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 309 ^ U B A the Government of Spain at once relinquish its authority and south coast, and, in conjunction with the insurgents, government in the island of Cuba and withdraw its land and naval gradually push the Spaniards to the westward, but the forces from Cuba and Cuban waters. arrival of a Spanish squadron under Admiral After the “Third. That the President be, and hereby is, directed and em- Cervera at Santiago de Cuba, and the blockade dedarapowered to use the entire land and naval forces of the United of that port by Admiral Sampson, made imperaStates, and to call into the actual service of the United States the war militia of the several States, to such an extent as may be necessary tive the landing of an army to attack the city, and so render the harbour untenable for the Spanish to carry these resolutions into effect. _ ... < < Fourth. That the United States hereby disclaims any disposition ships. On June 14 the Fifth Army Corps, consisting of to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over the said island, 815 officers and 16,072 men, sailed from Tampa. Shortly except for the pacification thereof, and asserts its determination when that is completed to leave the government and control of the before this the transport Florida had landed a contingent island to its people. ” of 500 Cubans on the north coast of the island. On June 20 the fleet of transports conveying the American troops £ This resolution was signed by President M Kinley on arrived off Daiquiri, some 15 miles to the east of the city April 20, and a copy served upon the Spanish Minister, of Santiago, and by the evening of the 24th the entire Senor Polo y Bernabe, who immediately asked for his pass- force had been landed. On the following day, under an ports and left Washington. On April 24 the Spanish arrangement effected by Major-General Shafter, some 5000 Government formally recognized the existence of war Cubans, commanded by Calixto Garcia, were also brought between Spain and the United States, and on April 25 to the scene of operations. No attempt was made by the the United States Congress passed the following Bill with- Spaniards to resist the landing, although the country lent out a division:— itself admirably to defensive purposes. The garrisons at “Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of Daiquiri and Siboney retired in the direction of Santiago, the United States in Congress assembled, First—Tlv&t war be,, and where General Linares was in command of some 7000 the same is hereby declared to exist, and that war has existed men. At Guantanamo, a few miles to the eastward of since the 21st day of April a.d. 1898, including the said day, between Daiquiri, a force of some 1400 American marines had the United States of America and the kingdom of Spain. Second been landed a couple of weeks earlier, and held possession —That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is,, directed and empowered to use the entire land and naval forces of of the villages at the entrances to the harbour. the United States, and to call into the actual service of the United Until June 30, Major-General Shafter was engaged in States the militia of the several States, to such extent as may be moving his troops towards Santiago, and preparing for a necessary to carry this act into effect.” general attack on the outer lines of defence at San Juan On April 21 the President of the United States pro- and El Caney. The Cubans were usefully employed as claimed the blockade of the Cuban coast from Cienfuegos scouts and skirmishers. On July 1 the division comon the south of the island, thence westwards to Cape San manded by General Lawton attacked El Caney. The Antonio and thence to the east, passing Havana, to Spaniards made an obstinate resistance, but their positions Cardenas on the northern seaboard. From the date of the were captured. General Vara del Bey, commanding the destruction of the Maine, the bulk of the United States Spanish forces, and most of his officers were killed. At navy had been quietly concentrating at Key West, off the the same time the divisions under Generals Wheeler and coast of Florida, and within eight hours of the pro- Kent drove the Spaniards from the hill of San Juan, which clamation of the blockade the fleet was patrolling Cuban formed part of the outer line of defence of Santiago. waters. The dominion of Spain in Cuba virtually ceased During the night the Spanish General Escario reached Santiago with reinforcements of 3600 men, having made from this time. Meanwhile General Blanco decided to make a bold bid forced marches from Manzanilla. The fighting was confor peace with the insurgents, and for their co-operation tinued on the following day, the American lines being with the Spanish troops in defending the island against drawn closer towards Santiago. On the morning of July American aggression. On April 10, 1898, he ordered a 3 (an unsuccessful, but plucky, attempt having been cessation of hostilities against the rebels, and sent a depu- previously made by Lieutenant Hobson to block the tation to their leaders to ascertain what terms they de- channel by sinking the Merrimac across it) the Spanish manded as the price of laying down their arms. The squadron under Admiral Cervera left the harbour and insurgents accepted the armistice offered pending any de- attempted to force the blockade. In half an hour this cided action on the part of the United States, but made important section of Spain’s navy was destroyed, with no compact with the Spanish authorities not to resume a loss of 600 killed and 2000 captured, and the fate hostilities on the declaration of war, and meanwhile re- of Santiago was sealed. At noon General Shafter demained in their camps awaiting the development of events. manded the unconditional surrender of the city. General General Blanco withdrew the majority of the garrisons in Linares had been wounded on July 2, and had temporarily the interior of the island in order to strengthen the coast handed over the command to General Toral, who conducted defence against any attack by the Americans, and the the negotiations with General Shafter. After a delay of country districts were left at the mercy of the insurgents. fourteen days and a partial bombardment of the city on When the declaration of war was made public on April 23, July 12, the Spaniards agreed to the terms proposed, the insurgents immediately resumed their aggressive tactics namely, the surrender of the city and province of Santiago and harassed the Spanish troops when opportunity offered. de Cuba and the entire garrison of the province, this conConsiderable supplies of arms, ammunition, and provisions sisting of nearly 23,000 officers and men. The losses of were despatched by the United States Government to the United States troops in the fighting on July 1, 2, and 3 enable the insurgents to carry on operations until the time were officially returned as 22 officers and 208 men killed, arrived for the landing of American troops. With a few and 81 officers and 1203 men wounded, while 79 men exceptions, there was at this time no industrial life in the were reported missing. The Spanish loss was stated to be, island; it had been reduced to a desert, and on all sides approximately, 1500 officers and men killed and wounded. General Shafter took formal possession of. Santiago on were signs of suffering and distress. The United States army for the invasion of Cuba was July 17. By some oversight, no official invitation to be concentrated at Tampa, in Florida, in May 1898. It had present at the ceremony of surrender was extended to been intended to land a force of 5000 men, under the Calixto Garcia as representative of the Cubans. This act, command of Major-General Shafter, near Tunas, on the and the order of General Shafter prohibiting the Cubans RECENT HISTORY.]