miletus12
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Post by miletus12 on Aug 8, 2022 20:27:54 GMT
Day 111 of the Spanish–American War, August 8th 1898Puerto RicoGeneral Brooke's troops advanced to Cayey, Puerto Rico. Artillery doth have its uses. Puerto Rico: Battle of FajardoJust before 11:00, Lt. Atwater thought he saw moving figures in white, on the edge of the woods 250 yards from the "Faro de Las Cabezas de San Juan" (Cape San Juan lighthouse). At 11:45, with moonlight breaking through the clouds, he saw several men in the brush on the edge of the woods. Without giving an alarm, he instructed the lookouts to be on heightened vigilance. As he was heading to the yard gate to order the corporal of the guard and sentry to come inside the light-house, those men came running up and announced they had seen Spanish troops in the road. Almost immediately, a volley of gunfire erupted from the surrounding woods. Atwater ordered the lighthouse lamp doused as a signal to the three armed ships lying offshore that the light-house was under attack. The cruiser, Cincinnati, the only ship with an operable searchlight, trained it on the hill where the lighthouse sat in order to direct secondary battery gunfire from Cincinnati, Amphitrite and Leyden on the attacking Spanish troops. At about 12:30am, an errant 6 pound naval shell crashed through the 2 foot thick walls of the parapet, "within touch of six men not one was hurt" when the shell failed to explode. Lt. Atwater immediately ordered the lighthouse lamp relit. At about the same time, gunfire from the Spanish troops ceased and Atwater gave the order to cease firing shortly thereafter. 1,100 shots were fired from the 22 rifles of the navy men in the lighthouse. Lt. Atwater estimated the Spanish force was probably 72 infantry, 24 cavalry, with 2 killed and three wounded, one of them a Spanish lieutenant. The Americans retained control of the lighthouse and suffered no casualties. Brigadier General Henry, in command of troops from the 6th Massachusetts and 6th Illinois Volunteer Infantries, left Ponce to meet with Schwan's division in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. To add to this farce; it now appears the American navy was correct even at this late date, that Fajardo would have been quicker than the mess Miles laid on from the south. See Maps and photos.  Fajardo harbor. Kind of small and very shallow, but doable.  Fajardo in an expanded view looking west to east.  One road that ends in a dirt track trail in 1898. Easily blocked *See hill in photo above?) while the landing force builds up. Then a ten-mile push and then a good road to march and wagon train on straight to San Juan. With the speed and shock action that 4th US Corps demonstrated and with the talented Wilson and the not incompetent Henry as the pushers, this campaign could / should have taken only a week instead of 14 days to wrap up Puerto Rico. Come to think of it, if this had been Target 1 and hit immediately in early May instead of Target 2 in late July, I think Bermejo would have sent the recall to Cervera at French Martinique and the Spanish American War would have looked a lot different and maybe less costly to Spain. Or it might have been worse, depending on how foolish the Sagasta government would be about it. Schley could have staged the Shoot-Ex off San Juan after Miles (More likely Sicard or Crowninshield) held a general court martial on Sampson. Well one can dream; can't one?  |
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Aug 9, 2022 2:48:54 GMT
Day 112 of the Spanish–American War, August 9th 1898
Puerto Rico: Battle of Coamo
Units of Major General James H. Wilson's U.S. Army column, moving east-northeast from Ponce to Coamo and then north to the heavily concentrated Spanish Army position at Aibonito, encounter heavy resistance in Coamo. Wilson's men are forced to envelope the Spanish from the rear, killing 40 and capturing 170. Wilson suffers no dead, and just six wounded.
Puerto Rico
Captain Barclay, commander of Amphitrite decided to withdraw the landing party and civilian refugees as the advantage of continuing to hold the "Faro de Las Cabezas de San Juan" (Cape San Juan lighthouse) seemed slight. The US Marine guard from Cincinnati under the command of 1st Lt. John A. Lejeune and a like number of men from Amphitrite (30) landed and covered the withdrawal. The women and children refugees were soon on board the USS Leyden which transported them to Ponce, Puerto Rico.
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miletus12
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Post by miletus12 on Aug 9, 2022 4:59:29 GMT
Diary of Lieutenant X (Aime Ernest Motsch) Monday, August 8, 1898Motsch is a bizarre compendium of fact and fiction. Take it by paragraphs. 1. First, the meeting with the foreign consuls was a continuation of the Maskirovka. Whether or not the consuls were in on the deal is clear in hindsight that they were not. Here is what we now know. a. The English vice consul was under instructions not to hinder whatever negotiations the Spanish and Americans had in progress as to the formal surrender. He did not know about the put-up job or the script for what was about to happen. His dead predecessor croaked without telling him the arrangements. He knew that the city was about to be handed over from his interactions with the Americans locally, but they were not confiding in him the details. b. The French consul was not a fool. He had good contacts within the Spanish military within the city. He suspected that the Americans and Spaniards had cooked up a burlesque bélico, or mock battle scam, for assorted political reasons. He did not think Jaudenes or Merritt were competent enough to pull it off. He was wrong. c. Belgium's consul knew what the French consul knew, but he had no instructions, so he sat on his hands. d. The German consul was acting as an enemy agent engaged with negotiations with Aguinaldo as well as Jaudenes. The Spanish knew it, the French knew it, the Americans knew it. He was the one viper nobody trusted at that meeting. Besides the Americans were as likely to hear his words as to hear Aguinaldo's by now. 2. This is about 80% accurate. The most notable thing is that with British help on occasion, French help sometimes, and mostly certain private Filipino and Sino Filipino citizens, and American businessmen, who the Spanish governor general Augustin knew were American double agents and spies, he had kept up a continuous stream of negotiations with Dewey. The Spanish American truce in place was a tacit temporary anti-Aguinaldo alliance of convenience. Note that elements of the Katipunan were also involved in this treachery. Not everybody was happy with the Aguinaldo setup inside the Filipino camp. Functionally Augustin and Dewey played for time. Augustin counted on reinforcements from Spain. Dewey anticipated help from the United States. Only Dewey would be rewarded in this game of cunctation. Dewey knew the steam times were 90 days from the American west coast. 3. Details on these guns, that Motsch supplies are rather scanty. Here is what the Americans actually found. 3. It can be seen that Motsch, like the American consul, was clueless about the true state of Manila's artillery defense. It was necessary and prudent that the Americans sent two Amphitrite class monitors to Manila. it was not only the Germans who were a viable threat. 4. The Intramuros had walls 40 feet thick and 20 feet high. The US monitors would have to blast holes into it and collapse the curtain wall for infantry assault. This would be horrific as the shots out would inevitably carom into the city. US explosive shell filler was picric acid encapsulated in wool soaked in oil to prevent water contamination and crystallization. This is a good substitute for NAPALM. Manila in 1898 would burn like San Francisco did during the earthquake. This outcome would be a war-crime. 5. The Spanish "bungled" the evacuation. This was probably staged, but it had to be part of the maskirovka. Those who were left out of the details, had to believe that Dewey was about to bombard the city, or the handover would not work. So for the "inadvertent actors" the tragedy is real. 6. The "instructions" for the expected bombardment are more of the same. See 5,. 7. Motsch's description of the churches as community shelters where catastrophe can be expected is 1898 accurate. Manila 1944 had several of these churches used as Japanese mass murder sites where Filipino "hostages" (women and children) were gathered and butchered in reprisal and revenge actions and then set afire with some of the Filipinos still alive. There is nothing too extreme as punishment that I can conceive for such war criminals or their acts. More than 100,000 of Manila's inhabitants were subjected to such Japanese "mercies". If Dewey had bombarded Manila, then I would hold the same opinion of him. 8. See 7,. for true horror. Diary of Miguel Saderra Maso Lunes 8 de Agosto 1898Maskirovka and just in case the stage play goes into real war. Diary of John Henry Asendorf Monday, August 8th, 1898Still quiet. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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miletus12
