Side Lights on American History (Volume 2) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1900. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... whole movement was stopped by the unwelcome news of the peace protocol. Still another expedition, on a smaller scale, under General Stone, operating in the western part of the island, was brought to a standstill in the same way. Thus all the various movements in Puerto Rico came to an end with shocking suddenness. Had they continued their operations for two or three weeks longer, there is little doubt that the entire island would have been overrun and taken possession of by the American soldiers. While there were no great battles fought in Puerto Rico, the perfect plan of the campaign, the vigor and energy of the American troops, and their unbroken successes in an unknown region against superior forces, reflect great credit on General Miles and his little army. The Coming of Peace The war had been in progress a trifle over three months; a large part of Cuba and of Puerto Rico had been captured by the Americans, and they were still pressing onward and winning victory in every encounter; SpairrV naval power had been swept from the seas, and now an American fleet under Commodore Watson was preparing to sail direct to Spain and open a bombardment on the coast towns, -- such was the condition at the beginning of August, 1898, and so hopeless was the outlook from the other side of the Atlantic that poor old Spain, with all her boasted chivalry and pride, was forced to sue the young Republic for peace. The request for peace came from Spain's minister of state through M. Cambon, the French ambassador at Washington, and reached the President on July the 26th. But few days elapsed when Secretary of State Day made answer that the President was anxious for peace and would gladly open negotiations on the following conditions: that Spain relinquish forever her sovere...