Part 33 (2/2)
The men on our vessels were mustering for Sunday morning inspection when the enemy was seen. ”The enemy is coming out!” was signalled from s.h.i.+p to s.h.i.+p, and on each deck rang out the command, ”All hands clear s.h.i.+p for action!”
Every man was ready to do his duty. Every s.h.i.+p was stripped for action.
Instantly our s.h.i.+ps were after the Spanish squadron, firing as they followed. What a sight was that! There was never before one like it! Two lines of hostile s.h.i.+ps rus.h.i.+ng along the coast, tearing the ocean to foam, each a volcano pouring out smoke, and more than a hundred big guns hurling sh.e.l.ls and shot which strike with awful crash upon the iron walls of the enemy's s.h.i.+ps!
[Ill.u.s.tration: ADMIRAL SAMPSON.]
On they dashed, mile after mile. One of our huge sh.e.l.ls fell midway of the Pluton, which at once went down with an awful plunge. The Furor, riddled with shot, fled to the sh.o.r.e and broke in pieces on the rocks.
Furious was the chase for the other four; nearer and nearer, till our s.h.i.+ps came up. Then the Maria Teresa, the flags.h.i.+p, with huge holes torn in her, and set on fire by our exploding sh.e.l.ls, escaped to the beach, a sinking, burning wreck. Next the Oquendo, half her men killed, and her sides all split open, also fell helpless on the beach. In forty minutes these four s.h.i.+ps had gone to their doom.
[Ill.u.s.tration: ADMIRAL SCHLEY.]
Still beyond was the famous Vizcaya, doing her best to escape. But the Brooklyn, Commodore Schley's flags.h.i.+p, gained on her and poured sh.e.l.ls into her, so that with the Oregon now rus.h.i.+ng up in a burst of speed which astonished all who saw her, her race was soon run, and she, too, went to her grave on the strand, a shattered, blazing hulk.
Yet one more, the Colon, newest, fastest, and best of the squadron, was now about four miles ahead; but our s.h.i.+ps gained steadily upon her, and in less than two hours she hauled down her flag and ran ash.o.r.e forty-five miles from Santiago.
=360. After the Battle at Santiago.=--The sun that shone in the morning upon six of Spain's finest s.h.i.+ps looked down at noon upon a row of half-sunken wrecks along the coast.
At the risk of their lives our men rescued their foes from the mangled hulks, the burning decks, and the surging water.
”Don't cheer, boys,” cried one gallant captain, ”the poor fellows are dying.”
Another captain said in his report, ”So long as the enemy showed his flag, our men fought like American seamen; but when the flag came down, they were as gentle and tender as American women.”
The Spanish loss, according to their own accounts, was three hundred and fifty killed or drowned, and about one hundred officers and one thousand six hundred and seventy-five men prisoners, including the brave Admiral Cervera. Their loss in value was over twelve million dollars. Upon our side only one man was killed, and three were wounded, all on the Brooklyn. Not one of our s.h.i.+ps was badly injured. Evidently the Spanish gunners could not shoot straight!
So ended this famous naval engagement. Never, perhaps, has the world seen two such instances of the utter destruction of an enemy's naval force as in the battles of Manila and Santiago.
=361. The Campaign in Porto Rico.=--The surrender of all Cuba soon followed. Then General Miles was sent with nine thousand troops to Porto Rico, the only remaining island on this side belonging to Spain. He landed near Ponce, on the southern coast. The city surrendered without a shot and welcomed our army. The Spanish troops fled on the approach of our soldiers.
General Miles in a proclamation a.s.sured the inhabitants that they should enjoy the rights and immunities of American citizens. As he moved inwards, other cities along his line of march surrendered, and the Spanish forces made only occasional resistance to our progress. Just before an expected battle news of peace came from Was.h.i.+ngton. All fighting ceased, and this fertile island came into our hands with little bloodshed.
=362. End of the War.=--Meanwhile our government was making energetic preparations to send a powerful fleet under Commodore Watson across the Atlantic and to carry the war to the Spanish coast. We may be sure that Spain, and even some of her neighbors, did not like the prospect. There had been enough of rapid, crus.h.i.+ng, and unbroken defeats to satisfy even the Castilian point of honor.
When it became evident that Watson's fleet would be ready in a few days to carry the war to the very doors of Spain, the representatives of the great nations of Europe said things had gone far enough. Diplomatic pressure was applied to poor Spain. She was politely but firmly told that she must make peace at once, and on any terms.
The French Minister at Was.h.i.+ngton was authorized by Spain to sign a preliminary doc.u.ment, or _protocol_, embodying in precise language the conditions on which our government would negotiate peace. This doc.u.ment was signed at Was.h.i.+ngton on August 12, and hostilities ceased.
The formal treaty of peace was signed in Paris December 10, 1898. By the terms of this treaty Spain agreed to give up its sovereignty in Cuba, to cede to the United States Porto Rico, a few small West India islands, and one of the Ladrone group; also to cede to this country the Philippines, after payment by us of twenty millions of dollars as ”reimburs.e.m.e.nt for insular expenses.”
=363. Our Nation's Future.=--The immediate results of this short-lived Spanish war were full of deep meaning to our nation. No one now can safely say what the distant outcome will be. It is certain to be far-reaching and momentous.
Our country has rapidly advanced to its position as one of the foremost nations of the world in wealth and in power. Let us trust it may also lead in good government, in national honor and righteousness. Let us earnestly hope that in the long years before us our sacred Union shall still be preserved, unbroken,--forever one great Union of prosperous and happy states.
APPENDIX.
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