Soldiers and sailors of New Jersey in the Spanish-American War, embracing a chronological account of the Army and Navy, Part 3

Author: McNally, Bernard, comp
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Newark, N.J., B. McNally
Number of Pages: 110


USA > New Jersey > Soldiers and sailors of New Jersey in the Spanish-American War, embracing a chronological account of the Army and Navy > Part 3


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New Jersey officers were enter- tained at a lawn fete.


14. The recruits for the First are be- ing whipped into shape at Sea Girt.


15. A box containing housewiv bandages, tobacco and shoe strings, has been received by the First Regiment from the Needle- work Guild and Nova Caesarea Chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution of Newark.


16. The First Regiment made a fine showing in the parade this morn- ing at Camp Alger. Maj. Free- man iposed of nine cases of dere- liction of duty among Jersey sol- tion of duty among Jersey sol- diers. The First was called out to fight forest fire, which threat- ened the camp. The commis- sioners are warned that they must see that the men secure supplies of good food.


20. The First Brigade, consisting of the First New Jersey, Seventh Ohio and Sixty-Fifth New York, started this morning on a two days' practice march to Potomac River. Two days' cooked rations were issued to each man. New-


ark soldiers lead the way.


27. Gen. Butler praised Col. Camp- bell and his men, on the fine show- ing made while on the march. Modern guns have arrived for the First New Jersey, and the troops soon expect to have a sham bat- tle with blank cartridges.


28. The First N. J. Regiment, while at drill yesterday, was surprised and attacked by troop A, of the N. Y. Cavalry. There was a hot skirmish as the troopers dashed among the infantrymen, but the Jerseymen rallied by squads and repulsed the cavalry. The weath- er was hot and the men were greatly fatigued by the unexpect- ed assault.


July 2. The arrival in Camp Alger, last night, of the recruits for the First N. J. Regiment, resulted in a long continued ovation as the men passed down the line of regiment, before being assigned to their re- spective companies. There was


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little sleeping in camp last night. The artesian well for the Newark ers is in working order, and the men rejoice over an abundant supply of pure water. Dr. Al- lers retired as Division Surgeon, and returns to his brigade at his own request. .


5. Camp Alger soldiers are very en . thusiastic over Sampson's victory.


6. The First Regiment's march to the Potomac River was made through rain and mud, but only one man was forced to drop out, and he was a new recruit.


7. The Newark soldiers are still held in camp! Instead of being .sent to the front; two battalions are being ordered to do provost · duty. `They are lacking in equip- ·ments. . Ninety per cent. of their old Springfield rifles have been " condemned by the acting Inspec- · tor General. > '


9. Only one case of typhoid fever : has developed in the First Regi- ment at Camp Alger.


IO. The First Regiment at Falls Church has their reading tent.


II: The Newark soldiers have just received their pay for June.


13. Private Jeremiah Murphy, of the First.N. J. Volunteers, died of ty- phoid fever at Camp Alger.


14. Private Murphy was buried this afternoon .: The services were held at his late residence. The coffin was covered with an Amer- ican flag, and with an escort of four soldiers was taken to the cemetery of the Holy Sepulchre.


15. Camp Alger soldiers wild with delight. Newark men lead the celebration in honor of the sur- render of Santiago de Cuba.


21. Gen. Plume and Col. Clark visit Dunn Loring to lay out a new camp for the First Brigade.


23. Major Champlain praises fine showing of the First Regiment N. J. Volunteers at Camp Alger, Va.


26. First Regiment N. J. Volunteers visited by President Mckinley. and wife.


29. First Regiment N. J. Volunteers


are tired of camp; they ask to go to the front.


Aug. I. First Regiment U. S. Volunteers ordered to camp at Dunn Loring.


2. After many disappointments the First Regiment moved camp to Dunn Loring, to-day.


3. The First Regiment has been or- dered to join Gen. Wade's pro- visional division.


4. New rifles were given the First Regiment yesterday.


6. First Regiment ordered to Porto Rico.


6. "Camp Alger, Dunn Loring, was "visited by a terrific rain storm; the hospital and reading room tent i were blown down:


8. The paymaster arrived in camp of First Regiment.


9 .. It is alleged that the death of Walter J. Spawn, of Co. M, First Regiment, is due to neglect.


