The How Many More Times

The sight of an army springing up out of nothing, the spectacle of the monumental work of military organization being pushed on to success in spite of mistakes, arrested the attention of all European nations. One thing is certaina noble victory has been nobly won; and won, happily at a cost, which, deplorable though it actually was, was relatively small, as must be acknowledged by every student of the warfare of the past.Whatever may have been ghd australia the attitude and feelings of the Spanish officials and Spanish troops, there can be no doubt that the Porto Ricans themselves welcomed most enthusiastically the advent of the Americans and the dawn of a new era. The joy manifested at the sight of invaders in a conquered country was most extraordinary, and we can affirm with truth that it has no parallel in history. It was most fortunate that little or no fighting took place, as thus many valuable lives were saved. There was no question whatever as to the result.

The number and location of the Spanish troops on the island just before the armistice was declared were as follows: Aibonito, , men, and two -inch field cannon; Cavey,  men; Caguas, ; Rio Piedras, ; Carolite, ; Arecibo, , and two -inch field cannon; Aguadilla, ; Crab Island, ; Bayamon, ; San Juan, ,, making a total of ,, to which may be added approximately  of the Guardia Civil, doing duty in their own villages all over the island, and  of the Orden Publico, doing  ghd pretty in pink similar police duty in San Juan. Many members of the Guardia Civil in or near the territory held by the American troops joined the Americans. It cannot be told with any certainty how much resistance the Spaniards would have offered had hostilities continued, but most of the fighting would have undoubtedly taken place within sight of San Juan. The Spaniards themselves believed this, as the preparations they made sufficiently indicated.

 The native people generally were thoroughly delighted with the news that the island was likely to be ceded to the United States. Wherever the American flag went up, it was cheered with a vigor that probably was never given to the Spanish flag during all the centuries it has been in evidence. Everywhere, the people rushed forward to welcome the invaders, and showered them with hospitable attentions. Pretty women dressed themselves in their richest  ghd green garments and smiled their sweetest smiles to charm the conquerors. Food, cigars and wines were pressed upon the soldiers; the civil authorities issued florid proclamations over the glad event of becoming Americanos, and the whole country blossomed with Star-Spangled banners. The only reason why even more of them were not displayed was because more of them could not be obtained. It was one of the most unlooked-for and surprising things of this most surprising war, as a writer in the National Tribune of Washington observes.