The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-05

10 converted golfers, revenue cutters. 4
! lighthouse tenders and 10 miscellaneous
Much alarm was felt along our entire
Atlantic seaboard lest some attack might
! ton was taken TO prevent posSlple IN IN
| jury to our great cities lying along the
% S94s ara n FROM t asta Mfff i
fantry and light batteries We're drawn
from the Younger IoFce AP91 a d 13g9
signal service was established for Observ-
the coast Of the United States and the
lighthouse service co-Operated, WIllch en-
portions of the Atlantic coast from Maine
to Texas under observation. The auxil-
49, If C.yorer~ess sT1 u-aS ,f5csred and
manned by the naval militia. of the sew
the coast and performed the duty OF a
second arm of defense
gineers submarine mines were placed at
the most exposed points. Before the out
ments ana caple galleries NAG peeh con, con-
structed at all important harbors. Most
found in the market and had to be spe-
cially manufactured. Under date of April
all preliminary measures short of the act
ual attaching of the loaded mines to the
placed the loaded mines in position.
The aggregate number of mines placed
was 1885, at the principal harbors from
Maine to California. Preparations were
also made for the planting of mines at
early destruction of the Spanish fleet these
mines were not placed The signal corps
was promptly organized and performed
service of the most difficult and import
stnt cnaIslcISr. us opeIa1on uuLll5 me
all coast Qualifications. the establishment
Of telephone and Geographic facilities,
cannDs al MANILA Santiago and in Porto
Rico. There were constructed 800 miles
of line at ten great camps thus facilitat-
ing movements from those points in
manner heretofore unknown in military
administration Field telegraph lines were
my fire at Manila. and later the Manila
Hong Kong cable was reOpened.
In Porto Rico communications were
land the headquarters of the command
ing officer was kept in Geographic COM
municatiOn with the division command
ers on four different lines of operation
There was placed in Cuban waters d COM
pletely outfftted cable ship with war ca
destruction of communications belonging
to the enemy and the establishment of our
own. Two ocean cables We're destroyed
under the enemy's batteries at Santiago.
The day previous TO the landing of Cen
eral Skaters corps at Caimanera, within
20 miles of the landing place cable com
munications We're established and a cable
station opened, giving dlrect eoInInunlca-
This service was Invaluable to the eXecu-
tive in directing the operations OF the
With a total force of over ]. 800. the loss
was by disease in camp, field officers and
men included, only .. The national de-
tense, under the $50OO0.OOO fund. was ex-
navy and the objects for which it was
used fully shown in the reports of
the several secretaries. tt was a most
timely appropriation, enabling the govern
ment to strengthen its defense and to
make preparations greatly needed in case
of war. This fund being inadequate to
the requirements of equipment and for the
conduct of war. the patriotism of the con-
gress provided the means in the war reve-
nue. act of June 13, by authorizing q 3 per
cent popular loan not to exceed four humid
dred million dollars and by 1evying addi-
lied loan two hundred millions were offer
ed and promptly taken, the subscriptions
many times over, while preference was
given to the small bids. no single allot-
ment exceeding five thousand dollars. This
was a most encouraging and significant
result, showing the vast resources of the
nation and the determination of the people
to uphold their country's honor.
It is not within the province of this mes
"a ge to rarrate the history of the eXtraor-
binary war that followed the Spanish dec
laratiOn of April q, but a brief recital of
its more salient features is appropriate.