diers were actually sent over to Cuba; the rest were kept in readiness for service, in camps near the seacoast of the Southern States. (b) The duty of the navy was to blockade the coast of the island, so that the Spanish soldiers might neither escape nor be reinforced from Spain. The blockading squadron was commanded by Admiral Sampson. (c) It was also necessary that the shores of the United States should be protected. Attacks were expected from the principal Spanish fleet, which in the beginning of the war was at the Cape Verd Islands, and in charge of Admiral Cervera. The duty of watching Cervera's movements was given to a "flying squadron" under Admiral Schley. This consisted of swift cruisers that might at any time hurry to the place where they were most needed. (d) Lastly, the army and navy were to coöperate in the capture of Santiago, on the southeast coast of Cuba. This place controlled the entire eastern end of the island. These various movements culminated within a very short time. Ft. San Anton Bay of Ft.St El Caney San Juan SCALE OF MILES 403. The Spanish are driven into Santiago. The landlocked harbor of Santiago is shaped much like a jug. It is entered from the sea through a narrow mouth, which was protected by a strong Spanish fortress and many submarine mines. On the land side were numerous defensive batteries. These stood usually on the tops of hills that were girt about by tangles of barbed wire and Santa MAC MERRIMA Morro Castie El Pozo Guastmas Laguna Aguadores CARIBBEAN Siboucy SEA Daiquiri THE SANTIAGO CAMPAIGN thick jungles of trees, shrubs, and vines, through which the Americans found it difficult to advance. But notwithstanding these obstructions and the overpowering heat, our volunteers made several brilliant as saults on the fortified hills, and on July I drove the Spanish back into Santiago with heavy loss. The charge on San Juan Hill became famous, because of an especially fine record made there by a regiment of volunteer cavalrymen, called "Rough Riders." These men valiantly aided the regulars, and were led by Lieutenant-Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, afterwards President of the United States.1 404. Admiral Cervera's fleet is destroyed; the war ends. Cervera's fleet consisted of six ships, which were much more powerful than those destroyed by Dewey. Just before the battle of Manila the Spanish admiral left the Cape Verd Islands and steamed out to sea. Where was he going? Americans could not possibly tell. In those days there was no wireless telegraphy to carry news as to the whereabouts of vessels in mid-ocean. Dwellers along our far-stretching seacoast feared that any hour he might enter the harbors of New York, Boston, or even San Francisco, and bombard those cities with powerful long-range guns. Our coast defenses were then few and weak, and such an enemy might easily do enormous damage to property and even life. Hundreds of frightened citizens left their homes and sought safety in the interior of the country. Or did Cervera intend to meet and destroy our fine battleship, the Oregon, that was coming around Cape Horn from the Pacific Ocean, to join Sampson's blockading squadron off the coast of Cuba? Cervera did none of these expected things. He crept across the Atlantic, evaded our flying squadron and blockaders, and took refuge in Santiago Harbor. The Americans 1 The Rough Riders (1000 men) were organized by Theodore Roosevelt, but their colonel was Leonard Wood, who in later years became the head of the regular army. The members of this command were young men who, like Roosevelt himself, had had much experience in horseback riding on the Western Plains and in the Rocky Mountains. Some were cowboys and ranchmen, others were sons of wealthy Eastern parents, and many were graduates from colleges and universities. The Rough Riders were more talked about than any other body of men in the American army of 1898. Only 560 of them crossed over to Cuba, however, and less than 500 were in the battle of San Juan Hill. then learned that he had good reason for this caution. His ships were short of coal and provisions and were not as well equipped with guns and ammunition as we had supposed. Nevertheless, Cervera must not be allowed to emerge from his hiding place, for he still might do great damage to our coast towns. Sampson and Schley therefore united in a blockade of the harbor. They also sought to "put a cork in the jug," by sinking an American vessel across the mouth.1 But this obstruction was not placed in the right spot, so that room was still left for Cervera to pass out to sea if he felt strong enough to do so. This he did on July 3, two days after the fall of Santiago's outlying land defenses. Rather than be caught in a trap, he was willing to take the great risk of an attempt to escape. But the smoke of his vessels was easily seen as they steamed toward the mouth of the harbor. The blockaders promptly formed in line of battle, and a fierce sea-fight followed. In a few hours our ships and sailors won the day. Every one of the enemy's craft was either burned or sunk, and Cervera was taken prisoner. This virtually ended the war in Cuba. Within a fortnight Santiago surrendered, and very soon the island was freed from Spanish control. In Porto Rico there was still some fighting to be done during the next few weeks. Our troops were carrying everything before them, when, on August 12, news came that the two Governments had on that day agreed to stop their conflict and to make a treaty of peace. 