Class __EXL5_ 
 
 Bonk -C^ 
 CopyrigM? 
 
 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 
 
/ 
 
 fl Brief History 
 
 of tt\e 
 
 SPHNISH-RMERICHN 
 
 WAR 
 
 February 1895 
 
 August 1893 
 
 Conqpi 
 MISS FRANCES CUGLE 
 Harrisburg Pa 
 
 • 
 
•! ?V 
 
 
 COPYRIGHT I89E 
 
 MISS FRANCES CUGLE, 
 
 HARRISBURG, PA. 
 
 1 w Vi:«(j # -<^ 
 
 /' 
 
 
 
 KURZEMKNABE PRESS, 
 HARRI6BURG, PA. 
 
PART L 
 
 X 
 
 President McKinley's 
 
 Cuban Message to Congress, 
 
 April 11, 1898, 
 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 
 
 To the Congress of the United States: — 
 
 Obedient to that precept of the Constitution 
 which commands the President to give from time 
 to time to the Congress information of the state of 
 the Union and to recommend to their consideration 
 such measures as he shall judge necessary and ex- 
 pedient, it becomes my duty now to address your 
 body with regard to the grave crisis that has arisen 
 in the relations of the United States to Spain by 
 reason of the warfare that for more than three years 
 has raged in the neighboring island of Cuba. 
 
 I do so because of the intimate connection of 
 the Cuban question with the state of our own Union, 
 and the grave relation the course which it is now 
 incumbent upon the nation to adopt must needs 
 bear to the traditional policy of our Government if 
 it is to accord with the precepts laid down by the 
 founders of the Republic and religiously observed 
 by succeeding Administrations to the present day. 
 
 The present revolution is but the successor 
 of other similar insurrections which have occured in 
 Cuba against the dominion of Spain, extending over 
 
a period of nearly half a century, each of which 
 during its progress has subjected the United States 
 to great effort and expense in enforcing its neutral- 
 ity laws, caused enormous losses to American trade 
 and commerce, caused irritation, annoyance, and 
 disturbance among our citizens, and by the exercise 
 of cruel, barbarous, and uncivilized practices of war- 
 fare, shocked the sensibilities and offended the 
 humane sympathies of our people. 
 
 Once Fertile Island Laid Waste* 
 
 Since the present revolution began, in Febru- 
 ary, 1895, this country has seen the fertile domain 
 at our threshold ravaged by fire and sword in the 
 course of a struggle unequaled in the history of the 
 island and rarely paralleled as to the number of the 
 combatants and the bitterness of the contest by any 
 revolution of modern times where a dependent peo- 
 ple striving to be free have been oppressed by the 
 power of the sovereign State. 
 
 Our people have beheld a once prosperous com- 
 munity reduced to comparative want, its lucrative 
 commerce virtually paralyzed, its exceptional pro- 
 ductiveness diminished, its fields laid waste, its mills 
 in ruins, and its people perishing by tens of thous- 
 ands, from hunger and destitution. 
 
 We have found ourselves constrained in the ob- 
 servance of that strict neutrality which our laws en- 
 join and which the law of nations commands to 
 police our own seaports in prevention of any unlaw- 
 ful act in aid of the Cubans. 
 
Damage Done to our Trade, 
 
 Our trade has suffered, the capital invested by 
 our citizens in Cuba has been largely lost, and the 
 temper and forbearance of our people have been so 
 seriously tried as to beget a perilous unrest among 
 our own citizens, which has inevitably found its ex- 
 pression from time to time in the national legisla- 
 ture, so that issues wholly external to our own body 
 politic stand in the way of that close devotion to 
 domestic advancement that becomes a self-contained 
 commonwealth, whose primal maxim has been the 
 avoidance of all foreign entanglements. 
 
 All this must needs awaken, and has indeed 
 aroused, the utmost concern on the part of this Gov- 
 ernment as well during my predecessor's term as in 
 my own. 
 
 In April, 1896, the evils from which our coun- 
 try suffered through the Cuban war became so on- 
 erous that my predecessor made an effort to bring 
 about peace through the mediation of this Govern- 
 ment in any way that might tend to an honorable 
 adjustment of the contest between Spain and her re- 
 volted colony, on the basis of some effective scheme 
 of self-government for Cuba under the flag and 
 sovereignty of Spain. 
 
 It failed through the refusal of the Spanish Gov. 
 eminent then in power to consider any form of medi- 
 ation or, indeed, any plan of settlement which did 
 not begin with the actual submission of the insur. 
 gents to the mother country, and then only on such 
 terms as Spain herself might see fit to grant. 
 
The war continued unabated. The resistance 
 of the insurgents was in no wise diminished. 
 
 The Horrors of Feconcentration. 
 
 The efforts of Spain were increased both by the 
 dispatch of fresh levies to Cuba and by the addition 
 to the horrors of the strife of a new and inhuman 
 phase, happily unprecedented in the modern history 
 of civilized Christian peoples. 
 
 The policy of devastation and concentration in- 
 augurated by the Captain General's bando of Octo- 
 ber, 1896, in the province of Pinar del Rio was 
 thence extended to embrace all of the island to which 
 the power of the Spanish arms was able to reach by 
 occupation or by military operations. 
 
 The peasantry, including all dwelling in the 
 open agricultural interior, were driven into the gar- 
 rison towns or isolated places held by the troops. 
 The raising and moving of provisions of all kinds 
 were interdicted. 
 
 The fields were laid waste, dwellings unroofed 
 and fired, mills destroyed, and, in short, everything 
 that could desolate the land and render it unfit for 
 human habitation or support was commanded by 
 one or the other of the contending parties and execut- 
 ed by all the powers at their disposal. 
 
 By the time the present administration took 
 office a year ago, reconcentration, so-called, had 
 been made effective over the better part of the four 
 central and western provinces, Santa Clara, Man- 
 tanzas, Havana and Pinar del Rio. 
 
Population Herded in the Towns. 
 
 The agricultural population, to the estimated 
 number of 300,000 or more, was herded within the 
 towns and their immediate vicinage, deprived of 
 the means of support, rendered destitute of shelter, 
 left poorly clad, and exposed to the most unsani- 
 tary conditions. 
 
 As the seareity of food increased with the 
 devastation of the depopulated areas of produetion 
 destitution and want beeame misery and starvation. 
 
 Month by month the death rate increased in 
 an alarming ratio. By March, 1S97, aeeording to 
 conservative estimates from official Spanish sources, 
 the mortality among the reconcentrados, from star- 
 vation, and the diseases thereto incident, exceeded 
 50 per centum of their total number. 
 
 No practical relief was accorded to the desti- 
 tute. The overburdened towns, already suffering 
 from the general dearth, could give no aid. 
 
 The so-called " zones of cultivation," established 
 within the immediate area of effective military con- 
 trol about the cities and fortified camps, proved 
 illusory as a remedy for the suffering. 
 
 The unfortunates, being for the most part 
 women and children, with aged and helpless men, 
 enfeebled by disease and hunger, could not have 
 tilled the soil without tools, seed, or shelter, for their 
 own support or for the supply of the citie . 
 
 Purely a Policy of Extermination. 
 Rcconccntration, adopted avowedly as a war measure 
 
in order to cut off the resources of the Insurgents, work'' 
 ed its predestined result As I said in my message of 
 last December, it was not civilized warfare ; it was extern 
 mination, The only peace it could beget was that of the 
 wilderness and the grave, 
 
 Meanwhile, the military situation in the island 
 had undergone a noticeable change. The extra- 
 ordinary activity that characterized the second year 
 of the war, when the insurgents invaded even the 
 hitherto unharmed fields of Pinar del Rio and car- 
 ried havoc and destruction up to the walls of the 
 city of Havana itself, had relapsed into a dog- 
 ged struggle in the central and eastern provinces. 
 
 The Spanish arms regained a measure of con- 
 trol in Pinar del Rio and parts of Havana, but, 
 under the existing conditions of the rural country, 
 without immediate improvement of their produc- 
 tive situation. 
 
 Even thus partially restricted the revolutionists 
 held their own, and their conquest and submission, 
 put forward by Spain as the essential and sole basis 
 of peace, seemed as far distant as at the outset. 
 
 Liberals Broach Autonomy Plan. 
 
 In this state of affairs my Administration found 
 itself confronted with the grave problem of its duty. 
 My message of last December reviewed the situa- 
 tion, and narrated the steps taken with a view to 
 relieving its acuteness and opening the way to 
 some form of honorable settlement. 
 
 The assassination of the Prime Minister, Cano- 
 vas, led to a change of government in Spain. The 
 
 10 
 
former Administration, pledged to subjugation with- 
 out concession, gave place to that of a more liberal 
 party, committed long in advance to a policy of re- 
 form involving the wider principle of home rule for 
 Cuba and Porto Rico. 
 
 The overtures of this Government, made 
 through its new envoy, General Woodford, and 
 looking to an immediate and effective amelioration 
 of the condition of the island, although not accept' 
 to the extent of admitted mediation in any shape, 
 were met by assurances that home rule, in an ad- 
 vanced phase, would be forthwith offered to Cuba 
 without waiting for the war to end, and that more 
 humane methods should thenceforth prevail in the 
 conduct of hostilities. 
 
 Coincidcntally with these declarations the new 
 Government of Spain continued and completed the 
 policy already begun by its predecessor of testifying 
 friendly regard for this nation by releasing Ameri- 
 can citizens held under one charge or another con- 
 nected with the insurrection, so that, by the end of 
 November, not a single person entitled in any way 
 to our national protection remained in a Spanish 
 prison. 
 
 Starting of Relief Plans. 
 
 While the negotiations were in progress, the 
 increasing destitution of the unfortunate reconcen- 
 trados and the alarming mortality among them 
 claimed earnest attention. 
 
 The success which had attended the limited 
 measure of relief extended to the suffering Ameri- 
 
 n 
 
can citizens among them by the judicious expendi- 
 ture through the consular agencies of the money- 
 appropriated expressly for their succor by the joint 
 resolution approved May 24, 1897, prompted the 
 humane extension of a similar scheme of aid to the 
 great body of sufferers. A suggestion to this end 
 was acquiesced in by the Spanish authorities. On 
 the 24th of December last I caused to be issued an 
 appeal to the American people inviting contribu- 
 tions in money or in kind for the succor of the starv- 
 ing sufferers in Cuba, following this on the 8th of 
 January by a similar public announcement of the 
 formation of a Central Cuban Relief Committee, 
 with headquarters in New York city, composed of 
 three members representing the National Red Cross 
 and the religious and business elements of the 
 community. 
 
 The efforts of that committee have been untir- 
 ing and have accomplished much. Arrangements 
 for free transportation to Cuba have greatly aided 
 the charitable work. 
 
 The President of the American Red Cross and 
 representatives of other contributory organizations 
 have generously visited Cuba and co-operated with 
 the Consul General and the local authorities to make 
 effective distribution of the relief collected throueh 
 the efforts of the Central Committee. 
 
 Nearly $200,000 in money and supplies has al- 
 ready reached the sufferers, and more is forthcoming. 
 The supplies are admitted duty free, and transpor- 
 tation to the interior has been arranged, so that the 
 
 12 
 
relief, at first necessarily confined to Havana and the 
 larger cities, is now extended through most, if not 
 all, of the towns where suffering exists. Thousands 
 of lives have already been saved. 
 
 Necessity of Change Seen by Spain. 
 
 The necessity for a change in the condition of 
 the reconccntrados is recognized by the Spanish 
 Government. 
 
 Within a few days past the orders of General 
 Weyler have been revoked; the reconccntrados are, 
 it is said, to be permitted to return to their homes 
 and aided to resume the self-supporting pursuits of 
 peace ; public works have been ordered to give them 
 employment, and the sum of $600,000 has been ap- 
 propriated for their relief. 
 
 The war in Cuba is of such a nature that short of 
 subjugation or extermination a final military victor)'' 
 for either side seems impracticable. The alternative 
 lies in the physical exhaustion of the one or the 
 other party, or perhaps of both — a condition which 
 in effect ended the Ten Years' War by the truce of 
 Zanjon. 
 
 The prospect of such a protraction and conclusion of 
 the present strife is a contingency hardly to be contemn 
 plated with equanimity by the civilized world, and least 
 of all by the United States, affected and injured as we arc 
 deeply and intimately by its very existence. 
 
 Proposed an Armistice March 27- 
 
 Realizing this, it appeared to be my duty in a 
 spirit of true friendliness, no less to Spain than to 
 
 13 
 
the Cubans who have so much to lose by the pro- 
 longation of the struggle, to seek to bring about an 
 immediate termination of the war. 
 
 To this end J submitted on the 27th ultimo, as the re* 
 suit of much representation and correspondence through 
 the United States Minister at Madrid, propositions to the 
 Spanish Government looking to an armistice until Octc 
 ber 1 for the negotiation of peace with the good offices of 
 the President, 
 
 In addition I asked the immediate revocation of the 
 order of reconcentration so as to permit the people to re/ 
 turn to their farms and the needy to be relieved with 
 provisions and supplies from the United States, ccoper' 
 ating with the Spanish authorities so as to afford relief, 
 
 Spain's Disappointing Reply, 
 
 The reply of the Spanish Cabinet was received 
 on the night of the 31st ultimo. It offers as the 
 means to bring about peace in Cuba to confide the 
 preparation thereof to the insular Parliament, inas- 
 much as the concurrence of that body would be 
 necessary to reach a final result, it being, however, 
 understood that the powers reserved by the Consti- 
 tution to the Central Government are not lessened 
 or diminished. 
 
 As the Cuban Parliament does not meet until 
 the 4th of May next, the Spanish Government would 
 not object for its part to accept at once a suspension 
 of hostilities if asked for by the insurgents from the 
 general in chief, to whom it would pertain in such 
 case to determine the duration and conditions of the 
 armistice. 
 