II. Another heavy rain storm visited Camp Alger to-day. :


12. Camp Alger is doomed. The original place of that name will soon be but a memory.


19. Wm. S. Smith, of Co. C, First Regiment, died at Fort Myer hos- pital, yesterday morning, of ty- phoid fever. The members of : Co. E have taken charge of the funeral arrangements, and will see that the remains are sent home.


19. Maj. Freeman of the First Regi- ment asked for his release from service.


20. The vote for home was put to the First Regiment; and two- thirds of the men voted for home.


21. The fifth death in the camp of the First Regiment occurred to-day. Private Thos. J. Ryan, succumbs to typhoid fever.


21. Capt. Rowland, Lieut. Philips and Lieutenant Ring resign.


21. The non-coms. gave a banquet to the non-coms. of the Seventh Ohio.


23. First Regiment once more in re- view before Gen. Gobin, the com- mander of Camp Alger, and made a fine showing, and several of the boys were overcome with the heat.


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30. The Newark regiment show proud exhibition of robust vital- ity, only 54 men out of 1,300 are on the sick list, and only 24 in hospital, with a death roll of five. The dead are Wm. C. Canniff, Corp. Co. D, died May 29th, of acute Bright's .disease; Jeremiah Murphy, Co. A, died July 13th, at Fort Myer hospital of typhoid fe- ver and pneumonia; Walter J. Spawn, private Co. M, died Aug. 8th, at Fort Myer hospital of ty- phoid fever and pneumonia; Wm. E. Smith, private Co. E, died Aug. 8, Fort Myer hospital, ty- phoid fever; Thos. J. Ryan, pri- vate Co. G, died Aug. 21st, Fort Myer hospital, typhoid fever.


30 The boys vote once more. Votes taken by Gen. Meany and. Col. Oliphant, military aides to Gov. Voorhees. Result of vote, un- known.


Sept. I. Delay is dangerous. The boys of the First Regiment may soon reach the limit of endurance. Dis- ease lurks near them. They are in good health now, but if kept in Virginia much longer they will soon be in the condition of the Sixty-Fifth Regiment.


2. Newark boys break camp and will start for Sea Girt this after- noon. Boys wild with delight.


3. First Regiment N. J. Volunteers arrived at Sea Girt. All the men hale and hearty, excepting 16 sick.


3. Six sick soldiers from Sea Girt arrived in Newark.


4. About 1, 100members of the First Regiment came home on fur- lough.


8. Gen. Plume, commander of the First Brigade is. home on fur- lough with the boys.


12. 850 members of the First Regi- ment, who have been in Newark on furlough, returned to Sea Girt. and the air bit nippingly when the boys arrived.


13. 300 men from First Regiment ar- rived in Newark for one week's furlough.


14. The paymaster arrives at Sea Girt.


15. Back in old form; Newark boys make a fine showing in parade at . Sea Girt. They march like vet- . erans.


17. Men of the First Regiment on furlough in Newark were paid off at the Central R. R. station.


20 Officers of the First Regiment wish to join the Fourth Regiment. 20. Members of First Regiment N. J. Volunteers assembled at C. R. R., station and return to camp at Sea Girt.


24. A reviewing stand is being erect- ed opposite the City Hall for city officials to review therefrom the First Regiment N. J. Volunteers on their arrival home from the camp at Sea Girt.


26. After five months absence the First Regiment N. J. Volunteers arrived home and were royally welcomed. The public and other buildings were decorated with flags, bunting and other devices, and the streets. through which they marched were thronged with spectators.