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Post by miletus12 on Aug 9, 2022 7:05:56 GMT
Day 112 of the Spanish–American War, August 9th 1898Puerto Rico: Battle of Coamo
Units of Major General James H. Wilson's U.S. Army column, moving east-northeast from Ponce to Coamo and then north to the heavily concentrated Spanish Army position at Aibonito, encounter heavy resistance in Coamo. Wilson's men are forced to envelope the Spanish from the rear, killing 40 and capturing 170. Wilson suffers no dead, and just six wounded.  Sometimes the blurbs do not convey just what happens. That is NOT what happened. See map above?The Americans advanced in a two-battalion frontage along the central highway until they bumped into the Coamo River. There was a lot of forested rolling hill and rill terrain on their left flank of march. They had to post marching flank pickets as a moving outpost line. When they reached the river, they encountered. Martinez Illescas' little battalion of troops. Illescas, who had about as much sense as a turnip when it came to defense, failed to reinforce the blockhouse that set on a small rise where the Rio Coamo meets the Banos and borders the road. The Americans worked to the right of the blockhouse (3rd Wisconsin and 1st New York (cavalry) forded the river. M.) and got around it. They took Los Banos and bypassed the blockhouse. Meanwhile batteries of the 4th and 5th artillery, US regulars, set themselves up to turn the river course into a bowling alley where they played bowling for Spaniards. This action drove the rest of the Spanish blocking force to ground as they took cover. Meanwhile the 2nd Wisconsin worked their way through the woods and surprised the Spanish on the west side of the river appearing on the Spanish right, not once, but three times in rapid succession with scattered musketry and one bayonet charge. The 16th Pennsylvania, as this all happened, took the long way through the woods again and appeared, seemingly out of the blue to the north of Coama township, after fording the river where it flowed west and branched together at the township. This little battle was CHANCELLORSVILLE with Wilson doing his best imitation of Stonewall Jackson's converging columns plan. Unlike Jackson, Wilson did not bungle the evolution or get himself killed. The result is a textbook example of how to use cover, geography and enemy inaction to bring force to bear in sequence and dislodge what should have been a strong delay defense. Puerto RicoCaptain Barclay, commander of Amphitrite decided to withdraw the landing party and civilian refugees as the advantage of continuing to hold the "Faro de Las Cabezas de San Juan" (Cape San Juan lighthouse) seemed slight. The US Marine guard from Cincinnati under the command of 1st Lt. John A. Lejeune and a like number of men from Amphitrite (30) landed and covered the withdrawal. The women and children refugees were soon on board the USS Leyden which transported them to Ponce, Puerto Rico. Thus ends the Farce of Fajardo, a missed opportunity and a sad commentary on how political infighting among the American services and inside the American administration wasted a golden opportunity to make a messy and needless imperialist war, less messy even if it would still be needlessly fought. |
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miletus12
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Post by miletus12 on Aug 9, 2022 8:11:45 GMT
Diary of Lieutenant X (Aime Ernest Motsch) Tuesday, August 9, 18981. The "evacuation" continues. The exercise appears to have been conducted for real by the various foreign communities. The French ship Isabel could not put out to sea because of the weather. 2. The French have increased their fleet footprint to three ships. So why do the Americans, Germans, British and Spaniards disregard them? Let us have a look.  French cruiser Bayard.  From Wiki; A piece of obsolete junk, except for the artillery. Auto-sinker. The French cruiser Pascal is a bit more formidable.  French cruiser Pascal. From Wiki. She is state of the French art. She would be a handful for the USS Baltimore.  From wiki State of the French art, but dead meat against even a 2nd rate cruiser like the USS Charleston. The Marine National in the 1890s was a weird mix of obsolete junk, a few contenders like the Pascal and this DEATH TRAP. 3. The weather in the bay stinks. 4. The Americans have corked the Pasing River with their gunboats. They are just outside Spanish shore battery range. Otto von Diederichs is moving off towards Marivales. He actually thinks Dewey is about to do the "British thing" and he does not want to be caught in the crossfire. But he still wants to be near enough to exploit any catastrophe if it happens. Chichester in the HMS Immortalitie has sidled up to USS Olympia qt Cavite off Sangley Point. The French squadron is equidistant between the Americans in the south and the Germans in the north. The Japanese hove too off to the northwest. Everyone has cleared for action. EVERYONE. See map.  Orange is Japan. Black is Germany Light Blue is France. Red is Great Britain. Dark Blue is America. Diary of Miguel Saderra Maso Martes 9 de Agosto 1898Basically: the Spanish have evacuated the designated demonstration free fire zone, but as we will discover, not everybody got the word to bug out. The arrangements have not been finalized on the Spanish or American sides and the weather is not cooperative either. Diary of John Henry Asendorf Tuesday, August 9th, 1898Still waiting for the push. Asendorf must be wondering, why the lull has lasted so long? The 10th Pennsylvania is at Pasay.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Aug 10, 2022 2:49:14 GMT
Day 113 of the Spanish–American War, August 10th 1898
Puerto Rico: Battle of Silva Heights
Brigadier General Theodore Schwan and 2,896 men of his Independent Brigade had landed in Guanica and marched towards occupied Yauco.
Schwan and his men were ordered to move westward and to capture the city of Mayagüez. Colonel Julio Soto Villanueva ordered 1,500 Spanish Regulars of the 24th Rifle Battalion, six companies of the Alfonso XIII auxiliaries, and other scattered Spanish and Puerto Rican guerilla forces dispatched from the garrison at Mayagüez to meet and defeat Schwan. The Spanish forces entrenched themselves at a high ridge called Silva Heights, located at a road near the town of Hormigueros.
Schwan's troops arrived in the town of San Germán and continued the march towards their objective. Troop A of Schwan's 5th Cavalry approached Silva Heights and were soon engaged in a firefight when the Spanish forces opened fire. The Americans were aided by two companies of the 19th Infantry, supported by artillery and Gatling guns, as well as the 11th Infantry. The Spanish forces retreated after the American reinforcements brought them under intense fire. Schwan's men set up camp on Silva Heights for the night and the following day they continued their drive to Mayagüez. They arrived the following morning to find that the Spanish forces had abandoned the city to retreat to the east towards Lares. Schwan did not follow Soto Villanueva, but instead was ordered to take the town of Las Marias. The outcome of the Silva Heights Battle left 3 Spanish dead, 6 wounded, and 136 prisoners. Schwan's brigade suffered 15 wounded.
A considerable force of Spanish regulars and auxiliaries, encamped on the high ridge overlooking Hormigueros, struck Schwan's brigade, hoping to turn it back. Initially, the attack was successful, pinning the 5th cavalry in place and preventing the 19th infantry from reinforcing American positions.
The Spanish lacked artillery support, however, and could not answer Schwan's Gatling guns and large-caliber cannons. As Schwan's brigade pressed forward, surging along the ridge's flank, Spanish numerical inferiority began to tell. Out-gunned, Colonel Julio Soto Villanueva ceded the heights to the American forces and withdrew his men east to Lares.