 14 
 
The propositions submitted by General Wood- 
 ford and the reply of the Spanish Government were 
 both in the form of brief memoranda, the texts of 
 which are before me, and are substantially in the 
 language above given. 
 
 The function of the Cuban Parliament in the 
 matter of "preparing" peace and the manner of its 
 doing so are not expressed in the Spanish memoran- 
 dum, but from General Woodford's explanatory re- 
 ports of preliminary discussions preceding the final 
 conference it is understood that the Spanish Govern- 
 ment stands ready to give the insular Congress full 
 powers to settle the terms of peace with the insur- 
 gents, whether by direct negotiation or indirectly 
 by means of legislation does not appear. 
 
 With this last overture in the direction of im- 
 mediate peace and its disappointing reception by 
 Spain, the Executive was brought to the end of his 
 effort. 
 
 Former Suggestions Reviewed, 
 
 In my annual message of December last I 
 said : 
 
 " Of the untried measures there remain only : 
 Recognition of the insurgents as belligerents ; recog- 
 nition of the independence of Cuba ; neutral inter- 
 vention, to end the war by imposing a rational com- 
 promise between the contestants, and intervention 
 in favor of one or the other party. I speak not 
 of forcible annexation, for that cannot be thought 
 of. That, by our code of morality, would be crimi- 
 nal aggression." 
 
 15 
 
Thereupon I reviewed these alternatives in the 
 light of President Grant's measured words, uttered 
 in 1875, when after seven years of sanguinary, de- 
 structive, and cruel hostilities in Cuba, he reached 
 the conclusion that the recognition of the independ- 
 ence of Cuba was impracticable and indefensible; 
 and that the recognition of belligerence was not 
 warranted by the facts according to the tests of 
 public law. 
 
 Against Belligerency or Independence. 
 
 I commented especially upon the latter aspect 
 of the question, pointing out the inconveniences and 
 positive dangers of a recognition of belligerence 
 which, while adding to the already onerous burdens 
 of neutrality within our own jurisdiction, could not 
 in any way extend our influence or effective offices 
 in the territory of hostilities. 
 
 Nothing has since occurred to change my view 
 in this regard, and I recognize as fully now as then 
 that the issuance of a proclamation of neutrality, by 
 which process the so-called recognition of belliger- 
 ence is published, could, of itself and unattended by 
 other action, accomplish nothing toward the one end 
 for which we labor — the instant pacification of 
 Cuba and the cessation of misery that afflicts the 
 island. 
 
 Turning to the question of recognizing at this 
 time the independence of the present insurgent 
 Government in Cuba, we find safe precedents in our 
 history from an early day. They are well summed 
 
 16 
 
up in President Jackson's message to Congress, De- 
 cember 21, [836,01] the subject of the recognition 
 of the independence of Texas. He said: — 
 
 •• In all the contests that have arisen out of the 
 revolutions of France, out of the disputes relating 
 to the eicwns of Portugal and Spain, out of the 
 
 ration of the American possessions of both from 
 the European Governments and out of the numer- 
 ous and constantly occurring struggles for dominion 
 i:: Spanish-America, so wisely consistent with our 
 just principles has been the action of our Govern- 
 ment that we have under the most critical circum- 
 stances avoided all censure and encountered no 
 other evil than that produced by a transient es- 
 trangement of good will in those against whom we 
 have been by force of evidence compelled to decide. 
 
 Jackson's Statement of Our Policy, 
 
 "It has been made known to the world that 
 the uniform policy and practice of the United States 
 is to avoid all interference in disputes which merely 
 relate to the internal government of other nations, 
 and eventually to recognize the authority of the 
 prevailing party without reference to our particular 
 interests and views or to the merits of the original 
 controversy. 
 
 " But on this, as on every other trying occasion, 
 safety is to be found in a rigid adherence to prin- 
 ciple. 
 
 •• In the contest between Spain and the revolted 
 colonies we stood aloof, and waited not only until 
 
 17 
 
the ability of the new States to protect themselves 
 was fully established, but until the danger of their 
 being again subjugated had entirely passed away. 
 Then, and not until then, were they recognized. 
 Such was our course in regard to Mexico herself. 
 
 Case of Texas Considered, 
 
 " It is true that with regard to Texas the civil 
 authority of Mexico has been expelled, its invading 
 army defeated, the Chief of Republic himself cap- 
 tured, and all present power to control the newly 
 organized government of Texas annihilated within 
 its confines. 
 
 " But, on the other hand, there is, in appearance 
 at least, an immense disparity of physical force on 
 the side of Texas. The Mexican Republic, under 
 another Executive, is rallying its forces under a new 
 leader, and menacing a fresh invasion to recover its 
 lost dominion. 
 
 "Upon the issue of this threatened invasion, 
 the independence of Texas may be considered as 
 suspended; and were there nothing peculiar in the 
 relative situation of the United States and Texas, 
 our acknowledgment of its independence at such a 
 crisis could scarcely be regarded as consistent with 
 that prudent reserve with which we have hitherto 
 held ourselves bound to treat all similar questions." 
 
 Question of Selfish Interest, 
 
 Thereupon Andrew Jackson proceeded to con- 
 sider the risk that there might be imputed to the 
 
 18 
 
United States motives of selfish interest in view of 
 the former claim on our part to the territory of 
 Texas, and of the avowed purpose of the Texans in 
 seeking recognition of independence as an incident 
 to the incorporation of Texas in the Union, con- 
 cluding thus : 
 
 " Prudence, therefore, seems to dictate that we 
 should still stand aloof and maintain our present at- 
 titude, if not until Mexico itself or one of the gTeat 
 foreign powers shall recognize the independence of 
 the new government, at least until the lapse of time 
 or the course of events shall have proved beyond 
 cavil or dispute the ability of the people of that 
 country' to maintain their separate sovereignty and 
 to uphold the Government constituted by them. 
 
 " Neither of the contending parties can justly 
 complain of this course. By pursuing it, we are but 
 carrying out the long-established policy of our Gov- 
 ernment, a policy which has secured to us respect 
 and influence abroad and inspired confidence at 
 home." 
 
 Conditions of Recognition. 
 
 These are the words of the resolute and pat- 
 riotic Jackson. They are evidence that the United 
 States, in addition to the test imposed by public law 
 as the condition of the recognition of independence 
 by a neutral State (to wit, that the revolted State 
 shall " constitute in fact a body politic, having a 
 government in substance as well as in name, pos- 
 sessed of the elements of stability," and forming de 
 facto " if left to itself, a State among the nations, 
 
 19 
 
reasonably capable of discharging the duties of a 
 State "), has imposed for its own governance in deal- 
 ing with cases like these the further condition that 
 recognition of independent statehood is not due to 
 a revolted dependency until the danger of its being 
 again subjugated by the parent State has entirely 
 passed away. 
 
 This extreme test was in fact applied in the 
 case of Texas. The Congress to whom President 
 Jackson referred the question as one " probably lead- 
 ing to war," and therefore a proper subject for " a 
 previous understanding with that body by whom 
 war can alone be declared, and by whom all the pro- 
 visions for sustaining its perils must be furnished," 
 left the matter of the recognition of Texas to the 
 discretion of the Executive, providing merely for the 
 sending of a diplomatic agent when the President 
 should be satisfied that the Republic of Texas had 
 become " an independent State. " 
 
 How Texas was Recognized, 
 
 It was so recognized by President Van Buren, 
 who commissioned a Charge d'Affaires, March 7, 
 1837, after Mexico had abandoned an attempt to re- 
 conquer the Texan territory, and when there was at 
 the time no bona-fide contest going on between the 
 insurgent province and its former sovereign. 
 
 I said in my message of December last: — " It is 
 to be seriously considered whether the Cuban insur- 
 rection possesses beyond dispute the attributes of 
 statehood which alone can demand the recognition 
 of belligerency in its favor." 
 
 20 
 
The same requirement must certainly be no 
 less seriously considered when the graver issue of 
 recognizing- independence is in question, for no less 
 positive test can be applied to the greater act than 
 to the lesser; while, on the other hand, the influ- 
 ences and consequences of the struggle upon the in- 
 ternal policy of the recognizing State, which form 
 important factors when the recognition of belliger- 
 ency is concerned, are secondary, if not rightly elim- 
 inable factors when the real question is whether 
 the community claiming recognition is or is not in- 
 dependent beyond peradventure. 
 
 Thinks Recognition not Necessary, 
 
 Nor from the standpoint of expedience do I think it 
 would be wise or prudent for this Government to recog' 
 nize at the present time the independence of the so-called 
 Cuban Republic. Such recognition is not necessary in 
 order to enable the United States to intervene and pacify 
 the island. 
 
 To commit this country now to the recognition 
 of any particular government in Cuba might subject 
 us to embarrassing conditions of international obliga- 
 tion toward the organization so recognized. In case 
 of intervention our conduct would be subject to the 
 approval or disapproval of such government ; we 
 would be required to submit to its direction and to 
 assume to it the mere relation of a friendly ally. 
 
 When it shall appear hereafter that there is 
 within the island a government capable of perform- 
 ing the duties and diseharging the functions of a 
 
separate nation, and having as a matter of fact the 
 proper forms and attributes of nationality, such 
 government can be promptly and readily recognized, 
 and the relations and interests of the United States 
 with such nation adjusted. 
 
 Intervention Considered as a Means, 
 
 There remain the alternative forms of interven- 
 tion to end the war, either as an impartial neutral 
 by imposing a rational compromise between the 
 contestants, or as the active ally of the one party 
 or the other. 
 
 As to the first, it is not to be forgotten that 
 during the last few months the relation of the 
 United States has virtually been one of friendly in- 
 tervention in many ways, each not of itself conclu- 
 sive, but all tending to the exertion of a potential 
 influence toward an ultimate pacific result just and 
 honorable to all interests concerned. 
 
 The spirit of all our acts hitherto has been an 
 earnest, unselfish desire for peace and prosperity in 
 Cuba, untarnished by differences between us and 
 Spain and unstained by the blood of American cit- 
 izens. 
 
 The forcible intervention of the United States 
 as a neutral to stop the war, according to the large 
 dictates of humanity, and following many historical 
 precedents where neighboring States have interfered 
 to check the hopeless sacrifices of life by internecine 
 conflicts beyond their borders, is justifiable on ra- 
 tional grounds. It involves, however, hostile con- 
 
 22 
 
strain! upon both the parties to the contest as well 
 to enforce a truce as to guide the eventual settle- 
 ment. 
 
 Legitimate Grounds of Intervention, 
 
 The grounds for such intervention may be briefly 
 summarized as follows: 
 
 First. In the cause of humanity and to put an 
 end to the barbarities, bloodshed, starvation, and 
 horrible miseries now existing there, and which the 
 parties to the conflict are either unable to or unwill- 
 ing to stop or mitigate. 
 
 It is no answer to say this is all in another country, 
 belonging to another nation, and is therefore none of our 
 business. It is specially our duty, for it is right at our 
 door, 
 
 Second, — We owe it to our citizens in Cuba to afford 
 them that protection and indemnity for life and property 
 which no government there can or will afford, and to 
 that end to terminate the conditions that deprive them of 
 legal protection. 
 
 Third, — The right to intervene may be justified by 
 the very serious injury to the commerce, trade and busi' 
 ness of our people, and by the wanton destruction of 
 property and devastation of the island. 
 
 Fourth, — Aid which is of the utmost importance. 
 
 Cuban Chaos Menaces Our Peace. 
 
 The present condition of affairs in Cuba is a 
 constant menace to our peace and entails upon this 
 Government an enormous expense. With such a 
 conflict waged for years in an island so near us and 
 with which our people have such trade and business 
 
 8 
 
relations ; when the lives and liberty of our citizens 
 are in constant danger and their property destroyed 
 and themselves ruined ; where our trading vessels 
 are liable to seizure and are seized at our very door 
 by warships of a foreign nation, the expeditions of 
 filibustering that we are powerless altogether to pre- 
 vent, and the irritating questions and entangle- 
 ments thus arising — all these and others that I need 
 not mention, with the resulting strained relations, 
 are a constant menace to our peace and compel us 
 to keep on a semi-war footing with a nation with 
 which we are at peace. 
 
 Refers to Maine Horror. 
 
 These elements of danger and disorder already 
 pointed out have been strikingly illustrated by a 
 tragic event which has deeply and justly moved the 
 American people. 
 
 I have already transmitted to Congress the re- 
 port of the Naval Court of Inquiry on the destruc- 
 tion of the battleship Maine in the harbor of Hav- 
 ana during the night of the 15 th of February. 
 
 The destruction of that noble vessel has filled 
 the national heart with inexpressible horror. 
 
 Two hundred and fifty-eight brave sailors and 
 marines and two officers of our navy, reposing in the 
 fancied security of a friendly harbor, have been 
 hurled to death, grief and want brought to their 
 homes and sorrow to the nation. 
 
 The Naval Court of Inquiry, which, it is need- 
 less to say, commands the unqualified confidence of 
 
 24 
 
the Government, was unanimous in its conclusions 
 that the destruction of the Maine was caused by an 
 exterior explosion — that of a sub-marine mine. 
 
 It did not assume to place the responsibility. That 
 remains to be fixed, 
 
 Proves Spain's Incompetency, 
 
 In any event, the destruction of the Maine, by what'' 
 ever exterior cause, is a patent and impressive proof of 
 a state of things in Cuba that is intolerable. 
 
 That condition is thus shown to be such that the 
 Spanish Government cannot assure safety and security 
 to a vessel of the American Navy in the harbor of Ha* 
 vana on a mission of peace and rightfully there, 
 
 Further referring in this connection to recent 
 diplomatic correspondence, a despatch from our Min- 
 ister to Spain, of the 26th ultimo, contained the 
 statement that the Spanish Minister for Foreign 
 Affairs assured him positively that Spain will do all 
 that the highest honor and justice requires in the 
 matter of the Maine. 
 