26. Twenty-five Newarkers, recruits from the First Regiment, have re- turned to camp at Sea Girt, to join Fourth Regiment. -


26. The First Regiment is at last home from the war. They were received by admiring thousands of citizens; the First section con- taining the sick men and the horses arrived in the Mulberry St. yard of the Central R. R. 12:15 p. m. to-day, the next section ar- rived at 1:28 p. m. Its arrival was made known by a gun fired from the roof of the Daily Adver- tiser. At 1:15 the gun signalled that the parade had begun. The regiment marched past the City Hall at 2:30. As the parade pass- ed up Broad street, cheer after cheer arose from the thousands who had gathered. The side- walks from Lincoln Park to Or- ange street were jammed from curbline to buildings. The win- - dows of every building were filled and on many of the roofs the crowds had gathered. All along the line of march business houses


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and private dwellings were deco- rated with the national colors. At the City Hall the parade was re- viewed by Mayor Seymour, Mon- signor Doane and Rev. Dwight Galloupe, the general committee and their friends, who were on a reviewing stand built for the oc- casion. The police arrangements for handling the crowds were made in advance. Each side · of Broad street, from Hill street to the canal bridge, was wired off at the curb line, and no one was al- lowed outside of the wire. Bronz- ed, and with a more soldierly bearing than when they marched away, the soldiers marched up Broad street in perfect formation and with the pride of duty done written on every face. As the procession passed the Daily Ad- vertiser, Mr. Allen, the corres- pondent of the Daily in all the camps of the First Regiment, was cheered to the echo. The day was one that will long be remeni- bered by the members of the First Regiment N. J. Volunteers.


Oct. 5. Members of the First N. J. Vol . unteers will act as escorts for Na- val Reserves on their arrival home.


HARRISON, KEARNY, ARLING- TON AND THE BOROUGH OF EAST NEWARK IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.


In making up the account of the services rendered by the citizen soldiers and sail- ors who enlisted from this section of New Jersey, it is doubtful if in any other part of our country a greater number (the popula- tion considered) entered the different arms of the service, and the varied organizations in the civil, military and naval branches of the government as the facts will show, re- sponded to theircountry's call for help than did the citizens of the four above named places in Hudson county, New Jersey. Al- most the entire membership of the com- mand of Capt. George M. Buttle. Co. G, First Regiment N. J. Volunteers, of 106


men, were recruited in these towns and boroughs. Of the whole number who en- listed there were 164 men, 58 of whom en- listed as follows: One joined the Astor battery, and is now serving with that or- ganization in the Philippine Islands; anoth- er one enlisted in Roosevelt's regiment of Rough Riders, and others enlisted in the Sixth Regular Cavalry, the 22d, the 7Ist, the 9th and the 69th N. Y. Volunteers, and the 2d and 4th N. J. Volunteers. Of those who entered the naval branch of the service we are only able to name Assistant Engi- neer Lewis, a resident of Kearny, who serv- ed on the auxiliary cruiser St. Paul. One of the sorely pressed band of United States ntarines that landed from the U. S. S. Mar- blehead, near San Juan, near the city of Santiago, that withstood the repeated at- tacks of the Spaniards for many days, and the withering tropical July sun, was from . Kearny, and he still lives to tell what he and his comrades endured. Of the 230 members comprising the crew of the U. S. S. Badger, some are from Kearny. Other hardy and spirited ones from this northern section of New Jersey will be found among the crews of the U. S. S. Yankee, and the U. S. battleship Iowa. The only person from this section (the four places her in named) and in the naval service when the late war began, was Thomas Butler. He was one of the victims of the U. S. battle- ship Maine, blown up in Havana harbor, February 15th, 1898. Butler was a veter- an of the Civil War. Those who died from natural causes in the service of their coun- try were as follows: Private Thomas Smith, Jno. Young, and T. J. O'Brien. The remains of all were brought to their respective homes for burial, and were in- terred, and where they will sleep until the reveille of the last morn shall awaken them from their slumber to appear in that grand review before the Great Commander above. For the promptness and alacrity with which the 164 stalwart sons, brothers and fathers came forward to meet the call of the government in the time of need, the citi- zens of Harrison, Kearny, Arlington and the Borough of East Newark were not un- mindful of this practical demonstration of patriotism: foras soon as it was known that the soldiers and sailors had been allowed to return to their homes on furlough, a goodly number of the citizens of these places came together andappointed of their