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miletus12
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Post by miletus12 on Aug 10, 2022 16:47:28 GMT
Day 113 of the Spanish–American War, August 10th 1898Puerto Rico: Battle of Silva Heights
Brigadier General Theodore Schwan and 2,896 men of his Independent Brigade had landed in Guanica and marched towards occupied Yauco. Schwan and his men were ordered to move westward and to capture the city of Mayagüez. Colonel Julio Soto Villanueva ordered 1,500 Spanish Regulars of the 24th Rifle Battalion, six companies of the Alfonso XIII auxiliaries, and other scattered Spanish and Puerto Rican guerilla forces dispatched from the garrison at Mayagüez to meet and defeat Schwan. The Spanish forces entrenched themselves at a high ridge called Silva Heights, located at a road near the town of Hormigueros. Schwan's troops arrived in the town of San Germán and continued the march towards their objective. Troop A of Schwan's 5th Cavalry approached Silva Heights and were soon engaged in a firefight when the Spanish forces opened fire. The Americans were aided by two companies of the 19th Infantry, supported by artillery and Gatling guns, as well as the 11th Infantry. The Spanish forces retreated after the American reinforcements brought them under intense fire. Schwan's men set up camp on Silva Heights for the night and the following day they continued their drive to Mayagüez. They arrived the following morning to find that the Spanish forces had abandoned the city to retreat to the east towards Lares. Schwan did not follow Soto Villanueva, but instead was ordered to take the town of Las Marias. The outcome of the Silva Heights Battle left 3 Spanish dead, 6 wounded, and 136 prisoners. Schwan's brigade suffered 15 wounded. A considerable force of Spanish regulars and auxiliaries, encamped on the high ridge overlooking Hormigueros, struck Schwan's brigade, hoping to turn it back. Initially, the attack was successful, pinning the 5th cavalry in place and preventing the 19th infantry from reinforcing American positions. The Spanish lacked artillery support, however, and could not answer Schwan's Gatling guns and large-caliber cannons. As Schwan's brigade pressed forward, surging along the ridge's flank, Spanish numerical inferiority began to tell. Out-gunned, Colonel Julio Soto Villanueva ceded the heights to the American forces and withdrew his men east to Lares. What were they fighting over? This...  The river is the Guanajibo River south of Hormigueros, Puerto Rico. The road you see in the distance crosses it with one of those ubiquitous Spanish box frame iron bridges in 1898. The Spanish were on the hill (looking southwest at the camera point of view. M.). Bumbling General Schwan is a bit slow trying to get his own troops onto the high ground (hill in the distance.) Both sides engaged in rather long-range shooting that was inconclusive. The US cavalry operating to the east (left side of picture) had gotten itself lost in some wooded copses and bungled its mission of finding a ford over the Guanajibo to work around the Spaniards on the hill in an attempt to cut their line of retreat on that road. After about an hour of shooting, Schwan finally brings up his Gatling gun battery and splits it. Two guns go up on the hill he occupies and shoot across the river at the Spaniards on their hill. Two guns go with the rest of the infantry and move forward to provide cover fire as they rush the bridge. The troops had to manhandle those things up the hill and drag them over to the bridge, so that was kind of hot work. Those guns are what gall the Spaniards on the hill and those who block the north end of the bridge in their rifle pits below the "Spanish" hill. Something, (Spanish army historians claim ammunition shortages.) convinces the lunatic Spanish local commander, Captain Torrecillas, to attempt an across the river over the bridge bayonet charge at the Americans milling about in confusion on their south side, but I think it was exactly like that scene in Sergio Leone's spaghetti western "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly", that it was a stupid bridge, a stupid river, and two stupid commanders who could not see anything possible but to throw two infantry columns straight at each other over that expletive deleted bridge. Fortunately, two things happen. The US 5th Cavalry finally shows up late and starts to cut the road. And probably... Colonel Julio Soto Villanueva... tells that nitwit, Captain Torricellas, to get his men out of there before they are cut off by the American cavalry and wiped out. The Spaniards still lose somewhere about 150 men in disengaging: as prisoners to the Americans. Schwan gets his stupid bridge and pushes forward to occupy the "Spanish" hill. The next advance forward, Schwan managed, he bungled as he did not send his cavalry scouts ahead to maintain contact and pressure on the retreating enemy to harass them. This allowed the Spaniards unmolested time to mass their retreating forces on the high ground north of Hormigueros. As the American vanguard (On the road no less deployed in a march column, not ready to receive battle, M.), cleared the town and approached the hills, Villaneuva ordered a downhill charge a la Marathon and the result was the American van was thrown into confusion. However, the Americans had cavalry and they had artillery and those Gatling guns which unlimbered and created a base of defilade cover fire while the provisional brigade shook out and formed a skirmish line of battle in classic American Civil War style. One countercharge up that ridge from low end to high and from right to left and the Spanish were rolled up. It was all over. Villaneuva and his command ran for it. It was not a withdrawal. It was a rout.   ===================================================================== Diary of Lieutenant X (Aime Ernest Motsch) Wednesday, August 10, 1898Our French torpedo officer of the MNS Bruix has not talked to the Spanish survivors of the Battle of Mobile Bay. The Spanish admiral Montojo tried that tactic with everything he had against Dewey. It takes timing and a certain amount of skill and considerable luck to use suicide boats and ramming attacks to disable or sink an enemy cruiser. The ARS Reina Cristina tried to ram USS Olympia after two command mines were prematurely detonated in front of the American cruiser. About at the same time, a flotilla of "Davids", improvised spar torpedo launches, set forth to attack Dewey's battleline. The USS Olympia raked the Cristina bows on and smashed her from end to end with 8-inch broadside cannon fire, driving her off, while the USS Baltimore, next in line, used her own rapid-fire guns to sink the Spanish launches before they could position to make their speed runs. The Spanish sailors now knew exactly why there was no attempt against the USS Petrel and USS Concord, at that present. It was useless suicide with no chance of success. This was not the Battle of Fuzhou with an incompetent, immobile and gutless enemy navy. The situation, as is, is so hair-trigger that neither the Americans, nor the Spaniards involved in the maskirovka, wants to risk the slightest mistake that could unleash a horror show. The Filipino ship is not that important in the overall scheme of things for either side to touch off the fireworks over it. As for the implication of cowardice Motsch applied to the Spaniards, does he not comprehend? Again Lt. Motsch has not talked to any American in Manila Bay. Nobody, American, who saw the elephant on 1 May 1898 or in the land fighting since then, is under any illusions about Spanish or Filipino courage. Generalship and political acumen are another thing. But courage is not the lack here. Motsch plainly mistakes folks' common sense for cowardice. The Spaniards know it is over. They are just trying to exit with dignity. The Americans, for their parr, are trying to end this local conflict without horrible war-crimes committed and some awful casualty lists among their own people. ================================================================================== Diary of Miguel Saderra Maso Miércoles 10 de Agosto 1898The American agent, sent to scout the opposition, lied. George Dewey, for example, was an Epicopelian, just like most of the American naval high command. ============================================================================= Diary of John Henry Asendorf Wednesday, August 10th, 1898The ration situation has deteriorated. Merritt has forbidden canned rations due to spoilage, based on his chief surgeon's advice. With the constant rains, the field kitchens are not functioning properly. The commissariat has not set up a Sutler's service. M. |
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Aug 11, 2022 2:59:19 GMT
Day 114 of the Spanish–American War, August 11th 1898
Spain
The Council of Ministers accept the conditions for peace, outlined by the United States: Spain must renounce its sovereignty over Cuba, Puerto Rico and other islands of the West Indies, and cede Puerto Rico to the US, the US would hold Manila until a peace treaty was signed and a government was formed, Spain was to evacuate Cuba and Puerto Rico immediately.
Puerto Rico
General Schwan's troops occupied the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.
US Army General Wilson's command again runs into Spanish Army resistance, this time in the Asomante Hills near Aibonito. The Spanish are routed after a brief skirmish.
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miletus12
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Post by miletus12 on Aug 11, 2022 5:18:40 GMT
Day 114 of the Spanish–American War, August 11th 1898SpainThe Council of Ministers accept the conditions for peace, outlined by the United States: Spain must renounce its sovereignty over Cuba, Puerto Rico and other islands of the West Indies, and cede Puerto Rico to the US, the US would hold Manila until a peace treaty was signed and a government was formed, Spain was to evacuate Cuba and Puerto Rico immediately. provided a channel between the McKinley and Sagasta governments. Some historians think he was the author of the proposed truce terms the United States transmitted via the French undersea cable system to Madrid. Notice that the American studiously avoided the British system in this communication. As for who crafted the truce terms, that is a bit of a question. John Hay and William Day were on opposite sides of how the truce should be presented. Day knew about the Germans and how they were negotiating to buy up as much of the Spanish empire as Kaiser William II's ambassadors could bribe Spanish ministers to accept, but he was willing to compromise on the issues. The French were not too happy about this situation and neither were the British, but least of all, John Hay, who thanks to his long experience with the Europeans, beginning with service with Abraham Lincoln, urged a harder line on the Spanish with McKinley. It is my belief that it was McKinley, himself, and not the French ambassador, or any of his advisers, who crafted the truce terms sent to Madrid. The Spanish acceptance is not received yet as of this date. There was a squabble with Miguel Correa y García, the incompetent Spanish minister of war, and some rumblings in the Cortez among the Conservatives, but the navy minister Ramón Auñón y Villalón and the treasury minister Joaquín López Puigcerver, argued to Sagasta that truce terms now would be better than what the Americans would demand if the fighting continued. Their combined argument was simple... The navy was ruined and the government was out of money. Further war would see the jackals of Europe feast on metro-Spain herself. McKinley was not as Enrique Dupuy de Lome, a much lesser man and a fool, described him. He was a compromiser and a bit of a deal maker, which you have to be in America. De Lome did not understand that about McKinley, whose actual weaknesses were that he was too much of a friend to his associates, even when many of them were imbeciles (Duffield and Shafter are examples. So was Schwan.), and not ruthless enough to lead a nation at war. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Puerto RicoGeneral Schwan's troops occupied the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. US Army General Wilson's command again runs into Spanish Army resistance, this time in the Asomante Hills near Aibonito. The Spanish are routed after a brief skirmish. I could describe Wilson, as ruthless and scrupulous as to military operations in that he would conduct actions with a view toward destroying his enemy military opponents, while at the same time adhere strictly to the rule of law as he understood it as regards to war. At Aibonita, he conducted a reconnaissance and concocted a plan to encircle and annihilate his Spanish opponents but bearing firmly in mind the ridiculousness of battle when a truce was any day now, sought to negotiate a surrender rather than murder men. When the obstinate Spanish commander refused to see reason, Wilson was promptly ready to execute his plan. It would have worked. Fortunately for all concerned, the word that operations were to halt, and a truce was in effect, arrived just as General Ernst was about to go on his joyride. |
