductive energies of the Island, contribute to the restoration of its tranquillity and well-being. Negotiations continued for some little time at Madrid, resulting in of- fers by the Spanish Government which could not but be regarded as inadequate. It was proposed to confide the preparation of peace to the insular parliament, yet -to be convened under the autonomous decrees of November, 1897, but without impairment in anywise of the constitutional powers of the Madrid Government, which, to that end, would grant an armistice, if solicited by the insurgents, for such time as the gen- eral-in-chief might see fit to fix. How and with what scope of discretionary powers the insular parliement was expected to set about the “preparation” of peace did not appear. If it were to be by negotiation with the insurgents, the issue seemed to rest on the one side with a body chosen by a fraction of the electors in the districts under Spanish control, and on the other with the insurgent population holding the interior country, unrepresented in the so- called parliament, and defiant at the sug- gestion of suing for peace. Formal Declaration of War. Grieved and disappointed at this barren outcome of my sincere endeavors to reach a practicable solution, I felt it my duty to remit the whole question to the Congress. In the message of April 11, 1898, I an- nounced that with this last overture in the direction of immediate peace in Cuba, and | its disappointing reception by Spain, the the Executive was brought to an again reviewed the alternative courses of action which had been proposed, concluding that the only one consonant | with inter 1 policy and compatible with our firm-set historical traditions wa: intervention as a neutral to stop the war | and check the hoi acritice of life even though that “hostile constraint upon to th contest, as well to enforee a truce as to gu the eventual settlement.” The | grounds justifying that step were, the in- terests of humanity; the duty to protect t life and preperty of our citizens in Cuba: the right to check injury to our and people through the devastation of the Island, and, most important, the of removing at once and forever the constant me nd the burdens entailed upon our government by the uncertaint of the situation caused by the disturbance in Cuba. I ia: The long trial has proved that the « for which n has waged the w not be at The of insurrection flame may smolder with varying but. it has not been, and it is plain cann extinguished by £ hor relief « condition which can no longer the e top of manity, in thy effort of I end. ion rless resort involved both the parties ommeree need and perils unendurabl: r ean- ned. may or ea sons, at it methods. om endured is present only and re- b. orees of hi in behalf of er interests cification a. Int of civi American ht and the war in Cub: In ask dent to final | Spain cu name in me zation, which give us t duty to speak and to act must stop. f all orize this, the Congress nd empower the Pr ure a full and hostilities between view d te aut ike 3 termina the Island asures to se of and people « the the stable government, ci nd observing i insuring peac of its cit and for the accomplishment of to the military and naval United States as might he added authority to continue ftot response of the Cor earnest delibe ion cu 2 and blishment of of maintaining | ernational obli- to se- in est a order ¢ and tranquillity, and well a8 our gations, } the own, security ZENS AS ends use forces | of th with starving people of Cu s, after nine m, during which of your days of the to the at unanimous sentiment was develope n every point of coupiing the propoged formal recognition of th public of Cuba as the | eram of that h failed of adop th almost expediency action with 4 Re- true Island—a mn—the 19th of Apr and 311 passed law! pre Congress and nl gov sition af- by a lo 6 Mt confer 42 to in the House of able joint resolution declaring hat the of the Island of and of right ought to be, free and independent Second. That it is the duty of the United demand, and the Govert ef Senate Representatives, neme First. Cuba are es ment the United States does hereby deman 1, that the Government of Spain at o1 elinguis! its authority and government in the Island of Cuba and withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters. Third. That the President of the United States be, and he eby is, direseld ard empowered to use the entire land and ul forces of the United States, and vo call into the actual service of the United States the militia of the several States, to such extent as may be nec resolutions into effect Fourth. That the United States hereby disclaims any disposition or intention to reise sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control