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number twenty-five persons and intrusted to them the duty of preparing a "Welcome Home Reception" for the soldiers and sail- ors who had enlisted in the Spanish-Amer- ican war, and who, but a few months ago, were either their associates or neighbors. This reception took as part of the enter- tainment the form of a supper. . The citi- zen's committee met tlie soldiers and sail- ors at 'Arlington Park, at Depot Square. The soldiers and sailors were under the command of the United States drill master connected with the Catholic Protectory, of Kearny. The Catholic Protectory Band provided the music. Headed by the band the citizens escorted the soldiers and sail- ors to Freeman's Hall, ; Arlington, (Octo- ber 13th, 1898), where 254 persons sat down. to a' delicately prepared, but substantial meal, prepared in Davis' (of Newark) best style. The meal, over the other parts of the festivities were begun by Capt. George, M. Buttle, of Co. G, First N. J. Volunteers, presenting an appropriate gold medal to George W. Pearsall, First Sergeant of Co. G, as a reward to the Sergeant for his sur- vices in carrying out his (Capt. Buttle's )or- ders in relation to Co. 'G, while in the field. The other and the closing part of the gath- ering was the presentation by the honorary


members of Co. G, (all of the members are residents of Kearny), and to them as a committee, had fallen the lot of raising the ways and means to assist the needy famil- ies of soldiers and sailors, while from their homes in the service of the government, with a beautiful silk company flag, em- broidered in gold, bearing the name of "Co. G, First Regiment 'N. J., Volunteers." This emblem of liberty as a gift from the citizens of. Harrison, Kearny, Arlington and the Borough of East Newark, was but a fitting reward on such occasion to a worthy military organization. Capt. Buttle re- ceived the flag on the part of the Company and expressed their appreciation in appro- priate and eloquent remarks. With hearty cheers and the parting hand shaking, it was made manifest that "Grim-Visaged War. had Smoothied its Wrinkled Front," and that the soldiers and sailors of Harri- son, Kearny, Arlington and the Borough of East Newark were about to "Hang up their bruised arms for monuments."


The officers of the Committee of Enter- tainment were


JOSEPH PARKER, JR., Chairman, EDWARD A. STRONG, Secretary, JAMES M. LOWDEN, Treasurer.


CHRONOLOGY OF THE Spanish=American War in 1898.


January 25 .- U. S. battleship Maine, Cap- 'tain C. D. Sigsbee, U. S. N., is order- ed 'to Havana, Cuba.


February 8 .- The publication of a letter written by Senor Dupuy de Lome, Spanish Minister to the United States, speaking disparagingly of President McKinley, leads to the Minister's resignation of his post and the appoint- ment of Senor Luis Polo y Bernabe. February 15 .- The U. S. battleship Maine, lying in the liarbor of Havana, is des- "troyed and sunk by an explosion be- tween 9 and 10 o'clock p. m. Two hundred and sixty-six lives were lost. February 17 .- Rear Admiral Sicard, com-


. manding the North Atlantic Squadron, orders a court of inquiry into the loss of the Maine.


February 19 .- The request of the Spanish officials in Havana for a joint investi- gation into the loss of the Maine is de- clined.


February 21. The United States Senate orders an investigation into the Maine disaster.


March 8, 9 .-- Congress votes to place $50,- 000,000 at the unqualified disposal of President Mckinley as an emergency fund.


March 16 .- Spainremonstrates against the presence of the United States fleet at Key West and against other measures of defense by our Government.


March 17 .- Facts concerning Cuba stated in the Senate by Senator Proctor, of ... Vermont, as the result of personal ob- servation.


March 28 .- Court of Inquiry's report on the Maine sent to Congress.


April 5 .-- Consul General Lee recalled.


April 10 .- Consul General Lee leaves Cu- ba.


April 11 .- President Mckinley sends a message to Congress recommending armed intervention in Cuba.


April 15 .- Army ordered to mobilize.


April 16 .- Senate belligerency resolutions passed.


April 18 .- Congress votes against Cuban recognition.


April 19 .- Congress passes resolutions de- manding the withdrawal of Spain from Cuba.


April 20,-Queen opens Cortes with war speech. Government announces its opposition to privateering. President signs notification to the nations of in- tention to blockade.


April 21 .- Our Minister at Madrid, Gen- eral Stewart L. Woodford, informed by the Spanish Minister of Foreign Af- fairs that diplomatic relations between Spain and the United States are ter- minated.