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miletus12
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Post by miletus12 on Aug 11, 2022 5:31:42 GMT
Diary of Lieutenant X (Aime Ernest Motsch) Thursday, August 11, 1898I do not know here, if Motsch is now padding his diary with after the fact remembrance. The diary of a French officer on the war in the Philippines, 1898by Aime Ernest Motsch (Author) He published it as a monograph in 1901. Of course, the German consul was upset, Dewey was about to order him delayed in transit on some faked excuse until after the maskirovka was concluded. The Americans knew the Germans were up to something from rumors they received from their "Katipunan associates". Also, the rumor network had von Diederichs staff flunkies yakking with Jaudenes' representatives at this time. It was only about civilian evacuation arrangements through Katipunan lines, but Dewey had endured two run-ins with Otto already, one over that ocean liner packed full of 1400 German marines and the other about the Irene refusing to obey a heave to when she violated restricted waters. He did not believe the Germans for the one time they told him the truth. The food situation in Manila was that if you had some money, you could get food smuggled into the city. Most of the Filipinos in the city were not in that fortunate financial situation. The Chinese merchants were and so were the few Europeans still inside the city. The Belgian consul was the go between who told the French consul that the Americans were about fed up with the delays to implement the maskirovka. If the French consul had only suspected before, he knew now the fix was in. He apparently could not keep his mouth shut, according to Lt. Motsch. The Belgian consul was the actual neutral referee at Camp Dewey, receiving the American side of the Spanish-American put-up job. He was supposed to take those details to Jaudenes and get him to sign off on the latest script revision to the "war comedy". Again, I think Motsch writes with after the fact knowledge, because I* doubt this scuttlebutt reached down to the junior dumb ensign level at the time. Certainly: the Germans did not know on 11 August, or they would have moved in to interfere as they did at Morocco in 1905 under similar circumstances. Funny thing was that Franco-American cooperation was present in that one and Kaiser Wilhelm blew a gasket there, too. Motsch's comment about Augustin is pure science fiction. Augustin's letter was concocted to hide the fact that it was he, who screwed up the defense of Luzon, despite Admiral Montojo's best efforts. There were indeed 20,000 Spanish troops on Luzon. About 15,000 of them were in Manila. We have already seen the modern artillery to hand, the Americans discovered in and around Manila Bay many pieces to the tune of 50 breech loading naval rifles of 4.7 inch bore or larger of at least 1880s and 1890s vintage. There were serviceable muzzle loaders of maybe twice that number of artillery pieces in addition. Add in the field guns, and two hundred pieces of artillery is mentioned in the Cortz report is about correct. It was not the lack of numbers of soldiers or material that lost Manila. It was incompetent leadership (Augustin) and a lack of any effort by the Spanish army or civil authorities to mobilize for a defense. They had another 90 days with Dewey stuck between the Germans and them. Augustin and his crew of fellows in leadership did not act. Add to that fact that Augustin tried to sell Manila city out for a massive bribe and you get where this goes. We know this happened. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Diary of Miguel Saderra Maso Jueves 11 de Agosto 1898True. The rains are going to make it dangerous to play act the "war comedy". The naval gunfire might put shots out that go wild outside the evacuated places that are supposed to be "bombarded" as the American infantry advances into Manila City. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Diary of John Henry Asendorf Thursday, August 11th, 1898More malaria cases, muddy fields, and rotten food and miserable rainy weather for the 10th Pennsylvania.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Aug 12, 2022 5:39:32 GMT
Day 115 of the Spanish–American War, August 12th 1898
Cuba: Fourth Battle of Manzanillo
A US Navy squadron consisting of the protected cruiser USS Newark, the auxiliary cruisers USS Hist and USS Suwanee, the gunboat USS Alvarado, and the armed tugboat USS Osceola bombard the Cuban port of Manzanillo and capture it.
Puerto Rico: Battle of Asomante
The American cavalry pursued the soldiers that had retreated from Coamo, but were not able to reach them until the units had entered Aibonito Pass, a region more commonly known as Asomante.
The region had been prepared by allied Puerto Rican and Spanish troops, who had built a trench and placed soldiers and equipment around the foliage. As soon as the soldiers noticed the presence of the invading unit they opened cannon fire. The cavalry received infantry reinforcements, which were received by battery fire. Six American soldier were injured in the crossfire, prompting a retreat order. The allied units (Spanish and Puerto Rican) lost five soldiers and two civil guards. During the following two days the Americans decided to do a battlefield reconnaissance and Colonel S. Reber, developed a croquis of the Aibonito Pass. Spies were deployed throughout Coamo, including a Puerto Rican separatist named Carlos Patterne, who was able to enter the city without suspicion and contact Rufino Huertas, a separatist teacher. Huertas gave Patterne a series of defense plans that were previously developed and organized by Martínez Illescas. While inactive, the Puerto Rican soldiers deployed in Asomante completed rounds every two hours, working four hours daily. They mostly ate beans, some rice and meat, while conserving several cracker packs for Spanish reinforcements that were supposed to arrive. They slept in improvised huts that did not protect them from the rain.
The American commanders decided to attack the trenches with artillery, while sending a large group to Barranquitas, from which they would try to attack the allied troops from the back. At 10:30 a.m. Captain R.D. Potts led part of the 3rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment through the central highway to Aibonito. Lieutenants Bliss and O'Hern led two units with similar equipment. At 1:00 p.m. the allied troops opened cannon fire as the Americans entered their range. Potts ordered the deployment of two batteries while O'Hern received orders from Commander Landcaster to set a cannon at a distance of a 100 yards to the vanguard's right. They intended to defeat the a small group led by Captain Hernaíz. Shrapnel from allied cannon fire was falling close to Lancaster's location, and he asked Potts to help him by deploying a battery nearby. One of Hernaíz's Placensias cannons overheated, which forced him to order a temporary cease to the offensive. Landcaster believed that the opposition had been annihilated, ordered an advance. However the allied fire was renewed, this time supported by Mauser rifle fire. The sudden attack caused confusion among some soldiers, who reported seeing a second Spanish unit nearby. Fearing that the allied units could capture the American equipment, Landcaster ordered a retreat. Lieutenant Hains was gravely injured by a Mauser bullet, being replaced by Sergeant John Long. Meanwhile, most of Potts' men fled the battlefield. In the crossfire the allied forces overpowered the American infantry, using Mauser fire to disorganize their artillery, during which time four American officials were gravely injured including Long, Lieutenant Harris, Captain E.T. Lee and Corporal Oscar Sawanson. Private Frederick Yough, Corporal August Yank, George J. Bruce and Private Sices also received injuries, with Yough subsequently dying. Harris' position was filled by O'Hern, while Sawanson was fatally shot while trying to support the artillery. In total the allied units had only an injured artillery man, while the American side had two dead and five injured. Wilson's camp was the first to receive a telegram from General Miles notifying him of the amnesty declared by the signing of the Treaty of Paris. The Americans sent Bliss to Asomante, but Nouvilas refused to suspend the hostilities after receiving a telegram from Macías denying any peace treaty.
United States
Spain and the United States sign in sign in Washington, D.C. an armistice, the "Protocol of Peace", ending all hostilities between Spain and the United States in the war fronts of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.
Protocol For The End Of Hostilities With Spain
By the President of the United States of America.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, By a protocol concluded and signed Aug. 12, 1898, by William R. Day, Secretary of State of the United States, and his Excellency Jules Chambon, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France at Washington, respectively representing for this purpose, the Government of the United States and the Government of Spain, the Governments of the United States and Spain have formally agreed upon the terms on which negotiations for the establishment of peace between the two countries shall be undertaken; and,
Whereas, it is in said protocol agreed that upon its conclusion and signature hostilities between the two countries shall be suspended, and that notice to that effect shall be given as soon as possible by each Government to commanders of its military and naval forces;
Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United States, do, in accordance with the stipulations of the protocol, declare and proclaim on the part of the United States a suspension of hostilities, and do hereby command that orders be immediately given through the proper channels to the commanders of the military and naval forces of the United States to abstain from all acts inconsistent with the proclamation.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this 12th day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, and of the independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty-third.
William McKinley.
By the President,
William R. Day, Secretary of State.
Terms of the Protocol
1. Spain will relinquish all claim of sovereignty over and title to Cuba.
2. Porto Rico and other Spanish islands in the West Indies and an island in the Ladrones to be selected by the United States, shall be ceded to the latter.