sary rry these over said Island except for the pacific the ation nd asserts its determination when omplished to leave the govern- ment and control of the Island to its peo- Passports to Spanish Minister, This resolution was approved by the Ex- ecutive on the next day, April 2utn. A copy was at once eymmunicated to the Spantsh Minister at this capital, who forthwith an- nounced that his continuance in Washing- ton had thereby become impossible, and ked for his passports, which were given him. He thereupon withdrew from Wash- ington, leaving the protection of Spanish interests in the United States to the French Ambassador and the Austro-Homgarian Minister. Simultaneously with its com- muntcation to the Spanish Minister here, General Woodford, the American Minister at Madrid, was telegraphed confirmation of the text of the joint resolution and directed to communicate it to the Government of Spain with the formal demand that it at once relinquish its authority and govern- ment in the Island of Cuba and withdraw its forces therefrom, coupling this demand with announcement of the intentions of this Government as to the future of the Island, in conformity with the fourth clause of the resolution, and giving Spam -intil noon of April 23d to reply. That demand, although, as above shown, officially made known to the Spanish envoy here, was not delivered at Madrid. After the instruction reached General Woodford on the morning of April 2ist, but before he could present it, the Spanish Minister of State notified him that upon the Pres!- dent’s approval of the joint resolution the Madrid Government, regarding the act as “equivalent to an evident declaration of war,” had ordered its Minister in Wash- ington to withdraw, thereby breaking off diplomatic relations between the two coun- tries and ceasing all official communica- tions between their respective representa- tives. General Woodford thereupon de- eof, fous governments responded with | difficult manded his passports and quitted Madrid the same day. Spain having thus denied the demand of the United States and initiated that com- plete form of rupture of relations which attends a gtate of war, the Executive pow- ers authorized by the resolution were at once used by me to meet the enlarged con- tingency of actual war between sovereign states. On April 22d I proclaimed a block- ade of the north coast of Cuba, including ports on said coast between Cardenas and Bahia Honda and the port of Cienfuegos on the south coast of Cuba; and on the 284 I called for volunteers to execute the purpose of the resolution. By my message of April 25th the Congress was informed of the situation, and I recommended formal declaration of the existence of a state of war between the United States and Spain. The Congress accordingly voted on the same day the act approved April 25, 1898, declaring the existence of. s h war from and Including the 2tst day of April, and re- enacted the provision of the resolution of April 20th, directing the President to use all the armed forces of the nation to carry that act into effect. Due notification of the existence of war as aforesaid was given April 25th by telegraph to all the govern- ments with which the United States main- tain relations, in order that their neutrality might be assured during the war. The vari- procla- mations of neutralit ach after its own methods. It is not among the least gratify ing incidents of the struggle that the obli gations of neutrality were impartially dis- charged by all, often under delicate and circumst In further fulfillme duty I issued, April 26, tion announcing the t be accorded to ves: , contraband, ces. t of international 1898, a proclama- atment proposed to and their cargoes as the exercise of of search, and the immunity of flags and neutral goods under enemy's flag. A similar proclamation was made by the Spanish Government. In the conduct of hostilities the rules of the Decla- ration of Paris, including abstention from resort to privateering. have accordingly been observed by both belligerents, though neither was a party to that declara- tion. al- Pre neg for Hostilities. Our country thus, after an interval of half a century of peace with ail nation found itself engaged in de a foreign enemy. to meet the er t initial call for 12 instant and complete sult of the second 00 additional Re lar Army provided by the The enlisted 15th August maxi pumbered One hundred added to the Navy t presented t the 4 tion Company York tion dly conflict with rve Was str The r volur ergeney Spon. 0 w re- for ranks of | was also the of May 25th increased to the April 26, isos. Nav. the it its as volun were limi when day ¢ reached mum, prentic men and and purchase, 1 was 1 leased, and NE Louis in s and light- to the