Evening star., 1898-12-05

charged by ALL often under delicate and
difficult circumstances.
In further fultilfment of interna tional
duty l issued April %, 1893, a proclama-
ton announcing the treatment proposed to
be accorded to vessels and their cargoes as
to blockade, contraband, the exercise of
the right of search and the immunity of
neutral flags and neutral goods under
enemy's flag. A similar proclamation was
made by the Spanish Government. In the
conduct of hostilities the rules of the Decla-
ration of Paris, including abstenton from
resort to privateering, have accordingly
been observed by both belligerents al
though neither was a party to that declara-
ton.
Preparing for HostiIities.
Our country thus after an interval of
ha!f 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 12j,UG0 volunteers was
instant and complete, as was also the re-
suit of the second call of May 18th for
1000 additional volunteers. The ranks of
the Regular Army were increased to the
limits provided by the act of April 26 1895
The enlisted force of the Navy on the
18th day of August when it reached its
maximum. numbered 24.l23 men and an
prentices. One hundred and three vessels
We're added to the Navy by purchase l was
presented to the Government, 1 leased and
the I vessels of the International Naviga-
ton Company, the st. Paul. st. Louis New
York, and Paris, We're chartered. In aidi-
tion to these the revenue cutters and light
house tenders were turned over to the
rart of the auxiliary navy
The maximum fighting force of the Navy
during the war, separated into classes, was
follows:
Four battle ships of the FIRST class; bat
tie ship of the second class: armored
cruisers; 6 coast-defcnse monitors; / ar
mored ram; l. protected cruisers; 3 un-
protected cruisers; Is gupboats; l dyna-
mite cruiser; II torpedo boats; vessels of
the old Navy, including monitors, H. Aux
iliary Navy II auxiliary cruisers: % con-
Verted yachts; ~ converted tugs: 10 con-
verted coIliers; II revenue cutters: ! light
house tenders and 10 miscellaneous vessels.
Much alarm was felt along our entire AT
lantic seaboard lest some attack might be
made by the enemy. Every precaution was
taken to prevent possible injury to our
great cities lying along the coast Tenn
porary garrisons We're provided. drawn
from the State militia; infantry and light
batteries We're drawn from the volunteer
force. About 12,ONO 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 Tnited
States. and the Lifc-Saving and Light
House Services co-Operated which enabled
the Navy Department to have all por-
tons OF the Atlantic Coast, from Maine to
Texas, under observation
Ihe auxiliary navy was created under
the authority of Congress and was officered
ana manned by the Naval Militia of the
several States. This organization patrolled
the coast, and performed the duty of a
second line of defense
Chdef the direction of the Chief of En-
gneers submarine mines were placed at
'he MOST exposed points. Before the out
break OF the war permanent mining case
mates ana cable galleries had been con-
structed at nearly all important harbors
Most OF the torpedo material was not to
De found IN the market, and had to be
specially manufactured. Under date of
Apfl ~. district officers We're directed to
take all preliminary measures, short of
the actual attaching of the loaded mines to
the cables, and on April - telegraphic or
ders were issued to place the loaded mines
in position.
Inc aggregate number of mines placed
was 1,o35 at the principal harbors from
Maine to California. Preparations We're
also made for the planting of mines at GER
tam other harbors, but owing to the early
destruction of the Spanish fleet these
mines We're not placed
Inc sighal Corps was promptly organ
lZed, and performed service of the most
dilncuit and important character Its oper-a
atlons during the war covered the electri-
cal connection of all coast fortifications,
lhe establishment of telephone and tele-
srapiiic facilities for the camps at Manila
oah'iaso' ana IN Porto Rico. There were
constructed 300 miles of line at ten great
camps thus facilitating military move
iieh,s from those points in a manner here
.ofore unknown in military admnistra-
lioli' fleld telegraph lines were established
ana maintained under the enemy's fire at
Nianiia' ana later the Manila Hongkong
caple was reopened
In Porto Rico cable communications were
opened over discontinued route. and on
land the headquarters of tho commana,na
oIficer was kept in telegraphic or telephone
communication with the division commend
efs on four different lines of operations.
Ihere was placed in Cuban waters a COM
pieteiy outfitted cable ship, with war cables
ana cable gear, suitable both for the de-
struction Of communications belonging to
the enemy and the establishment of our
own Two ocean cables weresdestroyed un-
der the enemy's batteries at Santiago. The
DAY previous to the landing of General
Shafters corps at Caimanera, within 20
miles of the landing place cable commun-
cations were established and cable sta
ton opened giving direct communication
with the government q Washington This