3. The United States will occupy and hold the city, bay and harbor of Manila pending the conclusion of a treaty of peace, which shall determine the control, disposition and governance of the Philippines.
Cuba, Porto Rico and other Spanish islands in the West Indies shall be immediately evacuated and Commissioners, to be appointed within ten days, shall, within thirty days from the signing of the protocol, meet at Havana and San Juan, respectively, to arrange and execute the details of the evacuation.
5. The United States and Spain will each appoint not more than five Commissioners to negotiate and conclude a treaty of peace. The Commissioners are to meet at Paris not later than the 1st of October.
6. On the signing of the protocol hostilities will be suspended and notice to that effect will be given as soon as possible by each Government to the commanders of its military and naval forces.
Philippines
On orders of General Merritt, General Anderson notifies Aguinaldo to forbid the insurgents under his command from entering Manila, stating "Do not let your troops enter Manila without the permission of the American commander. On this side of the Pasig River you will be under fire".
United States - Assistant Secretary Of The Navy Charles H. Allen To Commodore John A. Howell, Commander, First Blockading Squadron
Dated Washington DC 12
To Naval Base Keywest Fla
Howell - In accordance with the presidents proclamation already telegraphed you suspend immediately all hostilities[.] Commence withdrawal of Vessels from Blockade. Our blockading vessels in Cuban waters to assemble at Keywest[.]
Allen, Acting Secretary
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Aug 13, 2022 6:23:12 GMT
Day 115 of the Spanish–American War, August 13th 1898Philippines: Battle of ManilaManila surrenders. Governor General Jáudenes, fearing Spanish troops will be massacred by the Filipinos, agrees to surrender the city after token resistance if U.S. General Wesley Merritt excludes Filipino troops from the battle. Merritt agrees. After a brief naval bombardment, the 1st Brigade under Brigadier General Arthur MacArthur, Jr. attacks from the south while General Greene's 2d Brigade attacks from the north. There is brief Spanish resistance to MacArthur's advance after large groups of Filipinos ignore American orders to stay behind and rush the Spanish lines. Governor General Jáudenes surrenders at 11:20 A.M. after a battle lasting two hours. Drawing: Raising the American flag over Fort Santiago, Manila, on the evening of August 13, 1898 Puerto RicoUS Army Brigadier General Schwan's command encounters Spanish Army resistance near the town of Las Marías. Word of the armistice has not yet reached Puerto Rico, and a brief skirmish ensues. It is the last battle of the war in Puerto Rico.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Aug 13, 2022 8:19:15 GMT
And with this, the 115 day Spanish–American War (1898) in real time ends, i hope it was good.
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miletus12
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Post by miletus12 on Aug 14, 2022 2:16:02 GMT
Day 115 of the Spanish–American War, August 12th 1898Cuba: Fourth Battle of ManzanilloA US Navy squadron consisting of the protected cruiser USS Newark, the auxiliary cruisers USS Hist and USS Suwanee, the gunboat USS Alvarado, and the armed tugboat USS Osceola bombard the Cuban port of Manzanillo and capture it. Like most actions concerning this port (See Maps.) the participants tell different stories of how the naval campaign against the port ended.  Location.  Harbor. Photo of harbor. or rather coastal area...  Makes for a great landing spot for troops, but horrible for over the beach operations and hurricane shelter. Naval Operations Manzanillo This "fourth battle" is a subject of some controversy. If you cut through the manure, you can tell that this unnecessary operation was mounted by an overeager American naval officer who knew an armistice was in the works and who wanted to win one more "victory" before the stop shooting order was given. Bloodless or bloody, Goodrich in this instance was operating on an urge for glory and not military common sense. The Banditos in the area were quite capable of securing that town, as they did from the Spanish. The Spanish garrison commander, COL Sanchez Pieron, did indeed reply that Spanish military general orders forbade the surrender of a post unless an attack of such force sufficient to make a defense impossible was mounted. We will see this "war comedy" bungled again at Manila City, the Philippine Republic, in a bit, but here Goodrich failed to understand what the Spanish colonel was about. The flags of truce, he saw run up, as I understand it, from Spanish custom, were not surrender symbols, but parley flags. Goodrich was not wrong to send USS Alvarado into the harbor under a similar signal to "parley" details of the surrender. The Spanish claim they did not see the parley signal from USS Alvarado. See photo.  If the truce signal was flown from the foremast as Goodrich and the captain of the USS Alvarado, (captured gunboat from the Armada) stated as claimed, then there was no way the Spanish observers could not have seen the parley flag.Several things can be gleaned. a. As to the action at Manzanillo, it appears the coordination between the banditos and the USN was less than stellar as we have no report of any Cuban rebels' attack while the forts and ships shot at each other. b. It appears that COL. Pieron had not communicated or had lost positive control of his coast artillery troops. They opened fire on what they thought was an attack by one ship?? The weather situation was no wind and visibility good. USS Newark (See photo) had not generated enough smoke to obscure USS Alvarado.  From Wiki. c. USS Newark was fairly capable of putting up a lot of smoke haze from her brown powder guns, but the deliberate fire claimed could and would not have from two miles distance offshore moved inshore, in that calm, so as to obscure USS Alvarado's close run in, at least not to the point where Lucien Young claims the Spanish opened up on the USS Hist at a range of 400 meters. The Spanish, here, have a lot of explaining to do. d. Barely plausible is the hypothesis that the Spanish gunners had observed that the Americans' shooting was as wild and inaccurate as their own, and that the combined simultaneous movement of USS Alvarado, USS Hist and USS Oceolo constituted a Yankee attempt, as the Spaniards saw it, to close the range under a ruse de guerre to rake the shore batteries with automatic and rapid-fire cannon fire. Nevertheless, the apparent "treachery" seen by both sides, as to the other's acts, indicates an actual complete breakdown of command and control on both sides until someone on the Spanish side gave the order to cease fire first, followed by Goodrich's own order. I still have no idea why Sampson was planning an expedition to Isle de Jeventud when the imbecile knew cease fire negotiations were in progress. The USN had run an undersea cable to Guantanamo from Cape Haiten and NOW Sampson was within mere hours communication from Washington. Well, so much for the Manzanillo action in the macro and in the micro; it was futile, unnecessary and useless, much like the whole imperialist colonialist war. But we have some technical notes: a. The foreign made copies of Hotchkiss rapid fire guns were unacceptable. Recoil springs failed as did the shell extractors. The breech blocks jammed. Does this sound Spanish familiar? b. The American made Driggs Schoeder and Driggs Seabury guns worked to perfection. The Fletcher breach interrupted screw system operated as advertised. The guns were just ... slow. c. The Browning potato digger, machine gun, made by Colt Firearms to their usual incompetent manufacturing standards, was unacceptable. Like the worthless British made Maxims, also mentioned as being terrible, the recoil springs and the sea soaked and stretched cloth belts were the constant source of stoppages and fail to feeds. Somebody should have bought the gas operated Hotchkiss machine gun...Not everything Hotchkiss made was a piece of crap as long as it was French or American made. =================================================================================== a. As to the action at Manzanillo, it appears the coordination between the banditos and the USN was less than stellar as we have no report of any Cuban rebels' attack while the forts and ships shot at each other. b. It appears that COL. Pieron had not communicated or had lost positive control of his coast artillery troops. They opened fire on what they thought was an attack by one ship? The weather situation was no wind and visibility good. USS Newark (See photo) had not generated enough smoke to obscure USS Alvarado. c. USS Newark was fairly capable of putting up a lot of smoke haze from her brown powder guns, but the deliberate fire claimed could and would not have from two miles distance offshore moved inshote, in that calm, so as to obscure USS Alvarado's close run in, at least not to the point where Lucien Young claims the Spanish opened up on the USS Hist at a range of 400 meters. The Spanish, here, have a lot of explaining to do. d. Barely plausible is the hypothesis that the Spanish gunners had observed that the Americans' shooting was as wild and inaccurate as their own, and that the combined simultaneous movement of USS Alvarado, USS Hist and USS Oceolo constituted a Yankee attempt, as the Spaniards saw it, to close the range under a ruse de guerre to rake the shore batteries with automatic and rapid-fire cannon fire. Nevertheless, the apparent "treachery" seen by both sides, as to the other's acts, indicates an actual complete breakdown of command and control on both sides until someone on the Spanish side gave the order to cease fire first, followed by Goodrich's own order. I still have no idea why Sampson was planning an expedition to Isle de Jeventud when the imbecile knew cease fire negotiations were in progress. The USN had run an undersea cable to Guantanamo from Cape Haiten and NOW Sampson was within mere hours communication from Washington. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Puerto Rico: Battle of Asomante
