ron.

spired in Spain by the active preparations for the departure of Commodore Watson's squadAdmiral Camara, on the receipt of these orders, immediately headed his fleet for Spain, returning through the canal, and arriving at Port Saïd on Sunday, July 10, just one week after the destruction of Admiral Cervera's squadron at Santiago de Cuba.

This profitless venture on the part of Spain cost her one hundred and sixteen thousand dollars in canal dues alone. The ships reached Spain in a crippled condition. It was now realized by all parties in Spain that there was little or no chance for any further resistance to the Americans at sea. To the Spaniards, already disheartened by the return of Camara's squadron and the destruction of Cervera's, came the still more dispiriting news of the surrender of the army of General Toral at Santiago.

People and press began openly to advocate that Spain should sue for peace. The Pope brought great influence to bear to obtain a truce between the United States and Spain. It was broadly hinted that Spain was ready to hear on what terms the United States would agree to end the war.

The United States was not, however, at all anxious to end the war just yet. There was every indication that the popular loan provided for by Congress would be subscribed three

times over.

With enormous funds at hand for war purposes, with an uncrippled fleet, with large forces of eager volunteers, the United States hastened to the occupation of Porto Rico and the establishment of a firmer footing in the Philippines, with a view to having her position all the stronger when the approaching peace, delineated in the war horizon in unmistakable signs, should become a fact.

CHAPTER XLVI

CAMPAIGN IN PORTO RICO

EARLY in the war the blockade of Cuban ports had been extended to include the principal port of the Spanish island of Porto Rico, San Juan. Admiral Sampson, with the cruiser "New York," the battle-ships "Indiana" and "Iowa," the monitors" Terror" and " Amphitrite," the cruisers "Montgomery" and" Detroit," and the torpedo boat "Porter," had bombarded the fortifications of the harbor for three hours on the morning of May 12.

Houses in

During this bombardment the fortress of San Cristobal was somewhat damaged and several churches and private houses Porto Rico were struck by the American shells. Eight Spanish soldiers were killed and thirtyfour wounded. On the American side, one seaman on the "New York was killed and four wounded by a Spanish shell. Three of the crew of the "Iowa" were wounded, and a gunner's mate on the " Amphitrite" fell dead from heart failure beside his gun.

Though many of the residents of San Juan fled from the city in terror, fearing another bombardment, beyond maintaining a desultory blockade of the harbor, no steps to capture the city or the island were taken by the United States until after the fall of Santiago. When the campaign against Porto Rico did begin, it was carried on with energy. Even before General Toral had surrendered, Major-General Nelson A. Miles, the general commanding the United States Army, had started for Porto Rico. Within a few days thereafter nearly fifteen thousand troops had embarked or were ready to embark for Porto Rico from Tampa, Charleston, and Newport News. General Miles also took with him about 3,500 men from Santiago.

The War Department had planned that General Miles should make his first landing at Fajardo, on the north coast of the island. This fact had been published in the United States; and General Miles, considering this an imprudent policy, without informing the War Department of his intentions, made his first landing at Guanica, on the south coast, on July 26.

The "Gloucester" first entered the harbor and

fired a few shots; but the resistance, as in most Americans of the other Porto Rican towns, was welcomed only nominal, and the American flag was soon raised over the city, amid the cheers of the populace. General Miles the next day issued a proclamation to the people of Porto Rico with the view of encouraging the good feeling already manifested.

Ponce, the second largest city on the island, surrendered a day or two after Guanica, the Spanish garrison having retreated to the mountains. Here, as at Guanica, the arrival of the American forces was greeted with glad cheers of "Vive Americanos ! The capture of Yauco,1

1 Typical of the feeling manifested by the Porto Ricans toward the Americans was this proclamation of the Mayor of

Yauco:

"Citizens: To-day the citizens of Porto Rico assist in one of her most beautiful feasts. The sun of America shines upon our mountains and valleys this day of July, 1898. It is a day

of glorious remembrance for each son of this beloved isle, because for the first time there waves over it the flag of the stars planted in the name of the government of the United States by the Major-General of the American army, Señor Miles. Porto Ricans, we are, by the virtue of the miraculous intervention of the God of the Just, given back to the bosom of our mother America, in whose waters nature placed us as people of America. To her we are given back in the name of her government by General Miles, and we must send our most expressive salutation of generous affection through our conduct toward the valiant