 The reply above referred to of the 3 [ st ultimo 
 also contained an expression of the readiness of 
 Spain to submit to an arbitration all the differences 
 which can arise in this matter, which is subsequent- 
 ly explained by the note of the Spanish Minister at 
 Washington of the 10th instant, as follows: — 
 
 Spain's Arbitration Proposal not Answered. 
 
 " As to the question of fact which springs from 
 
 the diversity of views between the report of the 
 American and Spanish boards, Spain proposes that 
 
 25 
 
the fact be ascertained by an impartial investigation 
 by experts, whose decision Spain accepts in ad- 
 vance." 
 
 To this I have made no reply. 
 
 President Grant, in 1875, after discussing the 
 phase of the contest as it then appeared, and its 
 hopeless and apparently indefinite prolongation, 
 said : — 
 
 " In such event I am of opinion that other na- 
 tions will be compelled to assume the responsibility 
 which devolves upon them, and to seriously consider 
 the only remaining measures possible, mediation 
 and intervention. Owing perhaps to the large ex- 
 panse of water separating the island from the pen- 
 insula. * * * * * The contending parties appear to 
 have within themselves no depository of common 
 confidence to suggest wisdom when passion and ex- 
 citement have their sway, and to assume the part 
 of peacemaker." 
 
 Mediation was Offered in Good Faith. 
 
 In this view, in the earlier days of the contest, 
 the good offices of the United States as a mediator 
 were tendered in good faith, without any selfish pur- 
 pose, in the interest of humanity and in sincere 
 friendship for both parties, but were at the time de- 
 clined by Spain, with the declaration nevertheless 
 that at a future time they would be indispensable. 
 
 No intimation has been received that in the 
 opinion of Spain that time has been reached. And 
 yet the strife continues with all its dread horrors 
 
 26 
 
and all its injuries; to the interests of the United 
 
 Stales and of other nations. 
 
 Each party seems quite capable of working 
 great injury and damage to the other, as well as to 
 all relations and interests dependent on the existence 
 of peace in the island, but they seem incapable of 
 reaching an adjustment, and both have thus far 
 failed of achieving any success whereby one party 
 shall possess and control the island to the exclusion 
 of the other. 
 
 Under the circumstances the agency of others, 
 either by mediation or by intervention, seems to be 
 the only alternative which must, sooner or later, be 
 invoked for the termination of the strife. 
 
 Cleveland Had Warned Spain. 
 
 In the last annual message of my immediate 
 predecessor, during the pending struggle, it was 
 said : — 
 
 •• When the inability of Spain to deal success- 
 fully with the insurrection has become manifest, and 
 it is demonstrated that her sovereignty is extinct in 
 Cuba for all purposes of its rightful existence, and 
 when a hopeless struggle for its re-establishment 
 has degenerated into a strife which means nothing- 
 more than the useless sacrifice of human life and 
 the utter destruction of the very subject matter of 
 the conflict, the situation will be presented in which 
 our obligations to the sovereignty - >f Spain will be 
 superseded by higher obligations which we can 
 hardly hesitate to recognize and discharge." 
 
 27 
 
McKinley's Promise in Annual Message. 
 
 In my annual message to Congress, December 
 last, speaking of this question, I said : 
 
 "The near future will demonstrate whether the 
 indispensable condition of a righteous peace, just 
 alike to the Cubans and to Spain, as well as equit- 
 able to all our interests so intimately involved in the 
 welfare of Cuba, is likely to be attained. If not, the 
 exigency of further and other action by the United 
 States will remain to be taken. 
 
 " When that time comes, that action will be de- 
 termined in the line of indisputable right and duty. 
 It will be faced without misgiving or hesitancy in 
 the light of the obligation this Government owes to 
 itself, to the people who have confided to it the pro- 
 tection of their interests and honor, and to humanity. 
 
 "Sure of the right, keeping free from all offense 
 ourselves, actuated only by upright and patriotic 
 consideration, moved neither by passion nor selfish- 
 ness, the Government will continue its watchful care 
 over the rights and property of American citizens, 
 and will abate none of its efforts to bring about by 
 peaceful agencies a peace which shall be honorable 
 and enduring. 
 
 " If it shall hereafter appear to be a duty im- 
 posed by our obligations to ourselves, to civilization, 
 and humanity, to intervene with force, it shall be 
 without fault on our part and only because the nec- 
 cessity for such action will be so clear as to com- 
 mand the support and approval of the civilized 
 world." 
 
 38 
 
The War Must Stop. 
 
 The long trial has proved that the object for which 
 Spain has waged the war cannot be attained, 
 
 The fire of insurrection may flame or may smoul* 
 dcr with varying seasons, but it has not been and it is 
 plain that it cannot be extinguished by present methods. 
 The only hope of relief and repose from a condition 
 which can no longer be endured is the enforced pacific 
 cation of Cuba, In the name of humanity, in the name 
 of civilization, in behalf of endangered American inter* 
 csts which give us the right and the duty to speak and to 
 act, the war in Cuba must stop. 
 
 Asks Authority for Intervention. 
 
 In view of these facts and of these considerations I 
 ask the Congress to authorize and empower the Prcsi* 
 dent to take measures to secure a full and final terminal 
 tion of hostilities between the Government of Spain and 
 the people of Cuba, and to secure in the island the es-> 
 tablishment of a stable Government capable of main* 
 taining order and observing its international obligations, 
 ensuring peace and tranquility and the security of its 
 citizens as well as our own, and to use the military and 
 naval forces of the United States as may be necessary 
 for these purposes, 
 
 Urges Appropriation for Food, 
 And in the interest of humanity and to aid in pre» 
 serving the lives of the starving people on the island, I 
 recommend that the distribution of food and supplies be 
 continued, and that an appropriation be made out of the 
 public treasury to supplement the charity of our citizens. 
 The issue is now with the Congress, It is a solemn 
 rcsponsibilitv, 
 
 20 
 
I have exhausted every effort to relieve the intoler- 
 able condition of affairs which is at our doors, 
 
 Prepared to execute every obligation imposed upon 
 me by the constitution and the law, I await your action, 
 
 Calls Attention to Spain's Armistice, 
 
 Yesterday, and since the preparation of the fore- 
 going message, official information was received by 
 me that the latest decree of the Queen Regent of 
 Spain directs General Blanco, in order to prepare 
 and facilitate peace, to proclaim a suspension of 
 hostilities, the duration and details of which have 
 not yet been communicated to me. 
 
 This fact, with every other pertinent consider- 
 ation, I am sure, have your just and careful attention 
 in the solemn deliberations upon which you are 
 about to enter. 
 
 If this measure attains a successful result, then 
 our aspirations as a Christian, peace-loving people 
 will be realized. If it fails, it will be only another 
 justification for our contemplated action. 
 
 William McKinley, 
 
 Executive Mansion, 
 April ii, 1898. 
 
 30 
 
PART II, 
 
 X 
 
 History of 
 
 The Spanish^ American War 
 
 in Brief, 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR, 
 X 
 
 To Establish Home Rule. 
 
 In February. 1895, both branches of the Spanish 
 Cortes — in which Cuba has forty-three representa- 
 tives — unanimously passed a bill brought forward 
 by Senor Abaruza, a Cuban, to establish in Cuba a 
 liberal regime which should virtually confer auto- 
 nomy, or home rule. This was in response to the 
 demands of the autonomist Cuban members of the 
 Cortes. They described the stagnation of the cane 
 sugar industry of Cuba, which was prostrated by 
 Germany's vast exportations of cheap beet sugar, 
 the ruin of sugar planters, the idleness of thousands 
 of workmen formerly employed on the plantations 
 and the necessity of local self-government, with 
 ser economy of administration, in view of the 
 diminished incomes of the people. Hard times had 
 created discontent and political unrest, which it was 
 expedient to conciliate by reforming the government 
 and reducing its cost. 
 
 Preventive Insurrection. 
 
 Ten days after the enactment of the reform law 
 an insurrection was begun in the Province of San- 
 tiago by filibusters from New York, Hayti and other 
 
 33 
 
points. Their purpose, it has been stated, was to 
 prevent the success of a reform which would content 
 the people and render them indifferent to the idea of 
 Cuba Libre. The filibusters consisted of young 
 Cubans who had lived many years abroad, natural- 
 ized foreigners of Cuban origin and adventurers of 
 various nationalities. Their enterprise was organ- 
 ized and financed by a junta, or committee, in New 
 York, which was helped by the sympathy all Ameri- 
 cans have for countries thought to be rightly strug- 
 gling to be free. Cuba bonds, which would be valu- 
 able if the junta succeeded, were also disposed of, 
 partly for the money disposed of, partly for the co- 
 operation they secured. 
 
 The People/ 
 
 There were some two hundred thousand agri- 
 cultural laborers in Cuba, many of whom were idle 
 on account of the fow price of sugar. Some of these 
 joined the rebels. The entire rebel force has been 
 estimated at forty thousand, but the force actually 
 under arms has perhaps seldom exceeded. Few 
 professional men or men of education joined the in- 
 surgents. The cities and larger towns continued 
 loyal and the local population organized guerrilla 
 bands aggregating, it is said, fifty thousand men to 
 withstand the forays of the rebels. The latter, con- 
 sisting chiefly of negroes and mixed breeds, operated 
 by destroying property. They did not propose to 
 fight in the open, but burned crops and buildings 
 and dynamited railroad bridges and trains. 
 
 34 
 
ScCallcd Republic. 
 
 A republic was proclaimed and Cucbitas was 
 made the capital, but the civil government was im- 
 aginary. The chief command and entire local gov- 
 ernment was in the hands of General Gomez. He, 
 with Maceo and others, gradually extended the rebel 
 rations over the whole island, destroying every- 
 thing outside the towns. Stealing in small bands 
 through the bush and traveling by night, they 
 eluded the Spanish troops and burnt and plundered 
 everywhere, driving the rustics into the already con- 
 gested towns. To prevent the rebels from living 
 off the rustics the Spanish forbade agriculture in ex- 
 posed districts, thus also adding to the congestion 
 of population in the towns. The wretchedness of 
 rec >nccntrados, imputed to General Weyler, became 
 the chief burden of the cry of inhumanity raised 
 against Spanish rule. 
 
 Weyler's Plan. 
 
 By cutting the island into several isolated sec- 
 tions by means of trochas, and by following up the 
 rebel bands pertinaciously in the restricted areas, 
 aeral Weyler had, at lengh, by December, 1897, 
 virtually freed the island from their ravages, except 
 in the two easternmost provinces, where a desolate 
 mountain country gave the insurgents impenetrable 
 retreats. The nature of the jungle was such that the 
 complete extinction of the rebel bands in Santiago 
 was impracticable, so long as they received supplies 
 and encouragement from abroad. Their operations 
 
 35 
 
were on a small scale and unimportant, except so far 
 as the existence of their movement — even on a small 
 scale — afforded a basis for the growing disposition 
 at Washington to interfere to exclude Spain from 
 her possessions in the West Indies. 
 
 Mr, Cleveland's Attitude, 
 
 In December, 1896, Congress signified its pur- 
 pose to recognize Cuba Libre, until Secretary Olney, 
 instructed by Mr. Cleveland, let it be known that in 
 the President's view recognition was an executive 
 function exclusively and action by Congress would be 
 ignored. Mr. Cleveland's position, as indicated by 
 his representative at Madrid, was, that the plan of 
 autonomy, embodied in the Abaruza law of 1895, 
 and much broadened in the Decree of February, 
 1897, should be given a trial and the United States 
 would not interfere until it was shown by experience 
 that the new home rule scheme was a sham and 
 failure. The democratic part, as voiced by Mr. 
 Cleveland, included the idea of interference in case 
 peace and order — after a fair trial of the home scheme 
 of 1 897 — were still as far off as ever, but Mr. Cleve- 
 land assured the Madrid government that the home 
 rule should have a fair trial. The purpose of de- 
 priving Spain of her sovereignty over Cuba was 
 disclaimed. 
 
 New Policy. 
 
 With the beginning of the McKinley adminis- 
 tration these assurances ceased. A less patient 
 policy was favored and the idea of getting Spain to 
 
 36 
 
withdraw from Cuba by friendly insistence was en- 
 tertained. Congressmen who wished to recognize 
 Cuba's independence were at once advised that such 
 result could be attained in a better way. Recogni- 
 tion was staved off. Meanwhile Spain was asked 
 to make various concessions, as respects the re- 
 moval of Weyler, the reconcentrados and an arm- 
 istice, etc. All were granted. The hope was enter- 
 tained that with Blanco favoring conciliation, the re- 
 concentrados provided for and peace offered the 
 rebels a way would be found for giving Cuba a gov- 
 ernment as free as that of Canada. The retention 
 of a nominal sovereignty was now at length all that 
 Spain asked. 
 
 War, 
 It was resolved not to concede this and on April 
 ii. 1898, President McKinley asked Congress to 
 authorize him to intervene in Cuba with force. Con- 
 gress assented on the 19th and an ultimatum was 
 sent to Spain demanding the evacuation of Cuba. 
 In the declaration of war it was affirmed that the 
 war should be in the interest of humanity and not 
 for the acquisition of territory. 
 
 Immediate Cause of War. 
 