temporarily three vessels were Gov the the St and Paris to these the house tenders Navy the rnment, International Paul, vessels of St. were re li- reve © cntte turned Department and became 2 part of the auxiliary nav The maximum fighting force during the war, were over of the Navy s, was 1s follows: Four battle ships of the first class; 1 bat- ship of the s s armored cruisers; 6 coast-defense monitors: 1 ar- mored ram; 12 protected _crui protected ¢ mite uisers YW 7 . including monitors, 11 auxiliary eruis erted tugs; cutters; gupbeats; cruiser; 11 torpedo hoa ya a 19 ¢ 4 light- verted colliers; 15 2 house tenders, and 1: ‘ellaneous vessels, Much alarm was felt along our entire At- lantic seaboard lest some attack might be | made by the enemy. Every precaution was | ken to preve possible injury to our great cities lying along the coast. Tem- porary garrisons were provided, drawn from the State militia; infantry and light batterles were drawn from the voluntecr foree. About 1 roops were thus em- ployed. The coast signal servic was es- tablished for observing the approach of : enemy's ships to the coast of the Ua States, and the Life-Saving and L House Services co-operated, which enabled the Navy Department to have all 1 tions of the Atlantic Coast) from Maine to , under observation. auxiliary navy was created the authority of Congress and was officered and manned by the Naval Militia of several States. This organization patrolled the coast, and performed the ofa second line of defe a Under the direction of the Chief of En- gineers submarine mines were Placed at the most exposed points. Before the out- break of the war permanent mining case- and the duiy mates and cable galleries had been con- structed at nearly all fmportant harbors. Mest of the torpedo material was not to be found in the market, and had to be lly manufactured. Under date of 19, district officers were directed to all preliminary measures, short of the actual attaching of the loaded mines to the cables, and on April 22 telegraphic or- ders were issued to place the loaded mines in position. The aggregate number of mines placed was 1,535, at the principal harbors from Maine to California, Preparations were also made for the planting of mines at cer- tain other harbors, but owing to the early destruction of the Spanish fleet these mines were not placed. The Signal Corps was promptly organ- ized, and_ performed service of the most difficult and important character. Its oper- ations during the war covered the electri- cal connection of all coast fortifications, the establishment of telephonic “and tele- Sraphic facilities for the camps at Manila, Santiago, and in Porto Rico. There were constructed 300 miles of Jine at ten great camps, thus facilitating military move- ments from those points in a manner here- tofore unknown In milifary administra- tion. Field telegraph lines were established and maintained under the enemy's fire at Manila, and later the Manila~Hongkong caple was reopened. In Porto Rico cable communications were opened over a discontinued route, and on land the headquarters of. the commanding officer was kept in telegraphic or telephonic communication with the division command- ers on four different lines of operations, There was placed in Cuban waters a com- pletely outfitted cable ship, with war cables and cable gear, suitable both for the de- struction of communications: belonging to the enemy and the establishment of our own. Two ocean cables were:destroyed un- der the enemy's batteries at Santiago. The day previous to the landing of General Shafter’s corps..at Caimanera, within 20 miles of the landing plage, cable communi- cations were establishe@ and a cable sta- tion opened giving direct. eommunication with the government qt Washington. This service was invaluable to the executive in directing the operations of the army and navy. With a total force of over 1,300 the loss was by disease in camp and field, offi- cers and men included, only five. Phe National Defense Fund of $50,000,000 was expended in large part*by the Army and Navy, and the objects for which it was used are fully shown in the reports of the €everal Secretaries. It was a most timely appropriation, enalling the Government to strengthen its defenses and make,prepara- tions greatly needed in case of war. ‘This fund being inadequate to the require- ments of equipment and for the conduct of the war, the patriotism of the Congress provided the means in the war revenue act of June 13th by authorizing a three per cent pepular loan not to exceed four hundred million dollars and by levying additional imposts and taxes. Of the authorized loan, two hundred millions were offered and promptly taken, the subscriptions so far exceeding the call as to cover