River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-12-08
WAR Is DECLARED.
Spain and other Countries Notified of
Beginning of HOstiIitfes

SIttiU udNlIS thus denied LlG demand of
the United States and Initiated that COM
plete form of rupture OF relations which
attends a state of war, the executive pow
ers authorized by the resolution were al
once used by me to meet the enlarged con
tingenCy Of actual war between Spain and
the United States. on April % | pro-
claimed blockade of the northern coast of
Cuba, Including ports on said coast be-
tween CardeTas and Bahia Honda and the
port of Cienfuegos on the south coast of
teers TO execute the purpose of the resolu-
ton. Ey my message Of April Is, the con-
gresS was informed of the situation and
recommended formal declaration of the
existence of a state of war between the
United States and Spain. The congress
accordingly voted on the same day the
act approved April %, 1898. declaring the
existence Of such war from and including
the 2lst day Of April, and reenacted the
provision of the resolution of A pril 90 di-
reCting the president to use all the armed
forces Of the nation to carry that act into
effect. Due notification of the existence of
war as aforesaid was given April Is by
telegraph to all the governments with
which the United states maintain relations,
in order that their neutrality might be as
surei during the war. The various gov
ernments responded with proclamations of
neutrality, each after its own methods
dents of the struggle that the obligations
of neutrality were impartially discharged
by all. often under delicate and difficult
In further fulHlment of International
duty, / issued April 26 a proclamation an
rouncing the treatment proposed to be
accorded TO vessels and their cargoes as
TO blockade, con5raband, the exercise of
the right of subjects and the immunity of
neutral flags and neutral goods under enc,
mys flag. A similar proclamation was
made by the Spanish government. In the
conduct of hostiIities the rules of the dec
laration Of Paris, including abstention from
resort of privateerng, have accordingly
been observed by both belligerents, al
though neither was a party TO that dec
laratton.
Response to Call for Volunteers.
Our country thus, after an interval Of
half a century of peace with all nations,
found itself engaged in deadly conflict with
a foreign enemy. Every nerve was strained
TO meet the emergency. The response to
the initial call for 125,000 volunteers was
instant ana complete. a was aiso the result
Of the second call OF May % for ioOpO ad-
ditioual volunteers. The ranks Of the reg
uiar army were increased to the limits
provided by the act OF April rs. The enlisted
force Of the navy on the 18th of August,
when il reached its maximum, mum bered
24l23 men and apprentices One hundred
and three vessels were added TO the navy
by purchase, one was presented 10 the
government, ore leased. ard the four YES
pany, the St. Paul. ST Louis New York and
Paris, were chartered In addition to these
the revenue cutters and l!ghthouse tenders
were turned over to the navy department
and became temporarily part of the aux
Hilary raVy.
strength of the Navy.
The maximum effective fighting force of
the navy during the war, separated INTO
classes. was as follows; Four battleships
OF the first class one battleship of the sec
ond class. two armored cruisers. six coast
defense monitors, one armOred ram, II
protected cruisers, three unprotected
cruisers. is gunboats, one dynamite
cruiser, II torpedo boats. "A old vessels Of
;he old navy, including monitors AuNl-
larry navy: Auxiliary cruisers, 2S converted
yachts; p converted tugs, 10 converted coll
hers Is revenue cutters four lighthouse
tenders and 10 miscellaneous vessels.
Defense of the Coast.
Much alarm was felt along our entire
Atlantic seaboard lest some attack might
he made by the enemy. Every preCaution
was taken to prevent possible injury TO
our great cities lying along the coast.
Temporary garrisons were provided, drawn
from the state militia. infantry and light
batteries were drawn from the volunteer
force. About l201o troops were thus en-
plOyed. The coast signal service was es-
tablished for observing the approach OF an
enemys ships TO the coast of the United
States and The Nfe-saving and lighthouse
services -roopp~ate which enabled the
navy department 20 have all portions Of the
Atlantic coast, from Maine to Texas under
observation. The auxiliary navy was ere
ated under the authority OF congress ahq
was Differed and manned by the naval
militia of the several states. This organ
ization patroled the coast, 2nd performed
the duty OF 81 second arm OF dc tense,
Planting of Mines.
Under the direction of the chief of engi-
neers submarine mines were placed at the
most exposed points. Before the outbreak
OF the war permanent mining classmates
and cable galleries had been constructed
az all important haThors. Most Of the tor
pedo material was not TO be found In the
market and had 10 be specially mauufac-
tured Under date of April l9 district ON
GERS were directed to take all preliminary
measures, short OF the actual attaching Of
the loaded mines TO the cables, and on
Aprfl % telegraphic orders were issued to
Mace the loaded mines in position. The
aggregate number Of mines placed was
5S5 al the principal harhors from Maine
to California. Preparations were also made
for the planting of mines at certain other
barbors but owing to the early destruction
Of the Spanish feet these mines were not
placed.
The signal corps was promptly organized
and performed service of most difficult and
irnportant character, It's operations dur
ing the war covered the electrical connec-
fiOu Of all coast Notifications the estab-
lfshnent Of telephone and Geographic facil-
tiles for the camps at Manila, Santiago
ana in Porto Rico. There were constructed
800 miles of line at ten great camps. thus
facilitating military movements from
those points in a manner heretofore UNI
known in military administration. Field
tanned under the enemy's fire at Manila
and later the Manila Hong Kong ca BILE was
.reopened. In Porto Rico cable communi-
cations were opened over a discontinued
route. and on land the headquarters Of the
commanding officer was kept in tele-
graphic or teiephonic communication with