 Hostilities were precipitated by the sinking of 
 the battleship Maine in the harbor of Havana in Feb- 
 ruary. The vessel sank after an explosion, the 
 cause of which has not been ascertained. It is not 
 known whether it was the work of a Spanish fanatic, 
 animated by blind hatred of the United States, or of 
 
 37 
 
a Cuban patriot anxious to embroil Spain and Cuba. 
 That it was caused by any Spanish official nobody 
 believes. Our commission of naval officers, after 
 patient inquiry, reported that it could not trace the 
 cause of the explosion, but thought it was from 
 without the ship. Admiral Colomb, of the Brit- 
 ish Navy, reviewing the facts elicited by the in- 
 quiry, thinks the explosion was from within and 
 parallels the incident with the like mysterious explo- 
 sion of the British warship Daphne, which he inves- 
 tigated. The Daphne was exploded from within, 
 but the cause could never be ascertained. 
 
 The explosion of the Maine, whatever the cause, 
 fired popular resentment against Spain and strength- 
 ened the jungo party in Congress till it became irre- 
 sistible. There was a loud demand for revenue and 
 " Remember the Maine " became a popular cry. 
 
 Preparation and Operation- 
 Months before the declaration of war our war- 
 ships were asembled in large numbers at Key West, 
 near Havana, and on April 22nd, the day after war 
 began, Admiral Sampson began the blockade of 
 Cuban ports. The Bucna Ventura was the first 
 prize, taken by the Nashville on the 22nd, and many 
 other Spanish merchantmen were captured within 
 the next few weeks. In anticipation of hostilities 
 Congress had voted $50,000,000 to be spent at the 
 President's discretion. A large army was author- 
 ized, and one hundred and twenty-five thousand vol- 
 unteers were called out. Later seventy-five thousand 
 
 38 
 
more were called out. What with the regulars and 
 other troops authorized, an army of over a quarter 
 of a million was finally provided for. Patriotism and 
 popular enthusiasm eaused many of the militia regi- 
 ments, maintained for local purposes in the various 
 States, to volunteer en masse for service in the fed- 
 eral army. In the South much gratification was felt 
 at the appointment of ex-Confederates to important 
 commands. 
 
 Dewey's Victory. 
 
 The first naval attack of importance was the at- 
 tack made May ist by Commodore Dewey in the 
 Bay of Manila, in the Philippine Islands, on the Span- 
 ish fleet assembled there. The Spanish vessels were 
 inferior and were all destroyed, without inflicting 
 any loss upon the Americans. Aguinaldo, a Philip- 
 pine rebel, was taken by us from Hong Kong to 
 Cavite, a town near Manila, and provided with mili- 
 tarv supplies, for co-operation with us against the 
 Spanish. So well did he use his new resources that 
 the Spanish were beaten by the rebels at many points , 
 and were finally cooped up by them in Manila. 
 Meanwhile Dewey, being without troops, was unable 
 to operate ashore. Manila was at his mercy, but he 
 had to wait until General Merritt, with troops, was 
 sent across the Pacific from San Francisco to his as- 
 sistance. Aguinaldo improved the interval to press 
 the siege of Manila and to proclaim a republic, with 
 himself at its head. The United States had destroy- 
 ed Spain's fleet, he confessed, but his Filipinos had 
 expelled Spain's army from the provinces, captured 
 
 2) 
 
most of it and penned the feeble remnant in the cap- 
 ital. To the American assumption that the Philip- 
 pines were to be American, he opposed the claim 
 that they had won their independence and would re- 
 tain it. The capture of Manila by the rebels would 
 mean the butchery of the Spanish garrison. For 
 this reason and for obvious political reasons Dewey 
 discouraged an assault by the Filipinos on the city, 
 expecting to take it himself ultimately and protect 
 it with the American troops when they arrived. The 
 situation becamed strained, and there was a pros- 
 pect that the Americans would after a time find it 
 necessary to fight their cantankerous allies. 
 
 In an engagement of minor vessels in Cuban 
 waters on May 1 1 , Ensign Bagley, of the Winslow, 
 and four others were killed. 
 
 Havana and Cervera, 
 
 The apparent plan of campaign of the Wash- 
 ington government was to take Havana as the 
 readiest way of securing the object of the war. 
 Many troops and ships were assembled at Tampa 
 and Key West, whence they could be speedily trans- 
 ported to some point on the Cuban coast near 
 Havana. Various places along the coast were re- 
 connoitred and some were bombarded. Such pre- 
 parations, if genuine, were arrested, and the whole 
 plan of campaign was changed on May 1 3 th by the 
 announcement that Admiral Cervera's fleet of four 
 formidable warships and two torpedo-boat destroyers 
 had arrived off Martinque, in the West Indies. It 
 
 40 
 
was later seen off Curacoa, near Venezula. On May 
 19th the- Spanish fleet entered the harbor of San- 
 tiago, on the southern coast of Cuba. Its presence 
 there was definitely ascertained by Commodore 
 Schley. As it was impossible to transport troops 
 for the capture of Havana while Cervera's fleet was 
 in striking distance, it became the chief object of the 
 army and navy to capture or destroy the fleet. 
 
 Hobson's Feat. 
 
 On May 3 1 st there was a bombardment of the 
 Spanish forts at the narrow entrance to the harbor 
 of Santiago, but without result other than to locate 
 the enemy's batteries. On June 3rd, Naval Con- 
 structor Richmond Pearson Hobson won much dis- 
 tinction by undertaking to sink the collier Merrimac 
 in the narrow channel to prevent the escape of Cer- 
 vera's fleet. The kind treatment accorded the daring 
 Southerner by Cervera when captured, created in 
 the United States a very favorable feeling toward 
 Spanish officers and lessened the bitterness and con- 
 tempt with which they had been regarded. 
 
 It was considered impracticable for our warships 
 to follow Cervera's into the harbor of Santiago. 
 Mines and batteries threatened their safety. It was 
 resolved to take Santiago by land and thus force 
 Cervera out. On June 10th some six hundred 
 marines were landed at Guantanamo, some distance 
 east of Santiago, so as to secure a place where our war- 
 ships could safely lake on coal from colliers. Soon 
 after the marines were attacked by the Spanish and 
 
 41 
 
six Americans were killed. There was a second 
 attack four days later. By June 13 th troops began 
 to leave Key West for operations against Santiago, 
 and on June 22nd General Shafter landed his army 
 at Daiquiri, a short distance east of the entrance to 
 the harbor of Santiago. 
 
 Several minor actions attended the advance to 
 Juragua, Sevilla and Siboney."\ A general assault 
 was made on July 1st on the enemy's works and 
 various commanding positions were captured. The 
 enemy was pressed back to his inner line of fortifica- 
 tions. The fighting continued on the 2nd, with 
 some loss on both sides. So difficult was the situa- 
 tion that at a conference of officers reported by Gen- 
 eral Breckinridge it was proposed by General Shafter 
 to retire the army from the immediate front of San- 
 tiago until heavy artillery could be brought up to 
 meet the fire from Cervera's fleet and from General 
 Toral's batteries. 
 
 Admiral Cervera's dash out of the harbor on the 
 3rd prevented the discredit of retiring from the 
 points already gained. The American fleet under 
 the immediate lead of Commodore Schley, in the 
 Brooklyn, met the enemy as he emerged, and in the 
 chase that followed destroyed all the enemy's ships 
 and took some one thousand six hundred prisoners. 
 Admiral Sampson, in the New York, arrived on the 
 scene after the action was ended. 
 
 After the Battle, 
 
 This important action logically closed the cam- 
 paign, as the Spanish fleet was the sole cause of the 
 
 42 
 
expedition to Santiago. But it was resolved to 
 gather the spoils of victory, and the surrender of 
 Santiago and the posts connected therewith were de- 
 manded by General Shafter on July 3rd, and on July 
 14th the city, with some twenty-four thousand troops, 
 was surrendered by General Toral. The terms were 
 liberal, owing to the respect inspired by the courage- 
 ous defense. The Spanish were accorded the honors 
 due to brave men, and it was stipulated in their 
 behalf that they should be taken to Spain at the ex- 
 pense of the United States. 
 
 Fever Decimates the Army, 
 The joy and victory were dampened by the an- 
 nouncement on the 13th of July, that yellow fever 
 had broken out in the army. Use of infected build- 
 ings and contact with the natives produced this re. 
 arettable result. Worse than yellow fever was the 
 malarial fever, which decimated the regiments. A 
 bad climate, heat, incessant rains, insanitary sur- 
 roundings, deficient food and shameful lack of medi- 
 cal and surgical treatment produced the usual effect. 
 The government had resolved to send the army 
 further inland to a healthier region, but a round 
 robin signed by a number of officers demanded the 
 withdrawal of the army from Cuba, and this has 
 been conceded. 
 
 Admiral Camara, 
 
 An episode of the war was Admiral Camara's 
 vovage to the Red Sea, in June- as if on his way to 
 the Philippines— and his return after it was an- 
 
 43 
 
nounced from Washington that Commodore Watson 
 would be sent with a fleet to harry the coast of 
 Spain in his absence. On the way to Manila our 
 ships from San Francisco siezed the Ladrones and 
 other Spanish islands in the Pacific. 
 
 Porto Rico, 
 
 After the surrender of Santiago an expedition 
 under General Miles was sent to take San Juan, 
 Porto Rico. A landing was effected July 26th at 
 Guanica, on the southern coast, and soon after 
 Ponce, a town of some size, fifteen miles distant, was 
 occupied. 
 
 Peace, 
 
 On the 26th of July, through M. Jules Cambon, 
 the French ambassador, Spain asked what terms of 
 peace were demanded by the United States. After 
 some deliberation President McKinley replied de- 
 manding the evacuation of Cuba and the cession of 
 Porto Rico and one of the Ladrones, to the United 
 States, with certain concessions in the Philippines 
 which will be settled by a joint commission. This 
 is in excess of the demands with which the war 
 began. 
 
 Navy Decided the War. 
 
 The war with Spain lasted just one hundred 
 days, and was decided by two remarkable naval en- 
 gagements, the battle at Manila and the destruction 
 of Cervera's fleet. The attack upon Santiago, while 
 it served to convince the Spaniards of the almost in- 
 vincible character of the United States Army, was, 
 
 44 
 
after all, not of a decisive character, and, had Spain 
 still possessed a fleet, the Santiago campaign would 
 probably have been little more than the beginning 
 of the struggle in Cuba. But when Admiral Dewey's 
 splendid victory at Manila was duplicated by Com- 
 modore Schley, and the flower of the Spanish navy 
 was destroyed without appreciable damage to the 
 American fleet, and scarcely any loss of life on board 
 the American ships, even the Spaniards were im- 
 pressed with the hopelessness of the struggle in which 
 they were engaged. 
 
 American Losses in the War. 
 
 The losses in the Spanish- American war on the 
 American side are as follows: — 
 
 Losses in the army: Officers killed in battle, 33 ; 
 men killed in battle, 231; officers and men wounded, 
 about 1,450; officers and men killed by disease, es- 
 timated 1,500. 
 
 Losses in navy and marine corps: Officers killed 
 in battle, 1 ; men killed in battle, 1 3 ; men drowned, 
 1 : men wounded, 38. 
 
 Lessons. 
 
 The war is supposed to have demonstrated anew 
 the uselessness of bombardments. We have bom- 
 barded many forts without result. Torpedo boats 
 have so far been harmless, being controlled by rapid- 
 fire guns. Smokeless powder is shown to be prefer- 
 able both for infantry and for warships. The bad 
 marksmanship of the Spanish gunners has attracted 
 much attention. It is partly the result of having 
 
 45 
 
poor guns. In their forts this seems to have been the 
 case but on their warships it seems to have been due 
 to want of practice. Courage is useless unless com- 
 bined with skill. 
 
 46 
 
PART III, 
 
 A, 
 
 Peace Protocol 
 
 between United States and Spain, 
 
 Signed August 12, 1898, 
 
SIGNING OF THE PROTOCOL 
 
 X 
 
 The peace protocol between Spain and the 
 United States was signed at the White House on 
 August 1 2th, 1898, at 4.23 P. M. 
 
 Immediately following it, Adjutant General Cor- 
 bin dispatched orders to the commanders of the 
 American forces in Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philip- 
 pines, directing them to commit no further hostile 
 acts against Spain. Similar orders were also sent at 
 once to the naval commanders, all by direction of 
 the President. 
 
 The important proceedings which led to this 
 happy eessation of actual war took place in the cabi- 
 net room of the White House, in the presence of the 
 President, Secretary Day, the three assistant secre- 
 taries of State, Messrs. Adee, Moore and Cridler, 
 the French Ambassador, M. Cambon, and his first 
 secretary, M.Thiebaut; Private Secretary Cortelyou, 
 Captain Montgomery and Major Pruden, of the White 
 House staff. 
 
 The President and Secretary Day were waiting 
 for the French ambassador when he reached the 
 W T hitc House, at seven minutes after 4 o'clock, and 
 he was ushered at once into their presence. Dupli- 
 cate copies of the protocol had been prepared. 
 
 40 
 
Congratulations Follow Signing. 
 
 The only preliminary formality was the reading 
 and comparing of the two copies. When this had 
 been done Ambassador Cambon signed both of 
 them, as the representative of Spain, and Secretary 
 Day affixed his signature, as the representative of 
 the United States. 
 
 The President watched the proceedings with in- 
 terest, and at their conclusion he shook hands with 
 the Ambassador, congratulating him upon the im- 
 portant part he had taken in the work of re-establish- 
 ing peace. 
 
 One copy of the protocol the Ambassador re- 
 tained to be forwarded to the government at Madrid. 
 The other was retained by Secretary Day. 
 
 The French Ambassador was at the White 
 House not more than half an hour. When he de- 
 parted all necessary steps to bring about a suspen- 
 sion of hostilities had been taken. 
 
 Secretary Alger, accompanied by Adjutant Gen- 
 eral Corbin, had arrived at the White House while 
 the protocol was being signed. The first man to 
 hurry from the cabinet room was General Corbin, 
 with the orders to stop fighting. Then the Ambas- 
 sador took his leave and hastened back to the French 
 embassy to cable to Spain that the protocol had been 
 executed and that the United States had already 
 complied with its terms relative to directing a sus- 
 pension of hostilities. 
 
