The Owosso times., 1898-12-09

lnS all OIHclal communication between
their respective representatives. Gen.
Woodford therupon demanded his pass
ports and quilted Madrid the same day.
WAR is DECLARED.
Spain and other Countries Notified of
Beginning Of Hostilities.
Spain having thus denied the 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 at
once used by me to meet the enlarged con-
tingency OF actual war between Spain and
claimed q blockade of the northern coast Of
Cuba. including ports on said coast be-
tween Cardenas and Bahia Honda and the
port of Cienfuegos on the south coast Of
Cuba; and on the 23d / called for volun-
teers to execute the purpose Of the resolu-
ton. BY my message OF April 20, the con-
gress was informed of the situation and
recommended formal declaration Of the
existence Of a state Of war between the
accordingly voted on the same day the
act approved April 25. 1898, declaring the
existence of such war. from and including
provision Of the resolution Of April 20. d.
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 25 by
telegraph to all the governments with
which the United States maintain relations.
sured 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 funillment of international
duty. issued April rs proclamation an
nouncing the treatment proposed to be
the right Of subjects and the Immunity OF
neutral flags and neutral goods under enc
my's dag. A similar proclamation was
made by the Spanish government. In the
lsrataon Of Paris INCLUDING abstsnti0I from on
been observed by both belligerents. al
though neither was q party to that dec
Response to Call for Volunteers.
Our country thus. after an interval of
found itself engaged in deadly conflict with
foreign enemy. Every nerve was strained
the initial cali for i25,oOO volunteers was
instant and complete. as was also the result
Of the second call of May 25 for Is; 600 ad-
uiar army were increased to the limits
provided by the act of April 26. The enlisted
force of the navy on the 10th OF August,
24,12S men and apprentices; One hundred
and three vessels were added to the navy
by purchase, one was presented TO the
Sells of the International Navigation COM
pany the st. Paul, st. Louis, New York and
Paris, were chartered. In addition to these
were turned over to the navy department
and became temporarilya a part of the aux
iliary navy.
Strength of the Navy.
The maximum effective fighting force Of
classes, was as follows: Four battleships
of the first class one battleship of the sec
ond class, two armored cruisers: six coast
protected cruisers, three unprotected
cruisers. 1S gunboats, one, dynamite
cruiser, II torpedo boats, IA old vessels OF
the old navy, including monitors. Auxil-
larry navy: Auxiliary cruisers, 20 converted
yachts; q converted tugs 19 converted col
liers, 10 revenue cutters, four lghthouse
tenders and 10 miscellaneous vessels.
Defense of the Coast.
Much alarm was felt along our entire
Atlantic seaboard lest some attack might
be made by the enemy. Every precaution
was taken TO- prevent vent, possible possible injury t, to
Temporary garrisons were provided, drawn
from the state militia; infantry and light
were drawn 9 trom are Ine S
ployed. The coast signal service was es-
tablished for observing the approach OF an
enemy'S SHIPS TO the coast OF the Onlteu
States and the life-saving. and lighthouse
services cooperated. which enabled the
navy department to have all portions of the
coast be Iro aNarv ninr 70 cr
ated under the authority OF congress, and
was .otticered and manned by the naval
militia of the several states. This organ
ization patrolled the coast, and performed
the duty OF second arm of defense.
Planting of Mines.
Under the direction of the chief Of engt-
neerS submarine mines were placed at the
most exposed points Before the outbreak
of the war permanent mining casemates
and cable galleries had been constructed
at all important harbors. Most of the tor
pedo material was not to be found In the
market and had to be specially manufac-
tured. Under date Of April 10 district off,
GERS were directed to take all preliminary
measures, short Of the actual attaching of
the loaded mines to the cables, and on
April % telegraphic orders were issued to
place the loaded mines In position. The
aggregate number of mines placed was
1,535 at the principal harbors from Maine
to California. Preparations were alsG made
for the planting of mines at certain other
harbors, hut owing to the early destruction
Of the Spanish fleet these mines were not
The Signal Corps.
The signal corps was promptly organized
and performed service of most difficult and
important character Its operations % dur
tion of all coast Notifications, the estab-
lishment of telephone and telegraphic facil-
tiles for the camps at Manila, Santiago
and in Porto Rico. There were constructed
800 miles of line at ten great camps, thus
facilitating military movements from
those points in q manner heretofore un-
known in military administration. Field
telegraph lines were established and MAIN
tanned under the enemy's fire at Manila
and later the Manila H Hong-Kong cable was
reopeneo. In Porto Rico cable commune
cations were opened over a discontinued
route, and on land the headquarters of the
commanding officer was kept in tele-
graphic or telephone communication with
the division commanders of four different
lines of operation. There was placed in
Cuban waters q completely outfitted cable
ship with war cables and cable gear suit
able both for the destruction OF commune
cations belonging to the enemy and the
establishment OF our own. Two ocean
cables were destroyed under the enemy's
batteries at Santiago The day previous to
the landing of Gen. Skaters corps at Cal
manera, within 20 miles of the landing
place, cable communications were estab-
lished and cable station opened, giving d.
rect communication with the government
at Washington. This service was invalu-
able to the executive I'm directing the opera
tions OF the army and navy.
With total force of over 300, the loss
was, by disease in camp and field, officers
and men included, only FIVE.
wnr Revenues.
The national defense under the $4,000 900