April 21 .- President Mckinley cables our ultimatum to Spain, demanding a re- ply by April 23.


April 23 .- Senor Polo y Bernabe, Spanish Minister, receives his passport and


. leaves Washington.


April 22 .- Cuban ports blockaded by the American squadron.


April 23 .- The President issues his procla- mation calling for 125,000 volunteers. April.24 (Sunday) .- A Spanish decree de- claring war against the United States was gazetted at Madrid.


April 25 .- Congress passes a resolution de- claring that the state of war existed from April 21.


April 26 .- Recruiting volunteers began in New York city.


April 27 .- United States vessels bombard Matanzas.


April 27 .- Seventh Regiment declines to enlist.


April 28 .- Commodore Dewey's fleet sails from Hong Kong for Manila.


April 29 .- U. S. cruiser Yale (Paris) ar- . rives.in New York.


April 29 .- Spanish squadron sails from Cape Verd for the West Indies.


April 29 .- New York shells Cabanas forts. April 30 :- Commodore Dewey's squadron arrives off Manila.


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April 30 .- Flagship New York fires on Spanish cavalry sharpshooters off Ha- vana.


May 1 .- U. S. cruiser Topeka arrives at New York from Falmouth.


May I .- Commodore Dewey's squadron destroys the Spanish fleet at Manila.


May 2 .- Cable from Manila to Hong Kong cut by Commodore Dewey.


May 4 .- Battleship Oregon and gunboat Marietta sail from Rio Janeiro.


May 7 .- Commodore Dewey informs State Department of the seizure of Cavite. May 9 .- Congress thanks Rear Admiral Dewey. Governor Black disbands the Thirteenth regiment.


May 10 .- The . Gussie expedition sailed from Tampa.


May 11 .- Ensign Worth Bagley and four of the crew of the torpedo boat Win- slow killed by a shell from the Spanish forts at Cardenas.


May 12 .- Admiral Sampson's squadron bombards the forts at San Juan, Porto Rico.


May 12 .- The Spanish Cape Verd fleet ar- rives at Fort de France, Martinque.


May 12 .- Gussie expedition repulsed.


May 13 .- Commodore Schley's fleet sails south to meet the Spanish squadron.


May 14 .- Spanish Cape Verd fleet sighted off Curacao.


May 15 .- Rear Admiral Dewey reports on fall of Manila.


May 15 .- Sagasta's Cabinet resigns.


May 15 .- Spanish torpedo boat destroyer Terror disabled at Fort de France, Martinique.


May 15 .- Spanish fleet leaves Curacao.


May 15 .- General Merritt ordered to the Philippines as Military Governor.


May 15 .- Governor Black authorizes reor- ganization of disbanded 13th regiment. May 17 .- Sagasta's new Cabinet announc- ed at Madrid.


May 18 .- Ninety thousand troops ordered to mobolize in Chickamauga.


May 22 .- Spanish fleet arrives at Santiago de Cuba.


May 22 .- Cruiser Charleston sails for Ma- nila.


May 23 .- Troops A and C arrived at Camp Alger, Falls Church, Va.


May 24 .- The Spanish fleet is bottled up at Santiago.


May 25 .- Three transports with 2.588 men start for Manila.


May 25 .- President issues a call for 75,000 more volunteers.


May 26 .- Oregon arrives in Key West. May 26 .- One of Spain's Cabinet Minis- ters said the country was willing to ac- cept "an honorable peace."


May 26 .- Commodore Schley is in touch with the insurgent leaders.


May 26 .- Ninth and Sixty-ninth regiments of New York arrive at Chattanooga. May 26 .- Florida expedition landed with- out opposition near Guantanamo, Cu- ba.


May 27 .- Spanish scout ships chased by American warships near Key West.


May 29 .- Commodore Schley reports the trapping of Cervera in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba.


May 29 .- Cruiser Columbia arrives at New York, having been in collision with the British steamship Foscolia, which sank.


May 30 .- Troops embark at Tampa for Havana.


May 31 .- Rear Admiral Sampson's fleet bombards forts of Santiago de Cuba. June 1 .- Transports for Manila arrive at Honolulu, H. I., and the Boys in Blue become the guests of the city.