 Proclamation by the President. 
 
 The President prepared and signed a proclama- 
 
 50 
 
lion declaring a suspension of hostilities. It is as 
 follows : — 
 
 By the President of the United States of America : 
 
 A PROCLAMATION. 
 
 Whereas, By a protocol concluded and signed 
 August 1 2th, 1898, by William R. Day, Secretary of 
 
 State 1 A the United States, and his excellency, Jules 
 Cambon, ambassador extraordinary and plenipoten- 
 ti;i the republic of France at Washington, re- 
 
 spectively representing for this purpose the govern- 
 ment of the United States and the government of 
 Spain, the United States and Spain have formally 
 agreed upon the terms on which negotiations for the 
 establishment of peace between the two countries 
 shall be undertaken ; and, 
 
 Whereas, It is in said protocol agreed that upon 
 its conclusion and signature hostilities between the 
 two countries shall be suspended, and that notice to 
 that effect shall be given as soon as possible by each 
 government to the commanders of its military and 
 naval forces : 
 
 New, Therefore, I, William McKinley. President 
 of the United States, do, in accordance with the 
 stipulations of the protocol, declare and proclaim on 
 the part of the United States a suspension of hos- 
 tilities, and do hereby command that orders be im- 
 mediately given through the proper channels to the 
 commanders of the military and naval forces of the 
 United States to abstain from all acts inconsistent 
 with this proclamation. 
 
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand 
 and caused the seal of the United States to be 
 affixed. 
 
 Done at the city of Washington, this 12 th day 
 of August, in the year of our Lord One Thousand 
 Eight Hundred and Ninety Eight, and of the Inde- 
 pendence of the United States, the One Hundred 
 and Twenty-Third. 
 
 William McKinley. 
 
 By the President, 
 
 William R. Day, 
 
 Secretary of State. 
 
 A copy of the proclamation was cabled to the 
 American army and naval commanders. Spain to 
 cable her commanders like instructions. 
 
 Following is a statement of the peace terms : 
 
 First. — That Spain will relinquish all claim of 
 sovereignty over and title to Cuba. 
 
 Second. — That Porto Rico and other Spanish 
 islands in the West Indies and an island in the La- 
 drones, to be selected by the United States, shall be 
 ceded to the latter. 
 
 Third. — That the United States will occupy 
 and hold the city, bay and harbor of Manila, pending 
 the conclusion of a treaty of peace which shall de- 
 termine the control, disposition and government of 
 the Philippines. 
 
 Fourth. — That Cuba, Porto Rico and other Span- 
 ish islands in the West Indies shall be immediately 
 evacuated, and that commissioners, to be appointed 
 
 52 
 
within ten days, shall within thirty days from the 
 signing of the protocol meet at Havana and San 
 Juan, respectively, to arrange and execute the de- 
 tails of the evacuation. 
 
 Fifth. — That the United States and Spain shall 
 each appoint not more than five commissioners to 
 negotiate and conclude a treaty of peace. The com- 
 missioners are to meet at Paris not later than the 
 first of October. 
 
 Sixth. — On the signing of the protocol hostili- 
 ties were to be suspended and notice to that effect 
 was to be given as soon as possible by each govern- 
 ment to the commanders of its military and naval 
 forces. 
 
 53 
 
PART IV, 
 
 «v 
 
 Dates of 
 Imoortant Events in the War between 
 
 > 
 
 the United States and Spain, 
 
DATES AND EVENTS. 
 
 X 
 
 February 15.— The United States battleship 
 Maine, at anchor in the harbor of Havana, is blown 
 to pieces; two officers and more than 250 members 
 of the crew are killed ; 104 survive, most of whom 
 are injured, some of them fatally; the ship and all 
 her contents are totally destroyed. 
 
 February 16.— The Senate adopts a resolution 
 of sorrow for the loss of the Maine. 
 
 February 17. — A Naval Court of Inquiry is ap- 
 pointed by Admiral Sieard to investigate the blow- 
 ing up of the Maine. 
 
 February 18. — The Senate debates a resolution 
 providing for a Congressional investigation of the 
 Maine disaster. . . . The 1 [ouse passes a resolution ap- 
 propriating $200,000 to recover bodies and save 
 property fri an the Maine. 
 
 February 19. -The request of Spanish officials 
 in Havana for a joint investigation of the wreck ^\ 
 the Maine is declined by the United Stat' 
 
 February 21.— The Senate instructs the Com- 
 mittee on Naval Affairs to inv< ' the Main 
 
 57 
 
aster and passes the House resolution appropriating 
 $200,000 for work on the wreck. 
 
 February 22.— The Senate, by a vote of 52 to 
 4, passes a bill providing for two additional regiments 
 of artillery. 
 
 February 25. — President McKinley appoints 
 
 Colonel Henry C. Corbin Adjutant General of the 
 
 army to succeed General Samuel Breck, retired. 
 
 . . . The Spanish cruiser Vizcaya leaves New York 
 
 harbor. 
 
 February 26. — The Spanish Cortes is dissolved, 
 after voting 1,000,000 pesetas for the navy. 
 
 March 1.— The Senate adopts a resolution pro- 
 viding for the erection in the National Capital of a 
 bronze tablet to the memory of the Maine victims. 
 
 March 5. — Nineteen persons are arrested in 
 Havana charged with conspiracy against the Spanish 
 Government. 
 
 March 7. — The steam tug Dauntless is seized by 
 the United States Government, charged with taking 
 arms and men to Cuba. . . . The House passes the bill 
 creating two new regiments of artillery, with but 
 three dissenting votes. 
 
 March 8. — The House passes a bill appropri. 
 ating $50,000,000 for national defense, after four 
 hours of debate, by the unanimous vote of the 3 1 1 
 members present. 
 
 March 9.— The Senate passes the bill appropri- 
 ating $50,000,000 for national defense by a unani- 
 
 58 
 
mous vote without debate. . . . President McKinley 
 signs the bill appropriating $50,000,000 for national 
 
 defense, and measures of preparation for war are 
 vigorously pushed. 
 
 March 11.— The Secretary of War issues orders 
 re-arranging the military departments of the coun- 
 try. . . . The House Committee on Naval Affairs pro- 
 vides for three new battleships to cost about $6,000,- 
 000 each, one to be named the Maine. 
 
 March 12.— Senor Polo y Bernabe, the new 
 Spanish Minister to the United States, presents his 
 credentials to President McKinley. 
 
 March 14.— The Navy Department purchases 
 two Brazilian cruisers just built in England. 
 
 March 16.— The House Committee on Naval 
 Affairs deeides to provide for six torpedo boats and 
 six torpedo-boat destroyers, in addition to the three 
 battleships previously decided on ; also for the erec- 
 tion of a smokeless-p< >wder factory. . . . Spain remon- 
 strates against the presence of the United States 
 fleet at Key West and against other measures of de- 
 fense taken by this Government 
 
 March 17. — The battleships Massachusetts and 
 Texas are detached from the fleet at Key West and 
 ordered to Hampton Roads. . . . The Spanish torpedo 
 fleet at the Canaries is ordered not to proceed to 
 Havana. 
 
 March 18. -The Spanish and Cuban Commis- 
 
 59 
 
sioners to negotiate a commercial treaty with the 
 United States meet in Washington. 
 
 March 21. — Secretary Long names the two Bra- 
 zilian cruisers recently purchased, the New Orleans 
 and the Albany. . . . The House passes the Maine 
 relief bill. 
 
 March 22. — The naval appropriation bill is re- 
 ported to the House from Committee. 
 
 March 23. — The monitors Terror and Puritan 
 are ordered to join the fleet at Key West. . . . The 
 Government Auxiliary Naval Board purchases a steel 
 tug at New York City. . . . The Senate passes the 
 Maine relief bill. 
 
 March 24. — The despatch boat Dolphin and the 
 yacht Mayflower placed in commission at the New 
 York Navy Yard. . . . Restrictions regarding enlist- 
 ments in the navy are removed. . . . Admiral Sicard 
 is relieved from command of the fleet at Key West 
 on account of ill health, and Captain Sampson is or- 
 dered to succeed him. . . . The battleships Kearsage 
 and Kentucky are launched at Newport News. . . . 
 Mr. Thurston ( Rep., Neb.) addresses the Senate on 
 the Cuban question, advocating armed intervention. 
 . . . The House debates the Naval appropriation 
 bill. ... It is announced that the Bank of Spain will 
 lend the Spanish Government about $40,000,000, 
 guaranteed by the new treasury bonds. 
 
 March 25. — The United States purchases a first- 
 class torpedo boat built in Germany. . . . Commodore 
 
 60 
 
Schley is ordered to command the Flyirj 
 
 at Hampton Roads. . . . Three large steam yachts and 
 
 a tug are added to the auxiliary fleet for servi 
 
 dispatch and patrol boats. . . . The Hous* ates 
 
 the Naval appropriation bill. . . . The Spanish i\ 
 of the cause of the Maine disaster is I at 
 
 Madrid. 
 
 March 26. — The verdict of the Maine Court, of 
 Inquiry is communicated to the Spanish G< >vernmi 
 . . . The New York National Guard and N Re- 
 
 serves are ordered to hold themselves in readiness 
 for action. 
 
 March 27. — The United States cruisers San 
 Francisco and New Orleans sail from England for this 
 country. . . . Elections in Spain for the lower house 
 of the Cortes are favorable to the Sagasta ministry. 
 
 March 28. — Commodore Schley takes command 
 of the Flying Squadron. . . . President McKinley 
 sends to both houses the report of the Maine Court 
 of Inquiry, accompanied by a message. ... In the 
 Senate the documents are referred to the Committee 
 on Foreign Relations, and in the House to the Com- 
 mittee on Foreign Affairs. . . . The testimony taken 
 by the Maine Court of Inquiry is made public. . . . 
 The Spanish Government announces that it will 
 make no objection to the sending of relief to the 
 Cuban rcc< >ncentrad< »s. 
 
 March 29.- Resolutions on the Cuban question 
 are produced in both houses. . . . United S1 Min- 
 
 61 
 
ister Woodford holds a conference at Madrid with 
 Premier Saerasta. 
 
 '•&'■ 
 
 March 30. — The United States buys the steam 
 yacht Aegnsa in Sicily for $300,000. . . . The House 
 resumes consideration of the Naval appropriation 
 bill. . . . The entire Autonomist Cabinet of Porto 
 Rico resigns. 
 
 *e> J 
 
 March 31. — Captain Sigsbee makes a statement 
 regarding the Maine disaster to the Senate Foreign 
 Relations Committee. . . . The Cuban question is 
 discussed in both houses. . . . The New York Legis- 
 lature votes $1,000,000 as an emergency war fund. 
 . . . Captain General Blanco issues a decree abro- 
 gating the reconcentration edict of General Weyler 
 in the western provinces of Cuba. 
 
 April 1. — The House passes the Naval appro- 
 priation bill, so amended as to provide for increasing 
 the number of torpedo boats and torpedo-boat de- 
 stroyers from six to twelve each, and carrying a total 
 of more than $39,000,000 in direct appropriations. 
 . . . The Iowa Legislature appropriates $500,000 for 
 a war fund. . . . The Spanish cruisers Vizeaya and 
 Oquendo sail from Havana. 
 
 April 2. — An 1,800 ton cruiser is purchased in 
 England for the United States. . . . It is ordered that 
 salvage operations on the wreck of the Maine in 
 Havana harbor be discontinued. . . . Secretary Gage 
 and Chairman Dingley of the House Ways and 
 Means Committee, hold a council with President Mc- 
 
 62 
 
Kinleyon war-revenue measures. . . . It is announced 
 that the Spanish torpedo-boat flotilla has r 
 
 Islands. 
 
 April 4.- Steamers arc sent from Key West to 
 Havana to bring home Americans. ... Thi N vy 
 Department orders the immediate purch; E ten 
 
 auxiliary cruisers. . . . The flag is removed from the 
 wreck of the Maine. . . . Speeches favoring interven- 
 a in Cuba arc made in both houses. . . . Pope Leo 
 XIII offers to mediate between Spain and Cuban in- 
 surgents, and urges Spain to suspend hostilities. . . . 
 Many Spaniards enlist in the volunteers at Havana. 
 
 April 5. — In the Senate five members speak in 
 favor of an immediate declaration of war again 
 Spain. . . . Consul-General Lee is ordered to return 
 from Havana. 
 
 April 6.— The House considers the army re- 
 organization bill. 
 
 April 7. — The House re-commits the army re- 
 organization bill, after striking out everything ex- 
 cept the first two sections, providing for the three- 
 battalion formation. ... In reply to a joint note from 
 the European powers in the interest of peace, Senor 
 Gullon, the Spanish Foreign Minister, states as the 
 opinion of the C; met that Spain has reached the 
 "limit of international policy in the dii ' con- 
 
 ceding the demands and allowing the pretensi* 
 the United States." . . . The diplomatic representa- 
 tives in Washington of the six great ] >w- 
 ers present a joint note to President McKinley ex- 
 
pressing the hope that peace with Spain may be 
 preserved; the President, in reply, declares that the 
 war in Cuba must cease. 
 
 April 8-— The ram Katahdin joins the Flying 
 Squadron in Hampton Roads. 
 
 April 9.— The United States cruiser Topcka and 
 the United States torpedo-boat Somcrs sail from Eng- 
 land to the United States. . . . The Massachusetts joins 
 the Flying Squadron. . . . Consul General Lee and the 
 other American Consuls in Cuba sail for the United 
 States. . . . The Spanish Cabinet decides to suspend 
 hostilities in Cuba. . . . The Spanish armored cruisers 
 Cristobal Colon and Infanta Maria Teresa sail from 
 Cadiz to join the torpedo flotilla at the Cape Verde 
 Islands. 
 