it many times over, while, preference being given to the smaller bids, no single allotment exceeded five thousand dollars. This was a most en- couraging and significant result, showing the vast resources of the nation and the determination of the people to uphold their country’s honor. It is not within the province of this mes- sage to narrate the history of the extraor- dinary war that followed the Spanish decla- ration of April 21st, but a brief recital of its more salient features is appropriate. The first encounter of the war in point of date took place April 27th, when a detach- ment of the blockading squadron made a reconnaissance in force at Matanzas, shell- ed the harbor forts, and demolished several new works in construction. Dewey's Remarkable Victory. The next engagement was destined to mark a memorable epoch in maritime war- fare. The Pacific flect, under Commodore George Dewey, had lain for some weeks at Hong-Kong. the colonial proclama- tion of ne ity being issue 1 the cus- tomary twenty-four hours’ ice being given, it repaired to Mirs Bay, near Hong Kons, whence it proceeded to the Philippine Islands under telegraphed orders w cap- ture or destroy the formidable Spanish fleet then assembled at Man At daybreak on the Ist of May the American force entered niia Bay and after a few hours’ engage- i the total destruction of the fieet, consisting of ten warships and besides capturing the naval tion and forts at Cavite, thus annihilat- ing the Spanish » yin the Pacitic Ceean and ¢ Bay not ne al pow letely controlling the Manila, with the ability to take the city at will, Not a life was lost on our ships, the wounded only numbering seven, whil not a vessel was materially injured. F vement the Congress, upc my recommendation, fitly bestowed upon the actors preferment and substantial re- ward ‘The effect of this remarkable victory u the spirit of our people and upon the for tunes of the war was instant. A prestige of invineibility thereby attached our arms, which continued throughout struggle. Reinforcements were hurried t M Ja tader the command of Major General Mer- ritt and firmly established within sight of the ca\ital, which lay helpless before our guns. On the 7th day of May the government was advised officially of the victory at Manila, and at once inquired of the com- troops would he vas received on of our fleet what The information mander required. the 15th day of May, and the fir pedition sailed May 25th and Manila June 20th. Other expeditions soon followed, the total force consisting of 641 officers and 15,058 enlisted men. Only reluctance to cause needless loss of und property prevented the early storm- ing and capture of the elty, and therewith the absolute military occupancy of the whole group. The insurgents meanwt had resumed the active hostilities suspend- ed by the uncomple uce of December, 1897. ‘Their forces invested Manila from the northern and eastern side, but wer strained by Admiral Dewey and Ger Merritt from attempting an assault. fitting that whatever was to be done in the way of decisive operations in that quarter should he accomplished by the strong arm of the United Siates alone. Obey stern precepi of War Which enjoins the coming of the adve and the extinction of his power wherever assa as the speedy and sure means to win a peace, di- vided victory was not permissible, for no partition of the rights and responsibilities attending the enforcement of a just and ad- vantageous peace could be thought of. Following the comprehensive scheme general ck, powerful were sembled at various points on our coast to invade Cuba and Porto Rico. Meanwhi naval demonstrations were made at several exposed points. On May llth the cruiser Wilmington and torpedo boat Winslow were unsuccessful in an attempt to silence the batteries at Cardenas, a gallant ensign, Worth Bagley, aad four seamen falling. These grievous fatalities were strangely enough among the very few which oc- evrred during our naval operations in this extraordinary conflict. Meanwhile the Spanish naval preparations had been pushed with great vigor. A pow- erful squadron under Admiral Cervera, which had assembled at the Cape Verde Islands before the outbreak of hostilities, had crossed the ocean, and by its erratic movements in the Caribbean Sea delayed our military plans while baffling the pur- suit of our fleets. For a time fears were felt lest the Oregon and Marietta, then nearing of forces as- home after their long voyage from San Francisco of over 15,000 miles, might be surprised by Admiral Cervera’s fleet, but their fortunate arrival dispelled these ap- prehensions and lent much needed rein- foreement. Not until Admiral Cervera took refuge in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, about May 