The San Francisco call., 1898-12-06
Favors Early Construction of Nicaragua Canal and Inde-
 pendenCe of Cuba.
Many Other Important Issues of the Day Treated in a Broad and
 StdteSmanlike Manner.

There were constructed 900 miles of line at ten great camps, thus facilitating mili- ag .aIg movements from those points in a adnninis sndar,1er heretofore unknown in military @ @auiIllfllstration. Field telegraphic lines were established and maintained under Me Ms,tIa tSIileIny ire at Manila and later the Nta,ill i1 I5a.i. 5a.1.ongkong cable was reopened. @ ili arto RICO cable communication was opened over discontinued route, and on io iano sne headquarters of the command t,sS tasa,ehr Ilncer was kept in telegraphic and Islsphonlc communication with the diyi- or operations.
 mere was placed in Cuban waters a completely outfitted cable shin with war cables and cable gear suitable both for tne oestruction of communications be roegtng n3eGi ef @ to the enemy and the establish destroJ!a 0t 9ur own. Two ocean cables were Sen!iy SSesr!rioyed under the enemy's batteries at ;ai ;SantIag0 The day, previous to the land Ils or general Shafter's corps at CaiTna- niaca, wlihlh lIi twenty miles of the landing ad Saole communication was establish GU ana cable station opened. giving di- ~ aecI coinmunication with the Government ab,e i" ".astHhlngton. .a mn This service was invalu- ape 10 the executive in directing the oper- atfUHS W2 or the army and navy
 s ith total force of over 1900, the loss cers mas oy disease in camp and field, off eerS rs ana men included only five
 The national defense under inc s5o nn0 "" i0iiu' was expended in large part by
 u7 the army and navy, and
 war hevenue the objects for which
 Promptly shown in 11TT renorts ate of Fdhg ibs
 Contrih,1fed several secretaries. It
 was a most timely ap- r, propriation, enabling the government to strengthenits defenses and m illake preparations greatly needed in case or war. This fund being inadeouate to the requirements of equipment and for the conduct of the war, the patriotism of congress ,.,o provided the meana in the lng popular loan not 10 exceed s4O0 600, coo and by levyfng additional imports and taxes. or the authorized loan $200 900 900 were su., ofiered and promptly taken, the sub scrlptlons so far exceeding the call as to cover it many times over, while. prefer eii, eilce oeing given to the smaller bids, no sing1e 1e. allotment exceeded s5oo0 This was q most encouraging and significant result showing the vast resources of the nation ana the, determination of the people to up noid their country's honor.
 It is not within the province of this message to narrate the history of the ex- tSraordlnary SrnI war which. followed the brief recital of its more salient features is appropriate. The first encounter of the war, in point of date, took place April 2, when detachment of the blockading squadron made reconnaissance in force at MatanZas, sheled the harbor forts and demolished several new works in con
 The next engagement was destined to mark memorable epoch in maritime
 Dewey's fleet, under Commodore i1d'e
 George Dewey, had lain
 memorable for some weeks at Hong
 Victory kong. Upon the colon
 y' ial proclamation of neu-
 trality being issued and the customary twenty-four hours notice being given. 1t repaired to Mfrs Bay, near Philppins Isiands under telegraphic aG iic Formidable spanish fleet then as enGse the ls st of HaPa May the amereah aanSsfeah force entered Manila Bay and after a few hours engagement effected the total de- struction of the Spanish fleet consisting capturing the naval station and the forts at Cavite, thus annihilating the Spanish controlling. the bay of Manila, with the ability to take the city at will l Not life was lost on our ships, the only numbering seven. while not a vessel was materially injured. For this | gallant achievement Congress. upon l my recommendation. fitly bestowed upon | the actors preferment and substantial re- ward. The effect of this remarkable victory upon the spirit of our people and upon the | fortunes of war was instant A prestige | of invincibillty thereby attached to our | arms. which continued throughout the struggle. Achievements were hurried | to Manila. under the command of Major | General Merritt, and firmly established | W helpless before our guns. On the 7th day | of May the Government was advised of | fcially of the victory at Manila, and at | once inquired of the commander of our | fleet what troops were required. The in- | was received on the 18th day | of May, and the first army expedition | sailed May 9 and arrived at Manila June B0 Other expeditions soon followed the | total force consisting of 641 officers and | Is ,058 men,
 Only reluctance to cause needless loss of life and property prevented the early |
 storming and capture of |
 Planned to the city, and thereWith |
 the absolute military
 Play a occupancy of the whole
 Lone Hand. T1eap meanwbiie lne i1hsu1rgents' ha1
 .sumed the active hos tilities suspended by 5So- the uncompeted vested Manila from the northern and eastern side, but were constrained by Admiral Dewey and General Merritt from was to be done in the way of decisive operations in that quarter shouid De accomplished by the strong arm of inc United States alone. Obeying the stern coming of the adversary and the extinc ion of his power wherever assailable as the speedy and sure means to win a peace divided victory was not nern,is sible for no partition of the rights and responsibilities attending the enforcement 'f just and advantageous peace could be thought of.
 Following the comprehensive scheme of general attack. powerful forces were as ;embled at various points on our coast to invade Cuba and Porto Rico. Meanwhile naval demonstrations were made at sev .ral exposed points. On May Il the cruiser and the torpedo-boat Wins ow were unsuccessful in an attempt to silence the batteries at Cardenas. Worfb 3agley and four seamen falling These srievous fatalities were, strangely enough, lmong the very few which occurred dir ng our naval operations in this extraor- linary conflict.
 Meanwhile the Spanish naval prenara ions had been pushed with great yipor \ powerful squadron under Admiral Ger. rera, which had assembled at the Cana Verde Islands before the outbreak of hos lilties, had crossed the ocean, and by its delayed our military operations wbiIa ,affiing the pursuit of our fleets For . ime fears were felt lest the Oregon and