 April 11. — President McKinley, in a message to 
 
 Congress, asks authority to intervene in Cuba by 
 
 force to re-establish peace and order in the island. 
 
 . . . The elections to the Spanish Senate result in a 
 
 large majority for the ministry. 
 
 April 12. — The Cuban question is debated in 
 both houses. . . . Consul-General Lee declares before 
 the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations that 
 Spanish officials in Havana knew of a plot to blow 
 up the Maine. 
 
 April 13.— The Navy Department at Washing- 
 ton orders the purchase of the American line steam- 
 ers St. Paul and St. Louis. . . . The Flying Squadron 
 sails from Hampton Roads on a practice cruise. . . . 
 
 64 
 
The House passes, by a vote of 322 to 19, the reso 
 
 solutions reported by the Committee on Foreign 
 Affairs, directing President McKinley to intervene 
 in Cuba; there is much excitement and disorder. . . . 
 The Michigan Legislature appropriates G5 C0 > 000 for 
 emergency military purposes. . . . The Spanish Cabi- 
 net votes an extraordinary war credit. 
 
 April 14.— The eruiscr New Orleans, lately pur- 
 chased from the Brazilian Government, arrives at 
 New York with the cruiser San Francisco. . . . The 
 Senate debates the Cuban intervention resolutions 
 reported by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. ... A 
 council of Spanish Cabinet decides to convoke the 
 Cortes on April 20th, live days earlier than the date 
 set for its assembly. . . . Negotiations for the sale of 
 the eruiser Garibaldi by Italy to Spain are suspended. 
 
 April 15. — Orders are issued to concentrate 
 
 nearly all of the regular army of the United States 
 at the gulf ports of New ( )rleans, M< »1 >ile and Tampa, 
 and at Chickamauga Park. ... The Government 
 eharters the steamships St. Louts, St. Paul, Paris and 
 Nczc York, of the Ameriean line. . . . The Twenty- 
 fifth Infantry, U. S. A., goes into camp at Chicka- 
 mauga Park. „ . . The Massachusetts Legislature ap- 
 propriates $500,000 to increase the efficiency of the 
 National Guard. . . . The British Government in- 
 structs the Jamaica authorities that coal will be con- 
 traband oi war. 
 
 April 16. — The Navy Department orders the 
 purchase of the steamships Yorktown and Juniata, . . . 
 
The army officials call for bids for the transportation 
 of troops to southern points. . . . The Senate passes 
 the Cuban resolutions reported by the Committee on 
 Foreign Relations by a vote of 67 to 21, and an 
 amendment recognizing the independence of the re- 
 public of Cuba is adopted by a vote of 51 to 37, and 
 a further amendment disclaiming any intention to 
 exercise sovereignty over the island, except for pur- 
 pose of pacification, is agreed to unanimously. 
 
 April 18. — Commodore Howell is placed in com- 
 mand of the North Atlantic Patrol fleet, consisting 
 of the Yoscmite, the Prairie, the Yankee, and the 
 Dixie. . . . The House agrees to the Senate Cuban 
 resolutions, with the exception of the amendment 
 recognizing the present republic. Conferences be- 
 tween the two houses finally lead to the Senate's ac- 
 ceptance of the resolutions in this form, and they go 
 to President McKinley for approval. 
 
 April 19. — United States troops from many 
 garrisons move to the points of mobilization on the 
 Gulf and at Chickamauga Park. 
 
 April 20. — President McKinley signs the reso- 
 lutions of Congress and sends an ultimatum to Spain 
 demanding that her land and naval forces withdraw 
 from Cuba and requiring an answer before noon of 
 April 23rd. . . . The Spanish Minister at Washington 
 requests and receives his passports. . . . The Spanish 
 Cortes meets in Madrid ; the Queen Regent reads a 
 warlike speech from the throne. 
 
 66 
 
April 21. — Before Minister Woodford can de- 
 liver the ultimatum of the United States to Spain 
 he is notified by the Spanish Government that dip- 
 lomatic relations with the United States are at an 
 end; he then leaves Madrid for Paris, under guard, 
 after intrusting Legation affairs to the British Em- 
 bassy. . . . After notifying representatives of Foreign 
 Powers of its intention to blockade Havana, the 
 Government at Washington orders the fleet at Key 
 West under Admiral Sampson to sail. ... A block- 
 i if the Philippine Islands by the Asiatic Squad- 
 ron under Commodore Dewey is decided on at Wash- 
 ington. . . . The Navy Department buys the Brazilian 
 warship Nktheroy and the yachts Corsair and Penelope. 
 . . . Enlistments of volunteers are reported through- 
 out the Union. . . . Captain Sampson is raised to the 
 rank of Rear Admiral. . . . The Senate passes the 
 bill providing for the enlistment of State Militia 
 under the National Government in time of war, 
 amending it so as to make the term one year instead 
 of three. . . . Rhode Island appropriates ft 1=0,000 to 
 equip militia. . . . Great Britain notifies Spain that 
 coal will be considered contraband of war. . . . The 
 Spanish Government orders out 80,000 reserves. . . . 
 Spain lands 5,000 troops on the Canary Island. 
 
 April 22. — It is decided to issue a call for 100,. 
 000 volunteers. . . . The Spanish merchantman Buena 
 Ventura is captured by the United States gun! 
 Nashville off Key West. . . . After conference, the 
 
 National volunteer bill is passed by both houses of 
 
 67 
 
Congress in amended form, with two years as the 
 term of enlistment. 
 
 April 23. — President McKinley issues his proc- 
 lamation calling for 125,000 volunteers. . . . Two 
 Spanish schooners and a steamer are captured by the 
 Porter and Helena, of the blockading fleet. . . . The 
 House passes the bill for the re-organization of the 
 army, by unanimous vote ; Chairman Dingley, of the 
 Ways and Means Committee, introduces a war-reve- 
 nue bill. 
 
 April 24. — Spain issues a decree declaring that 
 a state of war exists with the United States. . . . 
 Three Spanish merchantmen are captured by the 
 blockading fleet. 
 
 April 25. — The United States Congress declares 
 that war exists with Spain. . . . Secretary of State 
 John Sherman resigns. . . . The different States are 
 called on for their quotas of troops. . . . Both houses, 
 on President McKinley's recommendation, pass a 
 bill recognizing the existence of a state of war with 
 Spain. 
 
 April 26. — President McKinley, by proclama- 
 tion, declares the intention of the United States to 
 adhere to the anti-privateering agreement of the 
 Declaration of Paris. . . . England proclaims neutral- 
 ity deciding that war began April 21st, when Spain 
 gave Minister Woodford his passports. . . . The Post- 
 master General orders that no more mails be sent 
 from the United States to Spain. ... In the House, 
 
 63 
 
the war revenue bill is favorably reported from th< 
 
 Ways and Means Committee. 
 
 April 27. The earthworks defending Matanzas, 
 Cuba, are bombarded and silenced by the New York, 
 
 Puritan and Cincinnati, of Admiral Sampson's Squad- 
 ron; this is the first action of the war. . . . Commo- 
 dore Dewey's Squadron sails from Mirs Bay for Ma- 
 nila. . . . The House begins debate on the war reve- 
 nue bill. 
 
 April 28.— The following governments dcelared 
 neutrality: Great Britain, Italy, Switzerland, Nether- 
 lands, Sweden and Norway, Colombia, Mexico, Rus- 
 sia, France, Corea, Argentine Republic, Japan and 
 Uruguay. 
 
 April 29.— Portugal announces neutrality, and 
 the Spanish squadron comprising the cruisers Maria 
 Teresa, Ahnirante Oquendo, Vizcaya, and Cristobal Colon, 
 and the torpedo-boat destroyers Pluton, Terror and 
 Furor, sails from Cape Verde Islands. . . . The cruiser 
 New York fires on Spanish cavalry near Port Cabanas, 
 Cuba. . . . The House passes the war revenue bill by 
 a vote of 1 8 1 to 131. 
 
 April 30.— The steamer Paris, to be employed 
 as an auxiliary cruiser by the United States, reaches 
 New York in safety. . . . The United States battle- 
 ship Oregon is reported at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 
 
 May 1.— The United States naval squadron 
 under command of Commodore Dewey steams into 
 the harbor of Manila, and at daybreak engages the 
 
 t,9 
 
Spanish fleet, consisting of the Rcinct Christina, Castilla, 
 Don Antonio de Ulloa, Is la de Luzon, Is la de Cuba, Gen- 
 eral Lezo, Marquis dc Duero, Cano, Velasco, Is la de Min- 
 danao, and a transport. The American ships Olympia, 
 Baltimore, Raleigh, Petrel, Concord and Boston open 
 heavy fire on the Spaniards, resulting in the destruc- 
 tion of all the Spanish ships and the silencing of the 
 land batteries. On the American side six men are 
 slightly wounded, no one killed. The Spanish loss 
 is very heavy — two commanders and from 600 to 
 700 men killed or wounded. 
 
 May 2. — Commodore Dewey cuts the cable con- 
 necting Manila with Hong Kong, and destroys the 
 fortifications at the entrance of Manila Bay, taking 
 possession of the Naval station at Cavite. . . . The 
 Senate votes the emergency appropriation of over 
 $35,000,000, asked for by the War Department, with- 
 out debate. . . . The House passes the war emergency 
 bill. 
 
 May 3. — The Spanish Cortes re-assembles amid 
 great excitement. ... In the Chamber of Deputies 
 the government is called on to explain the defeat at 
 Manila. . . . Carlists and Republicans insult the gov- 
 ernment. 
 
 May 4. — The flagship New York, the battleships 
 Iowa and Indiana, the monitor Puritan, the cruisers 
 Cincinnati, Detroit and Marblehead, and the torpedo- 
 gunboat Mayflower of Admiral Sampson's squadron, 
 sail from Key West after coaling for a long voyage. 
 . . . The Oregon and Marietta leave Rio de Janeiro. 
 
. . . President McKinley nominates from civil life 
 James II. Wilson, of Delaware; Fitzhllgh Lee, of 
 Virginia; William J. Sewell, of New Jersey, and 
 Joseph Wheeler, of Alabama, to be Major Generals 
 of Volunteers; of the Brigadier Generals in the regu- 
 lar army the following are nominated to be Major 
 Generals: Joseph C. Breckinridge, El well S. Otis, 
 John J. Coppinger, William R. Shafter, William M. 
 Graham, James F. Wade and Henry C. Merriam. A 
 number of Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels are nom- 
 inated to be Brigadier Generals. . . . Orders go out 
 from Washington for the concentration of Regular 
 and Volunteer troops at San Francisco and for the 
 purchase of transports to go to Manila. 
 
 May 5. — The Senate passes a bill authorizing 
 the President to supply munitions of war to the 
 Cubans. 
 
 May 6. — The French steamer Lafayette is cap- 
 tured while attempting to run the Havana blockade, 
 but is released by direction of our State Department 
 and escorted back to Havana. . . . The Senate passes 
 a bill authorizing an increase in the force of Army 
 Surgeons. 
 
 May 7. — Riots continue throughout Spain. . . . 
 Commodore Dewey is promoted to acting Rear-Ad- 
 miral and is congratulated by the authorities at Wash- 
 ington on his brilliant victory in Manila Bay. 
 
 May 9. — President MeKinley sends a message 
 to Congress in commendation of Admiral Dewey. . . . 
 Both houses adopt resolutions of thanks to Admiral 
 
 71 
 
Dewey and his officers and men for their gallantry 
 at Manila, and pass a bill authorizing the President 
 to appoint another Rear Admiral. 
 
 May 10. — A report is persistently circulated 
 that the Spanish fleet has returned from Cape Verde 
 to Cadiz. . . . The Spanish Cortes votes war credits. 
 
 May 11. — The cable at Cienfuegos, Cuba, is cut 
 by American sailors under fire : one man is killed. 
 . . . Orders are given that troops from States west 
 of the Missouri River, aggregating eleven regiments 
 of Infantry, one of Cavalry, and four Batteries, shall 
 proceed to San Francisco to be embarked for the 
 Philippines. ... In an attack by Spanish gunboats 
 and shore batteries on the American blockading ves- 
 sels Wilmington, Winsloiv (torpedo boat) and Hudson 
 at Cardenas, Cuba, the Winsloiv is disabled, Ensign 
 Worth Bagley and four sailors are killed, and Lieu- 
 tenant Bernadou and two others are wounded: En- 
 sign Bagley is the first officer killed in the war. 
 
 May 12. — Members of the First Infantry lauded 
 near Port Cabanas, Cuba, with supplies for the in- 
 surgents, have the first land skirmish of the war 
 with Spanish troops. . . . Part of Admiral Sampson's 
 squadron bombards the batteries defending San 
 Juan, Porto Rico, inflicting much damage and sus- 
 taining a loss of two men killed and six wounded. . . . 
 The war revenue bill is reported from the Finance 
 Committee. . . . The Spanish squadron from Cape 
 Verde is reported at Martinique. 
 
 72 
 
May 13. -The Flying Squadron, under Commo- 
 dore Schk-y. comprising the armored cruiser Brooklyn, 
 the battleships Massachusetts and Texas, the despatch 
 boat Scorpion and a collier, sails from Hampton Roads 
 for the South, to be followed immediately by the 
 cruisers Minneapolis and St. Paul. 
 
 May 14.— Senator Sewell, of New Jersey, de- 
 clines appointment as Major General of Volunteers. 
 . . . The Spanish fleet is reported at Curacao, off the 
 Venezuelan coast, while Admiral Sampson's squad- 
 ron is off the northern coast of Hayti. 
 