19th, was it practicable to plan a systematic naval and military attack upon the Antillean possi of Spain. Several demonstrations rred on the coasts of Cuba and Porto Rico in prepara- tion for the larger event. On May 13th the North Atlantic Squadron shelled San Juan de Porto Rico. On May 30th Commodore Schley’s squadron bombarded the forts guarding the mouth of Santiago harbor. Neither attack had any material result. It was evident that well-ordered land opera- tions were indispensable to achieve a de- cided advantage. Lieut. Hobson’s Heroism. The next act in the war thrilled not alone the hearts of our countrymen but the world by its exceptional heroism. On the night of June 3 Lieutenant Hobson, aided by seven devoted volunteers, blocked the narrow out- let from Santiago harbor by sinking the collier Merrimac in the channel, under a fierce fire from the shore batteries, escap- ing with their lives as by a miracle, but falling into the hands of the Spaniards. It is a most gratifying incident of the war that the bravery of this little band of heroes was cordially appreciated by the Spanish admiral, who sent a flag of truce to notify Admiral Sampson of thelr safety and to compliment them on their daring act. They were subsequently exchanged July 7th. By June 7th the cutting of the last Cuban cable Isolated the Island. Thereafter the invasion was vigorously prosecuted. On June 10th, under a heavy protecting fire, a landing of 600 marines from the Oregon Marblehead and Yankee was effected in Guantanamo Bay, where it had been de- termined to establish a naval station. This important and essential port was taken from the enemy efter severe fighting by the marines, who were the first organ- ized force of the United States to land in Cuba. The position so won was held despite des- berate attempts to dislodge our forces. By June 16 ddditional forces were landed and strongly intrenched. On June 22 the ad- vance of the invading army under Maj. Gen. Shafter landed at Daiquiri, about fif- teen miles east of Santiago. This was ac- complished under great difficulties but with marvelous dispatch. On June 2% the move- ment against Santiago was begun. On the 24th the first serious engagement took place, in which the First and Tenth Cav- alry and the First United States Volunteer Cavalry, General Young's brigade of Gen- ral Wheeler's division, participated, losing heavily. By nightfall, however, ground within 5 miles of Santiago was won. The advantage was steadily Increased. On July Ist a severe battle took place, our forces gaining the outworks of Santi: go; on the 2d El Caney and San Juan were taken after a desperate charge, and the investment of the city was completed. The navy co-oper- ated by shelling the town and the forts. Destruction of Cervera’s Fleet On the day following th achievement of our land force: July, occurred the decisive the war. The Spanish fleet, attempting to leave the harbor, was met by the American squadron under command of Commodore ampson. In less than three hours all the Spanish ships were destroyed. the two tor- pedo boats being sunk, and the Maria resa, Almirante Oquend Vize Cristobal Colon driven ashore. 7 ish admiral and over 1,200 men were taken prisoners, while the enemy's loss of life was 1 combat of ay deplorably large, some 600 perishing. On our side but one man was killed, on ti Brooklyn, and one man seriously wounded Although our ships w noi one was ously so conspicuously dist repeatedly struck, injured. Where all nguished themselves from the commanders to the gunners and the unnamed heroes in the each and all contributing achievement of this which neither ancie; affords a parallel he event boiler rooms, toward the astounding victory, for t nor modern the compl nd the marvelous dispre Ities, it would he invidiou: for esp 1 honor. rewarded the uous actors—ihe nation’s pr itude is due to all of thes by their skill and 4 hours crushed the wrought a triv far-reaching « measured history of in ness of casu gle out promction to sin- Deserved more conspi yundest grat- brave men who ption in a few sea power whose decisiv nsequences can s ely Nor can we be unmindful of the achievements of our builders, mechanics, and artisans for their skill in the tion of our warships. With the catastrophe of Santlago Spai sho: ain and ness and ny stvu effort upon the ocean virtually ceased. A spasmodic effort toward the end of Jane to send her Mediterranean fleet under Admiral Camara to relieve Manila was abandoned, the expedition being recalled rit had Passed through the Suez Canal. The capitulation of Santiago followed. The city was closely besieged by lan. while the entrance of our ships into the harbor cut off ail relief on that side. Aft. a truce to allow of the removal of non-com- alants