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In
1895 revolution resurfaced in Spanish-ruled Cuba. As the US now had
considerable trade interests in the island, the USS Maine was sent to the
port of Havana to protect American citizens and property. On the night of 15
February 1898, the vessel was sunk by a huge explosion, with the loss of 266
lives.
The American people was whipped into a frenzy by this perceived act of
sabotage (although it now appears that a faulty boiler was to blame), and
Congress first asked, then demanded, then sent troops to ensure that Spain
renounced its sovereignty over Cuba.
The first action of the war was naval. The American Pacific Fleet, visiting
the Hong Kong, set off to attack the Spanish colony in the Philippines.
There, on May 1st 1898, at Manilla Bay, they engaged a Spanish fleet, and
destroyed it.
In June 1898, the Americans landed in Cuba, and set off to capture the
Spanish capital of Santiago. After several encounters, the two armies faced
each other: with the Spanish defending the San Juan ridge just east of
Santiago. After a fierce battle, the Americans captured the ridge, and
demanded that the Spanish surrender. An attempt by another Spanish fleet to
break out of Santiago harbour led to its destruction, and the Spanish
garrison surrendered shortly afterwards on 17th July 1898.
The Americans then invaded Puerto Rico: whose defenders were defeated easily
before the end of the month. A truce was then agreed that gave
the Americans Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines, although they turned
down Cuba. The Filipinos were somewhat surprised that the Americans were
going to replace Spanish rule rather than liberate them, and the leader of
the rebels, Emilio Aguinaldo, led his men into the jungle where, for the
next three years, they waged a guerrilla war against the States. This war
claimed four times as many lives as the war with Spain did and, as Andrew
Carnegie wrote to a leading expansionist: “Congratulations! You seem to
have about finished your work of civilising the Filipinos. It is thought
that about eight thousand of them have been completely civilised and sent to
heaven!”
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