 May 15.— The entire Spanish Cabinet resigns. 
 
 May 16. — A new Military department of the 
 Pacific is created, including the Philippines; Gen- 
 eral Merritt is assigned to the command. . . . Volun- 
 teer troops from different parts of the country occupy 
 Camp Thomas, Chickamauga Park. ... A war-r 
 nue bill is introduced in the Senate by Mr. Allison 
 i Rep., Iowa). . . . The Queen Regent of Spain in- 
 trusts to Sagasta the forming of a new ministry. 
 
 May 17. -The Senate considers the war-revenue 
 bill. 
 
 May 18.— Senor Sagasta succeeds in forming 
 a new Spanish Cabinet; Castillo declines the port- 
 folio of Foreign Affairs. The oilier members of the 
 Cabinet are: President of the Council of Ministers. 
 Praxedes Sagasta; Minister of War, Lieutenant 
 General Correa; Minister of Marine, Senor Aunon; 
 Minister of the Colonic-. Romero Giron; Minister of 
 
 73 
 
Finance, Lopez Puigcerver ; Minister of the Interior, 
 F. R. Capdepon; Minister of Justice, C. Groizard 
 and Minister of Public Instruction, Senor Gamazo. 
 
 May 19. — The Spanish fleet under Admiral Cer- 
 vera is reported at Santiago de Cuba. 
 
 May 20.— The United States War Department 
 takes steps for the enlistment of six regiments of 
 yellow-fever immunes in the South. 
 
 May 21. — The United States monitor Monterey 
 is ordered to Manila to re-inforce Admiral Dewey's 
 fleet. . . . The United States cruiser Charleston leaves 
 the Mare Island Navy Yard for the Philippines. . . . 
 The United States District Court at Key West or- 
 ders the sale of four captured vessels. . . . The Sixth 
 Massachusetts Regiment receives a warm welcome 
 in Baltimore. 
 
 May 23.— The First Regiment of California 
 Volunteers is embarked at San Francisco for the 
 Philippines. . . . The first brigade of the troops to be 
 included in the Manila expedition is placed under 
 the command of Brigadier General Thomas M. An- 
 derson, U. S. V. . . . At Camp Thomas, Chickamauga 
 Park, 9,000 troops, constituting the First Division of 
 the First Army Corps, are reviewed by General Wil- 
 son. . . . The House passes bills providing for the 
 payment of volunteer troops and to fix the status of 
 regular army officers appointed to commands in the 
 volunteer army. 
 
 May 24.— The Adjutant General's office at 
 Washington announces that 1 12,000 volunteers have 
 
 74 
 
been mustered in. . . . All the troops encamped at 
 New ( )rleans arc ordered cither to Florida or to San 
 Francisco. . . . The Senate debates the corporation- 
 tax provision of the war-revenue bill. . . . The House 
 passes a number of bills pertaining to army and 
 navy routine. . . . Duke Almodovar del Rio accepts 
 the portfolio of Foreign Affairs in the new Spanish 
 Cabinet. 
 
 May 25. — President McKinley issues a procla- 
 mation calling- for 75,000 more volunteers. . . . The 
 transport steamers City of Peking, City of Sydney and 
 Australia, carrying about 2,500 men, with a year's 
 supplies and ammunition and naval stores for the 
 fleet at Manila, leave San Francisco for the Philip- 
 pines. . . . The battleship Oregon arrives at Jupiter 
 Inlet, Fla., in good condition, after a voyage of 12, 
 000 miles from San Francisco. 
 
 May 26. — Orders are issued completing the 
 formation of the troops in Florida into corps, divi- 
 sions, and brigades ; the Fifth Corps, commanded by 
 Major General Shafter, includes nearly 18,000 men; 
 the Seventh Corps, under Major General Fitzhugh 
 Lee, includes the volunteer troops at Tampa and 
 Jacksonville, nearly 9,000 men. 
 
 May 27.— President McKinley nominates twen- 
 ty-eight Brigadier Generals. . . . Major General Wes- 
 ley Merritt takes charge of the Manila expedition at 
 San Francisco. . . . Four captured Spanish steamers 
 at Key West are condemned as prizes; two are order- 
 ed to be released. . . . The Senate continues discussion 
 
 75 
 
of the war-revenue bill. . . . The House unanimously 
 passes the Senate resolution awarding a sword to 
 Admiral Dewey and medals to his men. 
 
 May 28. — President McKinley nominates Mat- 
 thew C. Butler, of South Carolina, to be a Major 
 General of volunteers; many minor army appoint- 
 ments are made. . . . The Senate, by a vote of 41 to 
 27, lays on the table the Democratic corporation tax 
 amendment to the war-revenue bill. . . . The Spanish 
 reserve fleet leaves Cadiz for a practice cruise. 
 
 May 29. — Commodore Schley definitely locates 
 the Spanish fleet under Admiral Cervera in the har- 
 bor of Santiago de Cuba. ... A night attack of the 
 torpedo-boat destroyers Pinion and Furor is success- 
 fully repulsed. 
 
 May 30. — The British collier Rcstormel, seized 
 while trying to enter the harbor of Santiago de Cuba 
 with coal for the Spanish fleet, is brought to Key 
 West. . . . Additional land for camping purposes is 
 secured at Chickamauga. . . . General Merritt's 
 force in the department of the Pacific is increased to 
 20,000 men. 
 
 May 31. — The battleships Massachusetts and Iowa 
 and the cruiser New Orleans, in Commodore Schley's 
 squadron, engage the Spanish flagship Cristobal Colon 
 and four strong land batteries guarding the harbor 
 of Santiago de Cuba; three of the batteries are 
 silenced and some damage is done to the Flagship. 
 . . . The Philippine insurgents are victorious in bat- 
 tle with the Spanish troops on the Zapote River. 
 
 76 
 
June 1.— Admiral Sampson joins Commodore 
 Schley off Santiago de Cuba, taking command of the 
 united American fleets, comprising sixteen warships. 
 
 June 2. — The House passes an urgent deficiency 
 appropriation bill carrying nearly $18,000,000 for 
 war expenses. 
 
 June 3.— Under Admiral Sampson's orders, 
 
 Lieutenant Richmond Pearson 1! □ and a volun- 
 
 teer crew of seven men run the collier Mcrrimac into 
 the mouth of the harbor at Santiago de Cuba, blow 
 up the ship and sink it across the channel, and are 
 taken prisoners by the Spaniards. . . . The Senate 
 adds to the war-revenue bill a provision for the issue 
 of bonds. 
 
 June 4. — The transports carrying the first ex- 
 pedition of American troops to the Philippines leaves 
 Honolulu. . . . The United States Secret Service offi- 
 cials make public a letter from Lieutenant Carranza, 
 formerly a Spanish naval attache in Washington, re- 
 vealing the existence of a Spanish spy sendee with 
 headquarters in Canada. . . . The Senate passes the 
 war-revenue bill, in amended form, by a vote of 4S 
 to 28. . . . The House passes a bill granting Ameri- 
 can registry to the steamship China, to be used in 
 the Manila transport service, and a bill granting 
 homestead privileges to soldiers and sailors in the 
 present war. 
 
 June 5. Tiie United States hospital ship Sol 
 arrives at New York with 54 sick and wounded sail- 
 ors from the seat of war in Cuban waU 
 
June 6. — Admiral Sampson bombards and si- 
 lences the outer fortifications of Santiago, without 
 injury to any of the vessels of his fleet. . . . The Sen- 
 ate passes the urgent deficiency appropriation bill 
 ($17,745,000). . . . The House refuses to concur in 
 the Senate amendments to the war-revenue bill, 
 which is sent to conference. 
 
 June 7.— The auxiliary cruiser St. Louis, pro- 
 tected by the Marble Jicad and the Yankee, cuts the 
 French cable off the port of Caimanera in the bay of 
 Guantanamo, Cuba, and then Americans bombard 
 the shore. 
 
 June 9. — President McKinley nominates J. War- 
 ren Keifer, of Ohio, to be Major General of vol- 
 unteers. . . . News of insurgent successes in the Phil- 
 ippines causes consternation in Madrid. . . . The 
 House, by a vote of 153 to 1 1 1 , adopts the confer- 
 ence report on the war-revenue bill. 
 
 June 10. — A landing is effected by 600 Ameri- 
 can marines from the transport Panther near the en- 
 trance to Guantanamo harbor, Cuba. . . . The Senate, 
 by a vote of 43 to 22, adopts the conference report 
 on the war-revenue bill. 
 
 June 11. — The battalion of marines, under 
 Lieutenant Colonel R. W. Huntingdon, encamped 
 on Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is attacked by Spanish 
 troops ; 2 officers and 2 privates are killed. 
 
 June 12. — The American marines at Guantan- 
 amo change the location of their camp and repel 
 
 78 
 
another Spanish attack, in which 2 of their number 
 arc killed and several others wounded. 
 
 June 13. — The American dynamite cruiser Ve- 
 suvius fires three effective shots at the Santiago for- 
 tifications. . . . President McKinley signs the war- 
 revenue bill and a Treasure circular is issued ex- 
 plaining the provisions for bonds. 
 
 June 14. — Scouting parties of marines and Cu- 
 bans pursue the Spanish troops on Guantanamo 
 Bay ; the Spanish loss is estimated at 200 killed and 
 wounded ; the Cuban allies render effective aid to 
 the American troops. 
 
 June 15. — The fort at Caimanera, on Guantan- 
 amo Bay, is bombarded by the United States war- 
 ships Texas, Marblchcad and Suwanee. . . . More than 
 15,000 soldiers on transports convoyed by eleven 
 ships of war sail from Florida waters for Santiago. 
 . . . The transport ships China, Colon, Zealandia and 
 Senator, carrying 4,200 men under command of Gen- 
 eral F. V. Greene, sail from San Francisco for Manila. 
 
 June 16. — The Spanish fleet at Cadiz, under 
 Admiral Camara, sails south. 
 
 June 17.— Sweeping victories of the Philippine 
 insurgents under Aguinaldo are reported from Ma- 
 nila. 
 
 June 18. — Admiral Camara's licet arrives at 
 Cartagena, Spain. . . . The leading merchants at Cat- 
 alonia, Spain, issue a manifesto in favor of peace. 
 
 7) 
 
June 20. — United States troop-ships reach San- 
 tiago. 
 
 June 21. — Landing of troops from the Ameri- 
 can transports begins at Baiquiri, seventeen miles 
 east of Santiago de Cuba. . . . The Spaniards on the 
 Ladrone Islands capitulate to the United States 
 cruiser Charleston. 
 
 June 22. — Direct cable communication is estab- 
 lished between Washington and Guantanamo, Cuba. 
 . . . Troops are despatched from Camp Alger for the 
 re-inforcement of General Shafter in Cuba. . . . The 
 auxiliary cruiser St. Paul is attacked, while off San 
 Juan, Porto Rico, by the Spanish torpedo-boat de- 
 stroyer Terror ; the St. Paul's fire disables the Terror, 
 killing an officer and two men and wounding others. 
 
 June 23. — The landing of the troops near San- 
 tiago is completed. . . . The United States monitor 
 Monadnock sails for Manila. 
 
 June 24. — In advancing from Baiquiri, General 
 Young's brigade of cavalry and the " Rough Riders " 
 (dismounted), under Colonel Wood and Lieutenant 
 Colonel Roosevelt, encounter a superior force of 
 Spaniards near Sevilla; a heavy fire is opened on 
 the Americans; Sergeant Hamilton Fish, Jr., of 
 the "Rough Riders" is killed and Captain A. K. 
 Capron mortally wounded; the enemy is finally 
 driven from position after the Americans have sus- 
 tained a loss of 16 killed and 41 wounded. . . . The 
 vSpanish Cortes is dissolved. 
 
 80 
 
June 25. — American troops under General Chaf- 
 fee occupy Sevilla, abandoned by the Spaniards. 
 
 June 26.— The American outposts arc within 
 four miles of the city of Santiago. 
 
 June 27. — The third Manila expedition, consist- 
 in;.; of the transport ships Indiana, Ohio, Morgan City 
 and City of Para, commanded by General Arthur 
 McArthur, sails from San Francisco. ... It is an- 
 nounced at Washington that an armored squadron 
 under Commodore Watson will sail for the coast 
 of Spain. . . . Brigadier General G. L. Gillespie is or- 
 dered to take command of the Department of the 
 East, headquarters at Governor's Island, New York 
 harbor, in place of Brigadier General R. T. Frank, 
 who is ordered to report for other duty. 
 
 June 28. — President McKinley issues a procla- 
 mation extending the blockade of Cuban ports to 
 those of the southern coast and instituting a block- 
 ade of the port of San Juan, Porto Rico. 
 
 June 29. — General Wesley Merritt sails from 
 San Francisco for the Philippines. . . . General Sny- 
 der's division of the Fourth Army Corps, numbering 
 more than 8,ooo men, sails for Santiago to re-inforce 
 General Shafter. . . . The Senate adopts a resolution 
 of thanks to Hobson and his men and to Lieutenant 
 Newcomb for his rescue of the Winslow. 
 
 June 30. — The cruiser Charleston and the three 
 troop-ships of the first Philippine expedition arrive 
 at Cavite. 
 
 M 
 
July 1. — The heights of El Caney and San Juan, 
 overlooking Santiago, are taken by the American 
 troops ; General Lawton's infantry ( Chaffee's brigade 
 leading) attack El Caney, and after nine hours of 
 fighting carry the Spanish defenses at that point, 
 with heavy losses on both sides; many Spaniards 
 are taken prisoners; the advance on San Juan is 
 made by the regular cavalry ( dismounted ), the First 
 Volunteer Cavalry (" Rough Riders "), and the Sev- 
 enty-first New York ; the heights are carried after a 
 terrible sacrifice of life; General Linares, command- 
 ing the Spanish forces, is wounded and his second 
 in command is killed. 
 