protrzcted negotiations conti from July 3d until July i when, u menace of immediate assault, the prelim- ivaries of surren ere d upon. On the ith Generai Shafte ied the city The capitulation embraced the ent ern end of Cube The number of solaiers surrendering was " w om were subseqtently conveyed 2 a> the charge of the United States. The story of this successful campaign is told ia the report of the Secretary of War, whici will be laid before you. The individual valor of officers and soldiers w is never more strikingly shown than in the several engagements leading to the surrender of snuage, while the prompt movements anl Pessive Viciories won instant and univer- Sal applause. To those who wai qd this compiete UWiumph, which established the agscenuancy of the United States upon land as Uhe figat off Santiago had fixed our st premacy on the seas, ing gratitude of tn due. Nor should gallantry of the earnest and last- nation is unsparing.y alone remember the living; the dead ciaim our tears, and our losses by battle nd 4 ie must cioud any exultation at the resuit and teach us to weigh the awful cost of war, however rightful the cause or signal the victory. we Occupation of Porto Rico, With the fall of Santiago the occupation of Porto Rico became the next strategic necessity. General Miles had previously been assigned to organize an expedition for that purpose, Fortunately he was already at Santiago, where he had arrived on the llth of July with reinforcements for Gen- eral Shafter’s army. With these troops, consisting of 3.415 in- fantry and artillery, two companies of en- gineers and one company of the signal corps, General Miles left Guantanamo on July 21, having nine transports, convoyed by the fleet under Captain Higginson, with the Massachusetts (flagship), Dixie, Glou- cester, Columbia and Yale, the two latter carrying troops. The expedition landed at Guanica July 25, which port was entered with little opposition. Here the fleet was Joined by the Annapolis and the Wasp, while the Puritan and Amphitrite went to San Juan and joined the New Orleans, which was engaged in blockading that port. The major general commanding was subse- quently reinforced by General Schwan's brigade of the 3d Army Corps, by General Wilson with a part of his division, and also by General Brooke with a part of his corps, numbering in all 16,973 officers and men. On July 27 he entered Ponce, one of the most important ports in the island, from which he thereafter directed operations for the capture of the islard. With the exception of encounters with the enemy at Guayama, Hormigueros, Coaméd and Yauco, ana an attack on a force Janded at Cape San Juan, there was no serious re- sistance. The campaign was prosecuted with great vigor, and by the 12th of Au- gust much of the island was in our posses- sion and the acquisition of the remainder was only a matter of a short time. At most of the points in the island our troops were enthusiastically welcomed. Protestations of loyalty to the flag and gratitude for deliy- ery from Spanish rule met our commanders at every stage. As a potent influence to- ward peace the outcome of the Porto Rican expedition was of great consequence, and umns of The Star as you can through any other medium. generous commendation is due to those whe participated in it, The last scene of the war wus enacted at Manila, its starting place. On August 13, after a brief assault upon the works by the in which the squadron surrendered unec asualties were comparatively this the conquest of the Philippine Virtually accomplished when the capacity for resistance was destr Admiral Dewey's victory of the Ist of Ma was formally sealed. To General Merritt, his officers and men for their uncomplaining and devoted service and for their gallantry in action the nation is sincerely grateful. Their long voyage was made with singular success, and the soldierly conduct of the men, most of whom were without previous experience in the military service, des: unmeasured praise, The total casualties in killed and wounded in the Army during the war with Spain were: Officers killed, 28; enlisted men killed, total, 280; officers wounded, 1 listed men wounded, 1,464; total, 1 the Navy: Killed, wounded, 67; died as result of wounds, 1; invalided from service, 6; total, 91. It will be observed that while our Navy was engaged in two great battles and in numerous perilous undertakings in blockade and bombardment, and more than 50,000 of Spanish syed by ves or our troops were transported to distant lands and were engaged in assault and siege and battle and many skirmishes in unfamiliar of territory, we lost in both arms the service a total of 1688 killed and wounded; and in the entire campaign by land and sea we did not lose a gun or | fag or a transport or a ship, and with th ception of the crew of the Merr a soldier or sailor was taken prisor On August 7th, forty-six days from the | date of the landing of General Shafter's army in Cuba,and twenty-one days from the a surrender of Santiago, the United States troops commenced embarkation for home, and our entire force was returned the United States as early August They were absent from the United only two months. It is fitting that I should bear testimony to the patriotism and devotion of that large portion of our Army which, although to be orde posure, fortunat side of the whole duty frent have earned Nation. In like of the Ar ained h as th. ager 1 to the post of gre: was ly United and like not r Th their comr: the gratitude manner, th officer y and of the Navy w in ir departments and hfully performing mos ynnected with the nd whose 1 lests for_assignment in the field a a I was compelled to refuse because w here, commendation. It recogni quired did important « war, rvices were are indisp=nsab st the h that there ms no pro- their suitable In this connection it i a ple: ms of cordial nd useful work of the Red Cross both in relief the « fon the timely m atory t gns, of th rth perienced leadership*of the president re at cam age, and later y, Miss Clara Barton, t e and in the hospitals at th Working i junction governmental authorities and und nection and approval, and with on the bat Cuba ce thusiastic o-operation of many patriotic Women and societies in the various siates the R s has fully maintained its al- ready high reputation for intense earnest- ness and ability to exercise the noble pur- peses of its international organization, thus justifying con: © and support which | it has rec 1 at the hands of the Ameri- can pe To the members and officers of this society and all who aided them in \ philanthropic work, the sincere and lasting gratitude of soldiers and the and these ever is due ts we are ox oblig His wat nce, for which the h icknowledgment a for the continuar Overture of Peace. of Admiral Cervera’s © capitulation of to the § realizing s of the ng a strugele annihilation followed having broug et, lingo, ernment F by San- anish gov- hope now be ss of contin ome wholly unequal, it made overtures of peace through the French Ambassador, who with thie assent of his Government had ac : the friendly ppresentative of Spanish in- terests during the war. On the 26th of July, M. Cambon presented a communica- tion signed by the Duke Almodovar, the Spanish Minister Sf State, inviting the United States to state the terms upon which it would be willing to make peace. On the 30th of July, by a communication addressed to the Duke Almodovar and handed to M. Cambon, the terms of this government were announced, substantially as in the protocol afterward signed. On the Wth of August the Spanish reply, dated August 7th, was handed by M. Cambon to the Secretary of State. It accepted uncon- ditionally the terms imposed as to Cuba, Porto Rico, and an island of the Ladrones group, but appeared to seek to introduce in- admissible reservations in regard to our demand as to the Philippine Islands. Con- ceiving that discussion on this point could neither be practical nor profitable, I rected that in order to avoid misunder- standing the matter should be forthwith closed by proposing the embodiment in @ formal protocol of the terms upon which the negotiations for peace were to be under- taken, The vague and inexplicit suggestions of the Spanish note could not ve accepted, the only reply being to present as a virtual ultimatum a draft of protocol embodying the precise terms tendered to Spain in our note of July 30th, with added stipulations of de- tail as to the appointment of commissioners to arrange for the evacuation of the Span- ish Antilles. On August 12th, M. Cambon announced his receipt of full powers to sign the protocol so submitted. Accord- ingly, on the afternoon of August 12th, M. Cambon, as the Plenipotentiary of Spain, and the Secretary of State, as the Plenipo- tentiary of the United States, signed a pro- tocol providing— Article I. Spain will relinquish all cl of sovereignty over the title to Cuba. Article II. Spain will cede to the United States the Island of Porto Rico and othor isiands. now under Spanish sovereignty in the West Indies, and also an isiand in the Ladrenes to be selected by the United States. Article Ill. The United States will o>- cupy and hold the city, bay and harbor cf Manila pending the conc usion of a treaty of peace which shall determine the co- trol, disposition and government of the Philippines. The fourth article provided for the ap- pointment of joint commissions on the rart of the United States and Spain, io “ueet in Havana and San Juan, respective-