, 1898-12-07
THE MESSAGE
TENT OF THE DOCUMENT SUBMIT
TED TO CONGRESS-MAJOR
PORTION ON WAR.
Adheres to Resolution Adopted by Con-
gress at Breaking Out of Hostilities
to Give Cuba It's Independence
New Relations With Hawaii-Army
and Navy Needs.

WAsT1NGToN, Dec. So the Senate
and House of Representatives: Notwith-
standing rhe added burdens rendered nee
essiry by the war, our people rejoice in a
very satisfactory and steadily Increasing
degree of prosperity evidence by the
largest volume of business ever recorded.
Every branch of manufacture has been
productive. agricultural pursuits have
yielded abundant returns, labor in the
Held OF industry Is better rewarded. rev
enuc Legislation passed by the present
congress has increased the trruSury's re-
cclpts to the amount estimated by irs
aul hors; the finances of the government
have been successfully administered and
Its credit advanced to the first rank,
while its currency has been maintained Mt
the worlds highest standard.
Military service under II common flag
and Tor a righteous cause has strcngth-
ened the national spirit and Served to
cement more closely than ever the fratcr-
nal bonds between every section Of the
country.
A review of the relations Of the United
States to other powers, always appro.
PIRATE, is this year of primary Importance,
In view OF the momentOus issues which
have arisen, demanding in one instance
the ultimate determination by arms and
involving far-reaching consequences,
which VIII require the earnest attention
OF the congress.
The president hero drvOtes considerable
space to the events leading up to the war
with Spain, II continues as follows:
Our country thus. after an interval of
half a century of Peace with all nations,
found Itself engaged in deadly conflict
with a foreign country. Every nerve was
strained 10 meet the emergency. The re-
Spouse 10 the initial call for 1851 W yOlun-
teers was instant and complete, rs was
also the result of the second call Of May
25, for 1000 additional volunteers. The
ranks of the regular army We're increased
to the limits provided by the act of April
90. The enlisted force Of the navy on the
10Th of August, when 1t reached its maxi
mum, numbered "a, 1913 men and appren-
tees. One hundred and three vessels
were added TO the navy by purchase, one
was presented to the government, one
leased and four vessels of the Interna-
tional Navigation company, the st. Paul,
st. Louis, New York n Paris, were
chartered. In addition to these the reve-
nue. cutters and lighthouse tenders were
turned over to the w department and
became temporarily part of the auxili-
ary navy.
1t is not within the province of this
message to narrate the history of the ex-
t%raordinary war that followed the Span
ish declaration of April 81, but u brief re.
cital OF its more salient features is appro-
pirate. The first encounter of the war in
point Of date took place April 81, when u
lStaS1lmeiib ol uhe DlocHlulnR squadron
made II reconnaissance in force al Matan-
zas. shellcd the harhor forts and demoi-
ishcd several new works in construction.
Dewey's Remarkable Victory.
The Ec-;+ engagement was destined to,
mark n memorable epoch in maritime
warfare. Tho Pacific fleet, under Commo-
dore George Dewey, had lnin for sone
weeks at Hong Kong. Upon the colonial
proclamation of neutrality being issued
=. ,-l tLA a,,. -. .-ll ---, III. l.--
given, it repaired to Mrs bay, near Hong
Kong, whence it proceeded to the Philip
pine islands, under telcgraphic orders to
capture or destroy The formidable Spanish
fleet then assembled at Manila. AT day
break on May | the American force en-
engagement effected the total destruction
of the Spanish fleet, consisting of 10 war
ships and II transport, besides capturing
the laval station and forces at Cavite,
thus annih' lating the Spanish naval
power in the Pacific ocean and completely
controlling the bay of Manila, with the
ability to take the city ut will. Not a life
was lost on our ships, the wounded only
numbering seven, while not II vessel was
materially injured. For this gallant
achievement the congress, upon my rec
ommendatlon, fifty bestowed upon the
actors preferment and substantial reward.
The effect of this remarkable victory
upon the spirit of our people and upon the
fortunes of war was instant. A prestige
of invincibility thereby attached to our
arms, which continued throughout the
struggle. Rcinforcemcnts We're hurried
to Manila, under the command of Major
General Merritt, and were firmly estab.
lished within sight OF the capital, which
lay helpless before our guns. On the eth
day of May the government was advised
officially of the victory at Manila. and at
once inquired of the commander of our
fleet what troops would be required. The
Information was received on the 10Th day
of May and the first army expedition
sailed on May % and arrived at Manila
July 80. Other expeditions o followed,
the total force consisting of 81 officers
and 15,05S men.
No Divided Responsibility.
Only reluctance to cause needless loss Of
life and property prevented the early
storming and capture of the city, and
Herewith the absolute military occupancy
of the whole group. The insurgents,
meanwhile, had resumed the active hos
~tilities suspended by the uncompleted
truce of Deccmbe Der, 1897. Their forces in
vested Manila from the northern and east
ern sides, but were restrained by Admiral
Dewey II General Merritt from attempt
ing an assault. IL was fitting that what
ever was to be. done in the way of deci-
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