 July 2. — The Spaniards attempt to retake San 
 Juan ; after severe fighting they are finally repulsed ; 
 General Lawton's troops extend the American lines 
 north of Santiago ; several thousand Spanish re-in- 
 forcements succeed in entering the city; the total 
 American losses in the two days' fighting are : killed, 
 22 officers and 208 men ; wounded, 8 1 officers and 
 1,203 nien; missing, 79 men. 
 
 July 3. — The Spanish fleet under Admiral Cer- 
 vera attempts to run out of Santiago harbor, but is 
 pursued by the Brooklyn, the Oregon, the Iowa, and 
 the Texas, of the American squadron, and the con- 
 verted yacht Gloucester ; of the Spanish ships, the In- 
 fanta Maria Teresa, the Almirante Oquendo, and the 
 Vizcaya are forced ashore in a sinking condition 
 and surrendered ; the Cristobal Colon makes a des- 
 perate effort to escape, but is finally run ashore under 
 
 82 
 
the fire of the American ships forty miles from the 
 harbor; the two torpedo-boat destroyers Furor and 
 Pluton are wrecked within four miles of the harbor; 
 
 Admiral Cervera, Captain Eulate, of the / 'izcaya, and 
 more than 700 officers and men are taken prisoners ; 
 terrible loss of life is reported on the Spanish ships; 
 the American loss is 1 killed and 2 wounded. . . . 
 General Shafter gives notice to General Toral, com- 
 manding- the Spanish forces in Santiago, that he will 
 shell the city and that women and children should 
 leave at once. 
 
 July 4. — President McKinley conveys to Ad- 
 miral Sampson the congratulations and thanks of 
 the American people for the victory over the Span- 
 ish fleet off Santiago de Cuba. 
 
 July 5. — Santiago still refuses to surrender ; the 
 truce is extended. 
 
 July 6. — The Spanish authorities at Santiago 
 exchange Lieutenant Hobson and his seven men for 
 prisoners taken by our troops. . . . The Spanish squad- 
 ron under Admiral Camara is reported at Suez. 
 
 July 7.— General Miles leaves Washington for 
 Santiago. . . . Thousands of refugees leave the city 
 of Santiago. . . . An extension of the armistice at 
 Santiago is granted in order that non-combatants 
 may have time to leave the city and to permit the 
 Spanish commander to communicate with Madrid re- 
 garding surrender. . . . The Senate passes a bill giv- 
 ing to Adjutant General Corbin the rank of Major 
 General. 
 
 83 
 
July 8. — The American lines in front of San- 
 tiago are greatly strengthened, and siege-guns and 
 mortar-batteries in position for bombardment. . . . 
 Admiral Camara's squadron re-enters the Suez Canal 
 for its return voyage to Spain. . . . The Concord and 
 Raleigh, of Admiral Dewey's fleet, take possession of 
 Isla Grande in Subig Bay, near Manila ; the Irene, a 
 German ship which had interfered to protect the 
 Spaniards against the insurgents, withdraws on the 
 arrival of the American ships. . . . President McKin- 
 ley nominates the following Brigadier Generals of 
 Volunteers to be Major Generals : Hamilton S.Haw- 
 kins, Henry W. Lawton, Adna R. Chaffee, and John 
 C. Bates; Colonel Leonard Wood, First Volunteer 
 Cavalry, and Lieutenant Colonel Chambers McKib- 
 bin, Twenty-first Infantry, are nominated to be Brig- 
 adier Generals, and Lieutenant Colonel Theodore 
 Roosevelt, First Volunteer Cavalry, to be Colonel. 
 
 July 9. — General Toral, in command of the 
 Spanish forces in Santiago, offers to surrender the 
 city if his troops are allowed to withdraw with their 
 arms ; this proposition is declined by General Shaf ter. 
 
 July 10. — Re-inforcements for General Shaf ter 
 arrive at Siboney. . . . Admiral Cervera and the 
 other officers and men of the Spanish fleet destroyed 
 at Santiago arrive at Portsmouth, N. H., as prisoners 
 of war of the United States. 
 
 July 11. — General Miles arrives in Cuba and 
 confers with General Shafter and Admiral Samp- 
 son. . . . General Shafter renews his demand for the 
 
 84 
 
unconditional surrender of Santiago; renewal of 
 
 bombardment is again postponed. 
 
 July 14. — General Toral consents to the sur- 
 render of Santiago and the Spanish troops there, 
 condition that they be sent back to Spain. 
 
 July 15. -The Spanish Government issues a 
 deciee suspending the rights of individual citizens. . . . 
 The fourth Manila expedition, consisting of the 
 steamships Peru and City of Pueblo, with 1,700 troops, 
 sails from San Francisco, General Otis in command. 
 
 July 16. — Admiral Cervera and the captured of- 
 ficers of his fleet are quartered at Annapolis, Md. 
 as prisoners of war. . . . The transport China, of the 
 second Manila expedition, with re-inforcements for 
 Admiral Dewey, arrives at Cavite. 
 
 July 17. — The city of Santiago de Cuba is for- 
 mally surrendered to General Shafter, and the 
 American flag is hoisted over the palace ; the Span- 
 ish troops march out and give up their arms ; all 
 the country east of a line drawn through Acerrade- 
 r< >s, Palma and Sagua, with the troops and muni- 
 tions of war in that district, are surrendered also, 
 the United States agreeing to transport the troops 
 back to Spain. . . . The remaining transports of the 
 
 ind Manila expedition arrive at Cavite with 
 United States troops. 
 
 July 18. -President McKinley issues a procla- 
 mation regarding the government of Santi 
 
 July 20. -The United States awards the eon. 
 
tract for transporting Spanish prisoners to Spain to 
 the Spanish Transatlantic Company. . . . General Wil- 
 son starts from Charleston for Porto Rico with 4,000 
 troops. 
 
 July 21. — The main body of the military expe- 
 dition to Porto Rico, commanded by General Miles, 
 sails from Guantanamo Bay convoyed by the Massa- 
 cliusetts, Dixie, Gloucester, Cincinnati, Annapolis, Ley den, 
 Wasp, Yale, and Columbia ; the troops number about 
 3,400 men. . . . The port of Nipe, on the northern 
 coast of Santiago province, is bombarded by Admiral 
 Sampson's ships and the Spanish cruiser Jorge Juan 
 is destroyed. 
 
 July 22. — Aguinaldo, the Philippine insurgent 
 leader, declares himself dictator of the islands. 
 
 July 23. — Five transport ships carrying Gen- 
 eral Schwan's brigade of troops for Porto Rico sail 
 from Port Tampa. . . . Five troops of cavalry at Camp 
 Alger, Virginia, are ordered to Newport News to 
 embark for Porto Rico. . . . The transport ship City 
 oj Rio de Janeiro sails from San Francisco for the Phil- 
 ippines with 900 men commanded by Brigadier Gen- 
 eral H. G. Otis. 
 
 July 24. — It is announced that all the Spanish 
 soldiers within the surrendered portion of Santiago 
 have laid down their arms. 
 
 July 25.— The Military expedition under General 
 Miles, consisting of four light batteries of the Third 
 and Fourth Artillery, Battery B of the Fifth Artil- 
 
 86 
 
Lery, the sixth Illinois Infantry, the Sixth Massachu- 
 setts. 275 recruits for the Fifth Corps, 60 men of the 
 Signal Corps, and the Seventh Hospital Corps, ef- 
 fects a landing at Guanica, a port on the southern 
 coast of Porto Rico, fifteen miles west of Ponce, after 
 a skirmish between the Gloucester s launch crew and 
 a small force of Spanish troops. . . . The Newport^ 
 with General Merritt on board, arrives at Cavite. 
 
 July 26.— Through M. Jules Cambon, Ambas- 
 sador of France to the United States, Spain opens 
 negotiations for peace. . . . Admiral Sampson's re- 
 port of the naval battle of July 3rd off Santiago de 
 Cuba is made public. 
 
 July 27.— The American troops in Porto Rico 
 advance on Yauco. 
 
 July 28. — Re-inforcements for General Miles 
 m Newport News for Porto Rico under com- 
 mand of General Brooke. . . . Commander Davis, U. 
 S. N., demands and receives the surrender of the 
 port and city of Ponce, Porto Rico, the Spanish 
 troops making no resistance ; American forces oc- 
 cupy the place under General Miles and the Stars 
 and Stripes are raised amid great enthusiasm, the in- 
 habitants professing loyalty to the United States ; 
 General Miles issues a proclamation. 
 
 July 29. — The American troops advance from 
 Cavite toward Malate, on the road to Manila. 
 
 July 30. A statement embodying the views 
 of President McKinley as to the basis of peace ac- 
 ceptable to the United States is transmitted t<> Spain. 
 
 B7 
 
July 31. — The Spanish troops attack the Ameri- 
 cans intrenched near Malate, between Cavite and 
 Manila ; the American loss is 9 killed, 9 seriously 
 wounded and 38 slightly wounded ; the Spanish loss 
 is very heavy. . . . McArthur's re-inforcements reach 
 Cavite. 
 
 August 1. — The American troops in Porto Rico 
 advance toward San Juan, General Miles having 
 been joined by Generals Brooke and Schwan. . . . 
 General Shafter reports 4,239 cases of sickness in 
 his army and 1 5 deaths, of which 5 are from yellow 
 fever. 
 
 August 2. — Spain virtually accepts the terms 
 of peace offered by the United States. 
 
 August 3. — All the cavalry under General Shaf- 
 ter at Santiago is ordered to proceed to Montauk 
 Point, Long Island. . . . Eight regiments leave Camp 
 Alger, Virginia, for the new camp grounds near 
 Manassas. 
 
 August 4. — Five volunteer regiments of im- 
 munes are ordered to Santiago for garrison duty. . . . 
 A letter from Colonel Theodore Roosevelt to Gen- 
 eral Shafter protesting against the further detention 
 of our troops at Santiago in view of perils to health, 
 and a petition of commanders to have the troops re- 
 moved to a northern camp, are made public. 
 
 August 5. — Parties of the United States ma- 
 rines make landings near San Juan, Porto Rico, and 
 take possession of Light-house station. . . . The town 
 
 83 
 
of Guayama, Porto Rico, is captured by the Fourth 
 Ohio and Third Illinois Volunteers after a Slight 
 skirmish. The 16,000 inhabitants of the place sur- 
 render to General Ilains. 
 
 August 6. — Transports sail from Santiago with 
 American troops of General Shatter's command or- 
 dered north. 
 
 August 7. — The divisions of the American army 
 in Porto Rico commanded by Generals Brooke, Wil- 
 son, Schwan and Henry, respectively make simulta- 
 neous advance movements. . . . Admiral Dewey and 
 General Merritt demand the surrender of Manila, 
 which is refused. 
 
 August 8.— In a skirmish a few miles beyond 
 Guayama, Porto Rico, five men of the Fourth Ohio 
 Volunteers are wounded. 
 
 August 9. — Spain's reply to the peace proposi- 
 tion of the United States is presented to President 
 McKinley by the French Ambassador, M. Cambon. 
 . . . American troops take the town of Coamo, Porto 
 Rico, from the Spaniards, killing 3 Spanish officers 
 and 9 privates and making the whole garrison pris- 
 oners. 
 
 August 10. — Secretary Day and Ambassador 
 Cambon agree on the terms of a protocol to be trans- 
 mitted to Spain for approval. . . . General Schwan 
 drives back a strong force of Spaniards north of 
 Mayaguez, Porto Rico, with the loss of 2 privates 
 killed and 1 5 wounded. 
 
August 11.— The town of Mayagnez, Porto Rico^ 
 is occupied by the American troops under General 
 Schwan. 
 
 August 12. — A protocol suspending hostilities 
 between the United States and Spain is signed at 
 Washington ; orders are sent to all American com- 
 manders directing cessation of fighting; the block- 
 ades of Havana, Porto Rico and Manila are raised; 
 President McKinley proclaims a general armistice. 
 . . . Manzanillo, on the south coast of Cuba, is bom- 
 barded by the Newark, Suwanee, Hist, Osceola and Al- 
 varado, of the American blockading fleet, before news 
 of the armistice is received. ... In an artillery fight 
 near Aibonito, Porto Rico, i American officer is 
 killed and 4 privates wounded. 
 
 August 13. — The fleet under Admiral Dewey 
 and the troops under General Merritt make a simul- 
 taneous attack on the city of Manila ; the brigades 
 commanded by Generals McArthur and Greene 
 carry the Spanish works, with a loss in killed, wound- 
 ed and missing of about 50 men; the navy sustains 
 no loss whatever; the Spanish authorities surrender 
 the city after six hours of fighting; about 7,000 
 prisoners are taken; a military government is pro- 
 claimed by General Merritt. 
 
 August 14. — Troops arrive at Montauk Point, 
 Long Island, from Santiago. 
 
 August 17. — President McKinley names as com- 
 missioners to adjust the Spanish evacuation of Cuba 
 
 90 
 
and Porto Rico in accordance with the terms of the 
 protocol — for Cuba, Major General James V. Wade, 
 Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, Major General 
 Matthew C. Butler; for Porto Rico, Major General 
 John R. Brooke, Rear Admiral Winfield S. Schley t 
 Brigadier General William W. Gordon. 
 
 August 19. — Spain announces as her commis- 
 sioners on the evacuation of Cuba, General Gonzales 
 Parrado, Captain Pastor Landera and Marquis Mon- 
 toro. 
 
 August 20. — The New York, Brooklyn, Massa- 
 chusetts, Indiana, Texas, Oregon and Iozva join in a 
 grand naval parade at New York City. 
 
 91 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 II llll II 
 
 013 788 245