Spanish-American War

1. Spanish-American War

2. SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR • After the Civil War • Military has a difficult time between wars, but better after end of century before WWI • Union Army mostly demobilized • Army’s primary duty was security of settlers in West • Army was isolated from rest of country, because they were involved in activities that most people didn’t care about**** • Much like today; Guard/Reserve deployments keep average citizen in touch, but few during this period • Military post graduate schools • Advanced degrees; engineering, etc. • Military instruction in civilian colleges • Not quite ROTC, but close

3. SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR • Issues and Events • Little over 3 months • Fewer than 300 killed on both sides • Establishes U.S. as major world power • Shipbuilding and training program started after Civil War is success, but demobilization, especially to army, quickly follows because military is expensive • Political Objective • Cuba wanted to rebel against Spain • Public sentiment against Spain fanned by New York papers, sensational and often false • Cuba was major U.S. trading partner • No one sure of political objectives • New state? Free Cuba?

4. SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR • Military Objectives and Strategy • Ended Spanish rule in Philippines, new country • Captured garrison on Puerto Rico, still U.S. territory • Seized Cuba, but given freedom, new country • Got Guam, still U.S. territory • Military Technology and Technique • Perhaps the first of the modern wars • Weapons • .30 caliber rifle, 5 shot repeater • Spanish had smokeless gunpowder • Cannons pretty much same as Civil War

5. SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR • Navy • Better prepared than army • No recruiting or training problems • Citizens on Atlantic coast wanted protection from Spanish fleet • 5 battleships, 30 cruisers • Army • Regular army trained/experienced to fight frontier Indian wars • Small units • Little command structure • 1 Million men volunteer, but mostly for militia, but poorly trained, equipped, disciplined • Can’t get inducted, trained, equipped in time to fight

6. SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR • Military Conduct • No coordination between services • War room at White House • Sinking of battleship Maine in Havana harbor starts war, but WHO SANK THE MAINE? • Spanish? Cubans? U.S.? • War in Philippines • Gain of Philippines was accident • Caught Spanish fleet in Manila Bay and sank it • Commodore Dewey sailed from Hong Kong, 4 cruisers & 2 gunboats, destroyed entire Spanish fleet • 1 dead from heatstroke and 8 wounded • 5 days after war declared • Spanish army commander in Manila surrenders after sham battle

7. SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR Military Objectives and Strategy U.S. order of battle: OLYMPIA - (5870 tons, four 8" guns, ten 5" guns, 6 torpedo tubes) BALTIMORE - (4413 tons, four 8" guns, six 6" guns) RALEIGH - (3213 tons, one 6" gun, two 5" guns) BOSTON - (3000 tons, two 8" guns, six 6" guns) CONCORD - (1710 tons, six 6" guns) PETREL - (892 tons, four 6" guns) Spanish order of battle: REINA CRISTINA - (3520 tons, six 6.2" guns, 5 torpedo tubes) CASTILLA - (3260 tons, four 5" guns, two 4.7" guns, 2 torpedo tubes) ISLA DE CUBA - (1045 tons, four 4.7" guns, 2 torpedo tubes) ISLA DE LUZON - (1045 tons, four 4.7" guns, 2 torpedo tubes) DON ANTONIO DE ULLOA - (1160 tons, four 4.7" guns) DON JUAN DE AUSTRIA - (1159 tons, four 4.7" guns, 2 torpedo tubes) MARQUES DEL DUERO - (500 tons, one 6.2 inch gun, two 4.7" guns)

8. SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR • Military Conduct • War in Cuba • Extremely hot and wool uniforms • Insects, poor food, bad equipment • Disease Yellow Fever carried by mosquitoes, killed more soldiers than died from wounds • Spanish don’t oppose invasion, but if they had the result might have been different • Logistical snarls and lack of planning • Spanish army surrenders after loss of navy without much fight, near starvation

9. SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR • Military Conduct • Remainder of Spanish fleet in Cuba sunk The American order of battle: [Flagship] Armored Cruiser NEW YORK - 8,200 tons, six 8-inch, twelve 4-inch guns Battleship IOWA - 11,340 tons, four 12-inch, eight 8-inch, six 4-inch guns Battleship INDIANA - 10,288 tons, four 13-inch, eight 8-inch, four 6-inch guns Battleship OREGON - 10,288 tons, four 13-inch, eight 8-inch, four 6-inch guns [Flagship] Armored Cruiser BROOKLYN - 9,200 tons, eight 8-inch, twelve 5-inch guns Battleship (2nd class) TEXAS - 6,315 tons, two 12-inch, six 6-inch guns The Spanish order of battle: [Flagship] Armored Cruiser INFANTA MARIA TERESA - 7,000 tons, two 11-inch, ten 5.5-inch guns Armored Cruiser ALMIRANTE OQUENDO - 7,000 tons, two 11-inch, ten 5.5-inch guns Armored Cruiser VISCAYA - 7,000 tons, two 11-inch, ten 5.5-inch guns Armored Cruiser CRISTOBAL COLON - 6,840 tons, ten 6-inch, six 4.7 inch guns

10. SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR • Military Conduct • War on Puerto Rico • No real fighting, Spain had little force on island • War on Guam • U.S. warship shells island • Spanish send message apologizing for not returning salute, no ammunition on island • Better State of Peace • U.S. advanced to world power

11. SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR • Lessons Learned • Victory was due more to feebleness of Spanish than to U.S. efficiency • Ability to retain solders after enlistment ends • Industrial strength was critical to war effort • Army was small, had no mobilization plan and had no experience with joint operations • Without mobilization plans, large problems trying to train, equip and supply large numbers, especially in short time • Lack of proper medical care, sanitation and good food • Disease often worse than battle • Permanent program to protect the health of U.S. troops; military medical corps founded • Valuable lessons on preparedness and organization