The American cavalry pursued the soldiers that had retreated from Coamo, but were not able to reach them until the units had entered Aibonito Pass, a region more commonly known as Asomante. The region had been prepared by allied Puerto Rican and Spanish troops, who had built a trench and placed soldiers and equipment around the foliage. As soon as the soldiers noticed the presence of the invading unit they opened cannon fire. The cavalry received infantry reinforcements, which were received by battery fire. Six American soldiers were injured in the crossfire, prompting a retreat order. The allied units (Spanish and Puerto Rican) lost five soldiers and two civil guards. During the following two days the Americans decided to do a battlefield reconnaissance and Colonel S. Reber, developed a croquis of the Aibonito Pass. Spies were deployed throughout Coamo, including a Puerto Rican separatist named Carlos Patterne, who was able to enter the city without suspicion and contact Rufino Huertas, a separatist teacher. Huertas gave Patterne a series of defense plans that were previously developed and organized by Martínez Illescas. While inactive, the Puerto Rican soldiers deployed in Asomante completed rounds every two hours, working four hours daily. They mostly ate beans, some rice and meat, while conserving several cracker packs for Spanish reinforcements that were supposed to arrive. They slept in improvised huts that did not protect them from the rain. The American commanders decided to attack the trenches with artillery, while sending a large group to Barranquitas, from which they would try to attack the allied troops from the back. At 10:30 a.m. Captain R.D. Potts led part of the 3rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment through the central highway to Aibonito. Lieutenants Bliss and O'Hern led two units with similar equipment. At 1:00 p.m. the allied troops opened cannon fire as the Americans entered their range. Potts ordered the deployment of two batteries while O'Hern received orders from Commander Landcaster to set a cannon at a distance of about 100 yards to the vanguard's right. They intended to defeat the small group led by Captain Hernaíz. Shrapnel from allied cannon fire was falling close to Lancaster's location, and he asked Potts to help him by deploying a battery nearby. One of Hernaíz's Placensias cannons overheated, which forced him to order a temporary cease to the offensive. Landcaster believed that the opposition had been annihilated, ordered an advance. However; the allied fire was renewed, this time supported by Mauser rifle fire. The sudden attack caused confusion among some soldiers, who reported seeing a second Spanish unit nearby. Fearing that the allied units could capture the American equipment, Landcaster ordered a retreat. Lieutenant Hains was gravely injured by a Mauser bullet, being replaced by Sergeant John Long. Meanwhile, most of Potts' men fled the battlefield. In the crossfire the allied forces overpowered the American infantry, using Mauser fire to disorganize their artillery, during which time four American officials were gravely injured including Long, Lieutenant Harris, Captain E.T. Lee and Corporal Oscar Sawanson. Private Frederick Yough, Corporal August Yank, George J. Bruce and Private Sices also received injuries, with Yough subsequently dying. Harris' position was filled by O'Hern, while Sawanson was fatally shot while trying to support the artillery. In total the allied units had only an injured artillery man, while the American side had two dead and five injured. Wilson's camp was the first to receive a telegram from General Miles notifying him of the amnesty declared by the signing of the Treaty of Paris. The Americans sent Bliss to Asomante, but Nouvilas refused to suspend the hostilities after receiving a telegram from Macías denying any peace treaty. We covered this Aibonito Pass situation before. But let us see why this has been called Puerto Rico's Thermopylae. See Photo.  That's Wilson's view looking from the southwest in modern times. Note the left side of the photo? That trail leading around the left most mountain, they do not tell you, is a goat path.  You can see why he wanted to send Ernst on a left hook toward Barranquitas and angle back northwest to southeast to cut Illeascas' line of retreat.on the road. Want to know what Puerto Rican Guerreros were using for artillery?  That would be a canone de bronce de 21cm plasencia md. 1885/91). That is a siege gun, an 8.26-inch bronze muzzle loader of about 14 calibers. The Puerto Ricans found it and got it up a hill to shoot down the main road that you see in the above photo. Do you think General Wilson might have been a little bit worried here? Here is some of the other stuff the Puerto Ricans used at Aibonita Pass.  80mm Mod.1875 'Plasencia' 80mm Mountain Gun This was a Krupp-designed bronze field gun that was used by Spanish Mountain Artillery batteries. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- United StatesSpain and the United States sign in Washington, D.C. an armistice, the "Protocol of Peace" ending all hostilities between Spain and the United States in the war fronts of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. Protocol For The End Of Hostilities With Spain By the President of the United States of America. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas, By a protocol concluded and signed Aug. 12, 1898, by William R. Day, Secretary of State of the United States, and his Excellency Jules Chambon, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France at Washington, respectively representing for this purpose, the Government of the United States and the Government of Spain, the Governments of the United States and Spain have formally agreed upon the terms on which negotiations for the establishment of peace between the two countries shall be undertaken; and, Whereas, it is in said protocol agreed that upon its conclusion and signature hostilities between the two countries shall be suspended, and that notice to that effect shall be given as soon as possible by each Government to commanders of its military and naval forces; Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United States, do, in accordance with the stipulations of the protocol, declare and proclaim on the part of the United States a suspension of hostilities, and do hereby command that orders be immediately given through the proper channels to the commanders of the military and naval forces of the United States to abstain from all acts inconsistent with the proclamation. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington, this 12th day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, and of the independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty-third. William McKinley. By the President, William R. Day, Secretary of State. Terms of the Protocol 1. Spain will relinquish all claim of sovereignty over and title to Cuba. 2. Porto Rico and other Spanish islands in the West Indies and an island in the Ladrones to be selected by the United States, shall be ceded to the latter. 3. The United States will occupy and hold the city, bay and harbor of Manila pending the conclusion of a treaty of peace, which shall determine the control, disposition and governance of the Philippines. Cuba, Porto Rico and other Spanish islands in the West Indies shall be immediately evacuated and Commissioners, to be appointed within ten days, shall, within thirty days from the signing of the protocol, meet at Havana and San Juan, respectively, to arrange and execute the details of the evacuation. 5. The United States and Spain will each appoint not more than five Commissioners to negotiate and conclude a treaty of peace. The Commissioners are to meet at Paris not later than the 1st of October. 6. On the signing of the protocol hostilities will be suspended and notice to that effect will be given as soon as possible by each Government to the commanders of its military and naval forces. We can see McKinley's cautious compromises and the mistakes he makes. a. If you are fighting a criminal imperialist war, then there are two ways to handle the outcome as the victor. -- fight the war as a liberator and establish "client states" as the British did in their world empire, presenting a 'fiction' as the liberators and civilizers with the attendant self-deceptions and lies involved. --do it the American way heretofore, as with "Manifest Destiny" where the foreign lands are conquered or purchased and taken into the Union to be settled and developed as in "the taming of the West". This was a brutal process (Ask the native Americans imprisoned on the reservations. M.), that made the Spanish atrocities in Cuba, the reason for the Spanish American War, look like "benevolent neglect". So: why was Cuba, the Philippine Archipelago and to this day, Puerto Rico, excluded from "statehood" while Alaska, full of Russians and Canadians, and Hawaii, full of Hawaiians and Japanese with only a few Americans, taken into the Union? Racism is one reason. Brown skinned people, who spoke Spanish or Tagalog, were too strange and different for a Gilded Age Anglo America. Another reason is that the citizens of these lands had their own national liberation movements and the proven political wills to strive for their own independence and nationhoods. It might have been smarter to simply have established nation to nation relations and make friends and allies with these nascent nations. Cuba would eventually follow that track for a short while, but the Philippine Archipelago was mishandled differently, and it remains to this day a profound stain and crime what the Americans did from 1898 to 1990 in the Archipelago. b. In for a porkchop? Steal the whole hog. The Ladrones is the Mariannas Islands. By no stretch of 1898 logic, should the Germans have been allowed ANYWHERE near Guam or later the Japanese after they kicked the Germans off Saipan and Tinian. You would have thought that after Hawaii and Samoa, that the Americans would have learned that everything not nailed down under the Stars and Stripes, some other land grabby imperialist nation would seize. The United States HELD those islands at the time of the armistice and gave them back to Spain. What did it cost that kind of mistake?  When you put up a lot of those, it means you have been STUPID. ================================================================================ PhilippinesOn orders of General Merritt, General Anderson notifies Aguinaldo to forbid the insurgents under his command from entering Manila, stating "Do not let your troops enter Manila without the permission of the American commander. On this side of the Pasig River you will be under fire". The order was to tell Aguinaldo that the Americans regarded the Pasing River as the deconfliction boundary between Katipunan and American forces. No mention of the "war comedy" was passed on. If you are Filipino, this order is something of an insult. Manila is your capital under foreign occupation, and you should have the right to liberate it. If you are an American sending in infantry march columns to occupy the Intramuros and the heart of Manila city, you do not want 40,000 Filipino soldiers surging across your line and route of march south to north in movement from east to west in a hot footrace to see who gets to the Intramuros FIRST. ================================================================================ Puerto RicoUS Army Brigadier General Schwan's command encounters Spanish Army resistance near the town of Las Marías. Word of the armistice has not yet reached Puerto Rico, and a brief skirmish ensues. It is the last battle of the war in Puerto Rico.[
by Mark R. Barnes, Ph.D., Senior Archeologist, National Park Service, Southeast Regional OfficeLet us see how much more General Schwan can bungle things? Las Marias was not so much a skirmish as it was a chase into a cull de sac and take prisoners exercise. |
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miletus12
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Post by miletus12 on Aug 14, 2022 6:06:09 GMT
This one is going to be LONG and complicated. Day 115 of the Spanish–American War, August 13th 1898Philippines: Battle of ManilaManila surrenders. Governor General Jáudenes, fearing Spanish troops will be massacred by the Filipinos, agrees to surrender the city after token resistance if U.S. General Wesley Merritt excludes Filipino troops from the battle. Merritt agrees. After a brief naval bombardment, the 1st Brigade under Brigadier General Arthur MacArthur, Jr. attacks from the south while General Greene's 2d Brigade attacks from the north. There is brief Spanish resistance to MacArthur's advance after large groups of Filipinos ignore American orders to stay behind and rush the Spanish lines. Governor General Jáudenes surrenders at 11:20 A.M. after a battle lasting two hours. Drawing: Raising the American flag over Fort Santiago, Manila, on the evening of August 13, 1898 As bungled as the "Mock Battle of Manila" was, it could have been far worse. The situation, (See map.), could easily have ignited a major expansion of the Spanish American War. I think it marks the official beginning of the Filipino-American phase of the Filipino War of National Independence. Not March 1899 as claimed by American historians. The Germans have moved in to observe the situation since last we saw them. They are about six miles northwest of the Pasing River mouth. The British in their two cruisers are a bit west of and south of Dewey, who flanks the northward movement of US 8th corps. Battles that Changed History; First Manila 1898 or Manila (or First Manila) Dates: 25 JUL-13 AUG 1898 (Read the article at the link. it is HUGE.)