405. The cost of the war. The Spanish-American War had lasted but a little over three months. The direct expenditures for our army and navy had reached the enormous sum of $165,000,000. At the same time the expenses of every other department of the Government were also greatly increased because of the war, so that the total cost to us was probably over half a billion dollars. Our death 1 This daring and dangerous exploit was conducted by Lieutenant Hobson. He and his men were captured by the Spanish. losses in battle were less than 400; but nearly 3000 American soldiers died from camp diseases and other causes. We had not been prepared for the contest. There was at first some blundering, for few of our officers had had much practice in managing large bodies of troops and in collecting supplies for them. But the war once more showed that even when they lack experience, American soldiers and sailors are good fighters. They displayed great dash and bravery, and they won every battle, both on land and sea. For the first time since the Civil War, Northern and Southern men 1 had fought and camped side by side, under the flag of the Union. In this experience they came to know each other intimately, and formed friendships that have helped greatly in reuniting the two sections. This was one fruit of the Spanish War that will bring us lasting benefit.2 406. The treaty of peace and the territory it brought to us. The treaty of peace with Spain was signed by representatives of the two nations on December 10, 1898. It was, however, not ratified by the United States Senate until February 6, 1899. From this agreement came several important results: (a) Spain surrendered Cuba to the Cubans. The United States generously spent large sums of money and much time and care in restoring order in the island, cleaning up its cities, and instructing the Cubans how to govern and care for themselves. Our troops were then withdrawn, and the islanders formed a republic of their own (1902). But in doing so they promised that if the young nation should get into 1 The leading Southern officers serving in this war were Generals Fitzhugh Lee, a nephew of General Robert E. Lee, and Joseph Wheeler. 2 Another worthy result was to bring into prominence the American Red Cross Society, which is a branch of the international organization of that name. In this our women take a large part. They did the same splendid work in caring for sick and wounded soldiers in 1898 that the Sanitary Commission had done in our Civil War. The Red Cross is just as effective in peace as it is in war. It fights such widespread diseases as consumption. It helps the needy in times of great fires, floods, or other national disasters. During calamities in other lands, like the Italian earthquake in 1909 and the famine in China in 1911, the Red Cross collects money and supplies in America and sends them to the afflicted country. trouble with any foreign country, or the liberty, property, or lives of the people should need protection, the United States should have the right again to take charge of its affairs. Four years later (1906) there was an insurrection against the President of Cuba, and he resigned. Our Government was asked to and did restore order. Under the wise management of William H. Taft, the provisional governor appointed by the United States, several needful reforms were begun, and a new set of native officers were elected. After this we again withdrew, hoping that the Cubans would be more successful in their second attempt to govern themselves. (b) The Philippines were sold to the United States for $20,000,000.1 At first, the Filipinos would not consent to become subjects of the United States; they wished to carry out their plan of forming a republic, and governing themselves. For three years they carried on an insurrection against us, under the leadership of Aguinaldo, and our army had many fights with them. Finally, order was restored, and most of the civilized inhabitants of the islands now seem to be contented with our rule. We have established among them schools and libraries, have done much to develop their industries, and are trying to civilize some of the wild tribes. The principal officers of the Philippine Government are appointed by the President of the United States, but the natives have their own legislature. When the islanders have acquired the difficult art of self-government, no doubt the United States will grant them complete independence. Meanwhile they are to remain under our protection and guidance. (c) Porto Rico became the property of the United States. 2 1 This enormous archipelago comprises about three thousand islands, of which many are merely barren rocks. The largest is Mindanao, very nearly the size of Pennsylvania. Luzon, whose capital is Manila, the largest Filipino town, is about as big as Ohio. The soil of the archipelago is generally fertile, and the population is not far from 7,500,000, of whom about a million are still in the savage state. When the Americans took charge, there were on the islands about 25,000 Europeans and 40,000 Chinese, in whose hands are a large share of the industries of the archipelago. 2 The island is nearly three times the size of Rhode Island, and has a population of a little over 1,000,000, a third of whom are colored. They were soon |