[Illustration:  TAKING WOUNDED TO THE DIVISION HOSPITAL AFTER THE FIGHT ON SAN JUAN HILL.]

[Sidenote:  The Porto Rico expedition.]

482.  The Porto Rico Campaign.—­The only other important colony still remaining to Spain in America was Porto Rico.  General Nelson A. Miles led a strong force to its conquest.  Instead of landing on the northern coast near San Juan, the only strongly fortified position on the seacoast, General Miles landed his men on the southern coast near Ponce (Pon-tha).  The inhabitants received the Americans with the heartiest welcome.  This was on August 1.  The American army then set out to cross the island.  But before they had gone very far news came of the ending of the hostilities.

[Sidenote:  Fall of Manila.]

483.  Fall of Manila.—­When the news of Dewey’s victory (p. 390) reached the United States, soldiers were sent to his aid.  But this took time, for it was a very long way from San Francisco to the Philippines and vessels suitable for transports were not easily procured on the Pacific coast.  General Wesley Merritt was given command of the land forces.  Meantime, for months Dewey with his fleet blockaded Manila from the water side, while Philippine insurgents blockaded it from the land side.  Foreign vessels, especially the German vessels, jealously watched the operations of the American fleet and severely taxed Dewey’s patience.  On August 17 Merritt felt strong enough to attack the city.  It was at once surrendered to him.

[Illustration:  THE UNITED STATES IN 1900.]

[Illustration:  DEPENDENCIES OF THE UNITED STATES.  All on same scale as United States, 1900.]

[Sidenote:  Treaty of Peace, 1898.]

[Sidenote:  Hawaii.]

484.  End of the War.—­The destruction of the Spanish Atlantic fleet and the fall of Santiago convinced the Spaniards that further resistance was useless.  So it was agreed that the fighting should be stopped.  This was in July, 1898.  But the actual treaty of peace was not made until the following December.  The conditions were that Spain should abandon Cuba, should cede to the United States Porto Rico, the Philippines, and some smaller islands, and should receive from the United States twenty million dollars.  For many years American missionaries, merchants, and planters had been interested in the Hawaiian Islands.  The war showed the importance of these islands to the United States as a military and naval station, and they were annexed.

485.  Prosperity.—­The years 1898-1900 have been a period of unbounded prosperity for the American people.  Foreign trade has increased enormously, and the manufactures of the United States are finding a ready market in other countries.  A rebellion has been going on in the Philippines, but it seems to be slowly dying out (February, 1900).

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

CHAPTER 44