The summary is that the fix was in, Aguinaldo the double crosser was double crossed, and the Americans still come off as the mustache twirling villains in the piece. There is no other way to describe them, here. They were the villains. ============================================================= Diary of Chriss A. Bell Aug. 13, 1898 He is a corporal of the 2nd Oregon Volunteer Infantry. By paragraph these are the comments. 1. The wind was not cooperative. As with the Battle of Cavite, 1 May 1898, the smoke produced by shots out of brown powder guns, hung about the American battleline like a collective fog. Vegetation ashore cloaked the effects of impacts. Ranging instruments of 1898 optical design and standards were not good enough for corrective aimed fire for effect by shipboard tracking parties or gun aimers in local control. Americans, ashore, had not been trained to wigwag or blinker light to the fleet how to correct for fall of observed shot from their observation posts. The shooting was for noise and light and about nothing else. I think Dewey knew this was the case, but war-shots out with loaded explosive shell are going to randomly hit and kill somebody near that fort. Our accounts (American side) put the dead at anywhere from ten to one hundred Spaniards. The Filipinos caught in the free-fire zone could have been at least that many. I note with intense sarcasm how easily American accounts gloss over Filipino casualties. 2. Looting for souvenirs is admitted. This was a more property rights respecting 1898 American army than one supposes would have been the case with say; the Germans or the British; but let us not kid ourselves. These were criminal invaders with guns who had a casual definition of "legality". They stole things and at best they "misbehaved" with the local populace. If an American admiral or general refers to Filipinos as "Indians" in his official reports (Dewey and Merritt both used this racist term to describe the Filipinos, as if they were of the Comanche nation. M.), then the common sailor and foot soldier is not going to respect the people they maladminister either. 3. Note the description of the Intramuros? Between the last time the British visited in 1762 and the coming of the Americans in 1898, at least one energetic Spanish administration had fortified the place to WWII standards. Chris Bell is right. A formal assault would have been a bloodbath for the Americans and the Spaniards. 4. This is Corporal Bell's description of the Spaniards. The common corporal has the common corporal's view of things. Two battalions of Americans were only about 1,600 men in 1898. if the 5,000-man observed Spanish garrison estimate is accurate, then the claim in some accounts that about 1/3 to 1/2 of Jaudenes' troops deserted and melted into the Manila city population could be suggested as true. Diary of Lieutenant X (Aime Ernest Motsch) Saturday, August 13, 1898By paragraph these are the comments. 1. So LT Motsch now knows that it was a "war comedy" for the last three months? 2. USS Concorde...  This is the picket to keep an eye on the Germans to the north of the shoot-ex. 3. USS Olympia, USS Monterey, USS Raleigh, USS Charleston, USS Baltimore, USS Boston is the order of the battleline. USS Olympia at the head of the line and USS Baltimore at near the tail of the line is obvious. These are Dewey's best heavy ships as proved in battle. USS Monterey is there behind USS Olympia to knock down forts if she has to do it. USS Raleigh  is there for anti-torpedo torpedo boat defense of the battleline, especially of the USS Monterey. USS Charleston, captained by a complete boob who will run her aground and wreck her the next year, is slotted in where she can be watched by USS Raleigh. Dewey is not too sure about her. USS Boston is there at the rear to cover USS Baltimore's behind and just for the grins and smiles. 4. The Americans are shooting "wide" and north for a light and noise show as pre-arranged. 5. USS Monterey was line detached to bombard with clear lines of sight. Apparently, there was a lot of funnel smoke and Dewey wanted her clear of it. Something went very wrong at this point and USS Monterey shoots short. See map.  See photo.  That is what 10 inch and 8 inch and 6 inch bore shells can do. Those shots went straight through. The rains fogged up American rangefinder telescopes, so from about 10:30 onward it was iron sights through a smoke haze. The "shorts" into the trenches were "unfortunate" but inevitable. 5. USS Callao and USS Petrel closed and raked what they thought was an empty fort. This is one of the first blunders of the "mock battle". The understanding was that the fleet would shoot the empty place up and then the Spanish infantry would later retire safely into the rubble before MacArthur's column peppered the empty abandoned trenches in front of the place with rifle fire. What actually happened, as we reconstruct it, is that the naval gunfire hit short into the trenches south of Malate that caused the Spanish infantry to retreat prematurely. Some of the retreating Spaniards sniped at the advancing Americans as they covered their own retreat. This caused confusion and an exchange of shots before officers on both sides ordered a cease fire. 6. As to the claim of cannon fire from Fort San Antonio Abad, this was aimed in the "general direction" of MacArthur's troops. Here again, some American soldiers strayed into the Spanish free fire zone as they "chased" the "retreating" Spanish tercios. Not only did the fort's gunners shoot up the wrong place wrong time missed their stage marks Americans, but some Tercios who were out of position were shot up by their own gunners. 7. Because of the sporadic shooting on land and wigwag reports, Dewey ordered the fleet to go at it again. I am somewhat astounded that the Spaniards kept fire discipline at this point and agree with LT Motsch that no anti-ship fire from the large Manila waterfront 9.45 inch bore guns aimed at Dewey's ships was surprising. Jaudenes might not have been able to control his nitwits outside in the suburb forts, but at least he read his lines inside Manila properly. 8. USS Monterey convinced Fort San Antonio Abad to stick to the script. MacArthur's troops got up from where they hid and resumed their playacting attack. There will still be more "incidents". This is what happens when one goes into a play without a rehearsal. 9. At this moment there was supposed to be a general orderly Spanish withdrawal with the Americans marching just a little behind them with shots wide or high to simulate a battle. This did not happen as the Katipunan just north of Paco, decided that the Americans and Spaniards had pulled a fast one on them. Deconfliction be stuffed. General del Rey's troops attacked without orders and intermingled with Greene's men and the very thing the Americans did not want was about to happen. It was about to blow apart. 10. The farce having been exposed, it was a mad dash by the Americans and Spaniards to exchange positions to put a wall of American bayonets between the Katipunan army of liberation and Manila. Of especial importance was that battery of large coast defense guns. It is about 11:00 local time that Greene and MacArthur threw away the script and both sides openly colluded against the Katipunan. Motsch does not make it clear, but yes indeed there was a surprise sudden rush to be seen to get American troops to the walls and to take over the forts as fast as possible. The one volley salute from both sides was for tradition and yet there were still people killed. 11. At around this time, Jaudenes was supposed to have raised a huge white flag to signal the city's surrender. Dewey did not see one. There was a good chance that he would have turned USS Monterey loose on the Intramuros, but then a junior Spanish officer in the know, realized that Jaudenes had bungled this part of the evolution and somehow; he, the junior officer, found a white sheet large enough to be seen through the haze and he had it hoisted so the US fleet could see it. It was yet another near miss incident in what could have been a complete tragedy and war-crime. 12. Now came the parley. The previous example of Manzanillo showed how not to do it. But this was Dewey. He waited for the Spaniards to send him the invitation and then he accepted the invite and went ashore fairly low key to make it obvious that these talks occurred under a carefully arranged ceasefire in place. 13. Why should Motsch be upset that a city is not on fire and hundreds if not thousands of people have not been killed? What kind of monster is he? We (The French? The Europeans?) are insulted? The Americans are villains to be sure, but they are not the kind of villains the British were at Alexandria or the French at Fuzhou, or the Spanish at Valparaiso. They have General Order 100 and are sticking to it when they can, as best that they can. 14. Transfer of the city happens at 6:00 PM local time. It is 6 hours later than planned. The details really do matter to make sure that the hand-off remains peaceful. I think Dewey remembers the story about King Arthur, Mordred and the snake. It takes only one trigger happy idiot to ruin a parley. 