Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-12-08
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S~PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
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OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES @@@@

of the intentions of this Government as to
the future of the island, in conformity
with the fourth clause Of the resolution,
and giving Spain until noon Of April 70
to reply.
The demand, although, as above shown,
officially made known to the Spanish en-
voy here, was not delivered at Madrid.
After the instruction reached Gen. Wood
ford on the morning of April u, bat be-
fore he could present it, the Spanish min
lister of state notified him that upon the
Presidents approval of the joint resolu-
ton the Madrid Government, regarding
the act as equivalent to an evident dec
laration of war;" had ordered its minis
ter in Washington to withdraw, thereby
breaking off diplomatic relations between
the two countries, and ceasing all official
communication between their respective
representatives. Gen. Woodford there
upon demanded his passports and quilted
Madrid the same day.
Spain having thus denied the demand
of the United States and Initiated that
complete form of rupture of relations
which attends state Of war, the eXecu-
tive powers authorized by the resolution
were at once used by me to meet the en-
larged contingency Of actual war between
Spain and the United States. April % l
proclaimed a blockade of the northern
coast of Cuba, and on the 23d / called for
volunteers to execute the purpose of the
resolution. By my message of April 20
the Congress was Informed of the sltua-
ton, and | recommended formal declara-
ton Of the existence of state of war be-
tween the United States and Spain. The
Congress accordingly voted on the same
day that act approved April %, 1898, de-
claring the existence of such war, from
and including the Dist day OF April, and
re-enacted the provision of the resolution
of April 20, directing 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 % by tele-
graph to all the governments with which
the United States maintains relations.
In further fulfllment of international
duty l issued April 26 proclamation an
nouncing the treatment proposed to be
accorded to vessels and their cargoes as
to blockade, contraband, the exercise of
the right of subjects and the immunity
of neutral flags and neutral goods under
enemy's flag. A similar proclamation
was made by the Spanish Government.
Preparations for the War.
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 $4,000 vol
unteers was instant and complete, as was
also the result of the second call of May
o66
ranks of the regular army were increas-
ed to the limits provided by the act of
April 26. The enlisted force of the navy
on the 10th of August, when it reached
it's maximum, numbered 24,123 men and
apprentices. One hundred and three YES
sells were added to the navy by purchase,
one was presented to the Government,
one leased and the four vessels of the In
ternational Navigation Company-the st.
Paul, ST. Louis, New York and Paris
were chartered. In addition to these the
revenue cutters and lighthouse tenders
were turned over to the Navy Depart
ment and became temporarily a part Of
the auxiliary navy.
Much alarm was felt along our entire
Atlantic seaboard lest some attack might
be made by the enemy. Every precau-
ton was taken to prevent possible injury
to our great cities lying along the coast.
The auxiliary navy patrolled the coast
and performed the duty of second arm
of defense. Under the direction Of the
chief of engineers submarine mines were
placed at the most exposed points. The
aggregate number of mines placed was
1875, at the principal harbors from
Maine to California.
The Signal Corps was promptly organ
lied and performed service of most diff
cult and important character. Its opera
tons during the war covered the electri-
oil 20
the establishment of telephone and tele-
graphic facilities for the camps at Man
lila, Santiago and 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 unknown in military admins
tration. With total force of over 1,oOO
the loss was, by disease in camp and
field, officers and men included, only i've.
The national defense $5O,O0O,OO0 fund
was expended in large part by the army
and navy, and the objects for which it
was used are fully shown in the reports
of the several secretaries. This fund, be-
ing inadequate to the requirements Of
equipment and for the conduct of the
war, the patriotism of the Congress pro
vided the means in the war revenue act
of June ID by authorizing a 3 per cent.
popular loan not to exceed 100000, 900,
and by levying additional imposts and
taxes.
Salient Features of the War
1t is not within the province of this
message to narrate the history of the ex-
traordinary war that followed the Span
ish declaration of April q, but brief
recital of its more salient features is APP
propriate. The first encounter of the war
in point of date took place April q, when
a detachment of the blockading squadron
made reconnaissance in force at Matan-
zas, shelled the harbor and forts and de-
molished several new works in construc-
ton.
The next engagement was destined to
mark memorable epoch in maritime
warfare. The Pacific fleet. under Com
modore George Dewey, had lain for some
weeks at Hong Kong. Upon the colonial
proclamation of neutrality being issued
and the customary twentyfour hours no.
tice being given, it repaired to Mrs Bay,
near Hong Kong, whence it proceeded
to the Philippine Islands under tele-
graphed orders to capture or destroy the