June 1 .- Monitor Monadnock ordered to Manila from San Francisco.


June 2 .- Spain again appeals to the Pow- ers to intervene.


June 3 .- American squadron bombarded Santiago de Cuba.


June 4 .- Lieutenant Hobson sinks cruiser Merrimac in the mouth of the harbor of Santiago de Cuba.


June 6 .- Cable communication between Santiago and Hayti ceased at mid- night.


June 6 .- Fortifications of Santiago de Cu- ba reduced.


June 7 .- American squadron bombards and silences batteries at Santiago.


June 7 .- Monitor Monterey and Collier Brutus sail for Manila.


June 8 .- Assault on fortifications of Guan- tanamo Bay.


June 9 .- House agrees on war revenue conference report.


June 10 .- Admiral Sampson reports he has held Guantanamo Harbor since the 7th.


June 10 .- Senate agrees on conference re- port on war revenue bill.


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June 10 .- Marines from the Panther land at Caimanera.


June 11 .- Four Americans at Caimanera are killed in a fight with the Spaniards. June 13 .- 32 transports with Shafter's troops sail for Santiago.


June 13 .- President Mckinley signs the War Tax bill.


June 14 .- Two Americans and several hun- dred Spaniards killed in a battle at Caimanera.


June 15 .- Second expedition sailed from San Francisco for Manila.


June 15 .- Great destruction results to the Santiago forts through the use of the dynamite guns on the Vesuvius.


June 17 .- Spanish squadron sailed from Cadiz and passed Gibraltar.


June 20 .- Transports with General Shaf- ter's troops arrive off Santiago.


June 22 .- Part of Shafter's troops landed. June 23 .- Balance of troops landed without accident.


June 23 .- Admiral Camara's Cadiz fleet ar- rives at Island of Pantellaria.


June 24 .- Sixteen American soldiers killed and forty wounded in driving back Spanish soldiers at Santiago.


June 27 .- Commodore Watson to com- mand fleet to attack Spanish home ter- ritory.


June 27 .- President McKinley recom- mends thanks of Congress for Lieu- tenant Hobson, and that he be trans- ferred to the line.


June 28 .- President proclaims blockade of Southern Cuba from Cape Frances to Cape Cruz.


June 29 .- General Shafter reports he can take Santiago in 48 hours.


June 29 .- The Senate thanks Lieutenant Hobson and his men, naming each one personally.


June 30 .- Egyptian Government refused to let Camara coal his fleet at Port Said. .


July 1 .- Shafter's army began the assault upon Santiago de Cuba, capturing the enemy's outer works.


July 2 .- Shafter renewed the attack upon Santiago, losing about 1,000 in killed and wounded, and making 2,000 Span- ish prisoners. The Spanish casualties probably exceeded those of the Amer- ivans.


July 3 .- Cervera's fleet destroyed at San- tiago, with great loss of life.


July 6 .- Spanish transport Alfonso XII. blown up off Mariel by American gun- boats.


July 6 .- Hobson, the hero of the Merri- mac, and his comrades exchanged for Spanish prisoners outside Santiago.


July 7 .- President signs Hawaiian annex- ation resolution.


July 7 .- Admiral Dewey took Subig and 1,300 prisoners.


July 11 .- Cruiser St. Louis brings Admir- al Cervera and 746 prisoners to Ports- mouth, N. H.


July 11 .- Admiral Sampson's fleet bom- barded Santiago.


July 13 .- Announced that yellow fever has broken out in General Shafter's army. July 14 .- General Toral and the Spanish army surrendered Santiago at 3 p. m. July 17 .- "Old Glory" raised over Santi . ago at noon.


July 18 .- President issues a proclamation providing for the government of San- tiago.


July 18 .- Seven American vessels bom- bard Manzanillo and destroy seven Spanish ships.


July 21 .- General Miles, with 3,415 men on transports, convoyed by warships, starts to take Porto Rico.


July 21 .- American gunboats captured Nipe and sank the Spanish cruiser Jorge Juan.


July 21. British steamer Newfoundland captured by Mayflower, while trying to run blockade at Ha- vana.


21. Gen. Miles starts for Porto Rico with his troops, conveyed by strong fleet.




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