Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-06

ana recommended formal declaration
~ -, tilS existence Of q state of war between
me y nlted States and Spain. The Con-
- n, ess accordingly voted on the same day
re tie act approved, April %. 1893. declaring
We existence Of such war from and in
ciuuahs the 2lst day of April, and re-
SitttSd the provision OF the session of
.tSpfii ~. directing the President to use ali
we armed forces of the n2Iion to carry
mat act into effect.
ne message after referring to the
hofln coast of Cuba. on April %, the dec
ataa.ioa OF war, the call for volunteers,
etc., continues: Due notification of the
eNlstenee OF war as aforesaid was given,
AplH "a, py telegraph to all the govern
me,lts with which the United States
iAailtains relations, in order that their
ncutfdIity might be assured during the
war wax me various governments responded
Win pfociamations of neutrality, each
after ITS own methous.
1t Is not among the least gratifying in
cioents OF the struggle that the obliga-
ions OF neutrality were impartially dis
charged by all, often under delicate ana
difficult circumstances
IN further fuldllnent of international
cuty, issued. April 26, 1898, a proclama-
tlon announcing the treatment proposed
10 be accorded to vessels and their car
ercise of the right of search and the i'm
munity OF neutral flags and neutral goods
under enemy's flags. "A similar proclama-
ton was made by the Spanish govern
ment. In the conduct of hostilities the
rules or the declaration of Paris includ-
inS abstention from resort to privateer-
ing, have accordingly been observed by
both belligerents although neilner was {,
party to that declaration
cur country thus after an interval of
nan century o. neace with all nations
with foreign enemy. Every nerve was
strained to meet the emergency. The re-
sponse to the initial call for l250o0 volun-
teers was instant ana complete, as was
the result OF the second call of Nav d fpr
$4,000 additional volunteers. The ranks
OF the regular army were increased 10
The limit provided by the act of April &c
"The enlisted force of the navy on the
10Th day OF August, when it reached ITS
maximum, numbered 2i,123 men and APP
prentlceS. One hundred and three YES
sells were added 10 the navy by purchase,
one was presented to the government
one leased, and the four vessels OF the
International Navigation Co, the St.
Paul, st. Louis, New York and Paris
were chartered. In addition to these, the
revenue cutters and lighthouse tenders
and became temporarily part of the
auxiliary navy
Much alarm was felt along our entire
Atlantic seaboard les. some attack might
be made by the enemy. Every precau-
ton was taken to prevent possible injury
70 our great cities lying along the coast
Temporary garrisons We're provided
drawn from the state militia infantry
|
thus employed. The coast signal service
was established for observing the APP
proach of an enemy's ships to the coast
of the United States and the life saving
and lighthouse service co-Cperated. which
enabled the navy department to have all
portions of the Atlantic coast from Maine
to Texas under observation. The auxili-
airy navy was oflcered and manned by
the naval militia of the several states
This organization patrolled the coasts
II Toy. nod lln nF li.se
Of defence.
Under the direction of the chief of en-
gineers. submarine mines We're placed at
the most exposed points. Before the out
break of the war, permanent mining case
nents and cable galleries had been con-
structed at nearly all important harbors.
On April 10, district officers were directed
to take all preliminary. measures, and on
April % Geographic orders We're issued to
place 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
certain other harbors, but owing TO the
early destruction of the Spanish fleet,
these mines We're not placed.
The signal corps was promptly organ
lied and performed service of the most
difficult and important character. Its
operations during the war covered the
electrical connection of all coast fortif
cations. the eSta ,liShment of telephone
and Geographic facilities for the camps
at Manila, Santiago and in Porto Rico.
This service was invaluable to the eXecu-
tive in directing the operations of the
army and navy. With a total force OF
over 1900. the loss by disease in camp ana
field, officers and men included, was only
five
The medium effective fighting force of
the navy during the war; separated into
classes, was as follows: Four battleshIps
of the first-class, one battieship of the
sccond-class; TWO armored cruisers; SIX
coast defence monitors; one armOred
- DfDtpctpI cruisers. :, UNPROTECTED
cruisers, Is gunboats, one dynamite crui-
SER. II torpedo boats, vessels of the Old
navy, including monitors, II. Auxiliary,
II auxiliary cruisers, Is converted yachts,
q converted tugs, Is converted golfers, Is
revenue cutters seven lighthouse ten
ders and ~ miscellaneous vessels"
The measures taken for protecting the
seaboard cities from attack by the enemy
are recited more or less in detail. IT be
ing incidentally stated that the aggregate
number of mines placed at the principal
cities from Maine to California was l535
Continuing the President says:
The national defence fund of 1000 900
was expended in large part by the army
and navy, and the objects for which 1t
was used was fully shown in the reports
of the several secretaries. It was most
timely appropriation, enabling the gov
ernment to strengthen its defenses and
make preparations greatly needed in case
of war.
duirements of equipment and for the con-
duct of the war, the patriotism of the
Congress provided the means in the war
revenue act of June Is, by authorizing
3 per cent. popular loan. not to exceed
500. $50 600 and by levying additional inn
posts and taxes. OF the authorized loan
$290, 900 600 was offered and promptly taken,
the subscriptions so far exceeding the
call as to cover it many times over.
while preference being given to the
smaller bids no single allotment exceeded
$4,000 This was most encouraging and
significant result. showing the vast re-
sources of the nation and the determina-
ton of the people to uphold their coun-
try's honor
Ii is not within the province of THU
message to narratc the history of the eX
traordnary war that followed the Span
ish declaration of April q. but a brief
recital of its more salient features is APP
propriate.
of date took place April y, when a de-
made reconnaissance in force al Ma
tanzas. shelled the harbor forts and de-
molished several works in course of con-
Struction.
The next engagement was destined to
mark a memorable epoch in marine war
fare. The Pacific fleet. under Commodore
George Dewey, had lain for some weeks
at Hong Kong. Upon the colonial pro-
clamation of neutrality being issued and
the customary "A hours notice being Civ
en-. it repaired to Mrs bay, near Hong
Kong where it proceeded to the Phil
ippne islands under telegraph orders to
capture or destroy the formidable Span