15. Notice...Motsch sees it. This is the end of European imperialism. The Americans may have a temporary presence and they are the agency of force in this instance, but they, too, will go away as the Filipinos and other oppressed peoples send these interlopers packing. The Americans' mistake was that they came in as would be, as another set of colonial imperialists. They should have learned and remembered from their own revolution and conformed to the lesson of that process and outcome. 16. The takeover goes along smoothly with someone putting up a storefront advertisement, "Open For Business Under New Management". That is mild compared to what the monster, Motsch, wanted to see happen. See 13. Then we have American troops allegedly mistreating the Filipinos by shoving them along with bayonets? Of course: I believe it happened. These were kids with guns. They were stealing things, getting drunk and taking advantage while there was confusion and lax officer and noncom oversight. I am quite sure much worse incidents happened of which that Motsch was not aware. An American occupation army will turn 'Saigon' on you in a heartbeat if the high command does not provost it immediately. That was one of the reasons Westmoreland should have been court martialed for the corrupt and incompetent fool that he was when he bungled the Vietnam colonialist adventurist war. 17. Posting pickets, after what nearly happened at Paco around noon that could have turned into a three cornered free for all murder fest, was to be expected. Merritt has to do something to deconflict with the Katipunan. It was not noble at all, and it was errant colonialist imperialist criminal behavior that quickly led to a national liberation war against the Americans, but Merritt had to be practical as he saw it. He promised Jaudenes that he would not let the Katipunan into Manila City, as part of the terms of surrender negotiated. Diary of James J. Loughrey August 13, 1898Same as before, the comments are paragraph by paragraph. 1. The 1st California Volunteers got themselves liquoured up. They needed it. 2. The Regulars to the 1st California's right strayed into the "free fire zone". Of course: they were going to have a tough time. The navy friendly fired them from the west and the Spaniards shelled them, allegedly by mistake, from the north. The 1st California just waltzed along the beach, crossed the bridge, entered Manila and wound up as the assigned Provost Guard posted at the palace, which surprises me because they were DRUNK throughout this whole exercise.
Diary of Miguel Saderra Maso Sábado 13 de Agosto 1898By paragraph, these are the comments. 1. Leave it to Father Maso to notice that the pesky Germans were trying to situation normal all foul up the works as was their custom. Now you know what the USS McCulloch was doing. The details of the mock battle, as seen from the observatory, were coincident and compliment LT Motsch's observations above. I think it was Greene's troops who asked for quarters, they identified, as being the closest US troops to the observatory. The USS Monterey blew the hole in the wall near the Paco. The volodrome? If that is a velodrome, that would be a bicycle racing track. A volodrome would be a falconry or hunting bird training arena. I am guessing at this because the only other explanation is "flying field" and I don't think the Spanish had a commercial airport present in 1898 Manila. I get the feeling, reading his version of the mock battle, that he, Father Maso, does not understand what war at all is about. Anyway, Father Maso noted that the Yankees and the Katipunan, while polite, are brigands... polite brigands who intended to loot the Spanish colonial carcass in the Philippine Islands. The Katipunan rank and file had a tendency to beat stupid soldiers for obeying stupid lieutenants' stupid orders, and they used rattan batons to do it? I approve heartily of this form of higher education. I wish it had been applied to those two lieutenants as well, and then copied by American soldiers to apply to some senior American officials present in that area. 2. The Spaniards fell back, a bit disorganized, as Maso noted. 3. Spanish troops are being quartered haphazardly. The Americans should have considered this problem. An oversight that did not happen in Cuba or Puerto Rico, I noticed. This is one time the Eastern Command outperformed the Western Command. 4. I have no idea from this account why the Spanish defended those trenches (Edit, the Spanish were beating off Katipunan attacks. M.) into day two of the transition. 5. The casualty rates are way off. Divide by ten for the Spaniards and again by 40 for the Americans. Filipino casualties were at least equal to the Spanish in numbers, maybe more.
Diary of John B. Kinne August 13, 1898.More comments appended per paragraph. 1. The 1st North Dakota Volunteers were apparently tall tale tellers, that is expletive deleted liars. How do I know this? Melvin A. Hildreth was one such a liar, for he never won a Medal of Honor as he falsely claimed. 2. The Astor Battery was shot up. This outfit was raised and equipped a la American Civil War fashion by John Jacob Astor IV, who became its colonel. Amateurs and enthusiasm do not great soldiers make despite Teddy Roosevelt. That is why the War Department tapped one Peyton March to command the battery. The Astor Battery.(This Katipunan assault was the reason the Spaniards in this sector in that blockhouse opened fire on MacArthur's men and almost ignited a genuine real battle. The local commanders believed that they had been double crossed and that General Luna's troops and the Americans had combined against them. M.) (By all accounts, JJIV was an incompetent adjutant, more noted for courage than brains, in the Santiago Campaign. Peyton March should have been the one commanding the AEF in France in 1917 while John Pershing was cleaning out horse stables at the Fort Leavenworth military prison after being court martialed for his utter incompetence and for atrocities committed by his troops against the Apache nation. M.) As for John Baxter Kinne, a Minnesotan of the 13th Minnesota, who was somehow attached as a scout to the 1st North Dakota volunteers. He earned the Congressional Medal of Honor the HARD way and survived to have Teddy Roosevelt pin it on him... 3. Yes, they ran for cover. The mock battle plan was torn to shreds by the Katipunan attack. Sensible people do not march standing up into a hail of bullets. The Americans tried to sort things out and find out if the fighting was going to be for real. 4. You can see why Peyton March should have been in charge in France? The Astor Battery made New York PROUD. By this time the Katipunan had been Spanish-repulsed, and the Spanish and American officers talked to each other and got things back on script. The mock-battle was on again. 5. The advance is described. Kinne suspects a put-up job, but he does not know. 6. Home by Christmas? These soldiers are not stupid. They expect the worst, and they are going to get it. Diary of John Henry AsendorfFinal comments. The 1st Colorado Volunteers had a much easier time of it along the beach than MacArthur's North Dakotans, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers and Minnesotans, but even they had a trigger-happy incident. Notice the Spaniards shot over the heads of the advancing Americans? This was one time when it was by design. There were many occasions when this ramshackle "war comedy" plan should have gone horribly wrong. It is a testament to the Americans and Spaniards, that they managed to pull it off in the confusion of actual battle which the Katipunan brought on. Jaudenes and Dewey figured it out and made it work and thereby cheated the Filipino people into a new colonial set of overlords. I did not and do not write that this was a glorious Spanish American accomplishment. The Americans were VILLAINS in this piece... successful ones. But I can at least note that this war comedy was confined to mainly soldiers as victims for now and that the alternative war-crime of a Valparaiso or a Fuzhou or an Alexandria was cleverly avoided. There was that much "good" from this aggression against the Filipino people. When I begin a thread on the "Filipino-American War", what American historians call an "insurrection" and what should be known as a continuation of the "Filipino War of Independence", we will see this American success change for the far worse as they fight the Katipunan. |
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