The evening times., 1898-12-05

April and re-enacted the provision of the
resolution of April 90 directing the Pres
ident 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 telegraph
TO all the governments with which the
United States maintain relations. in or
der that their neutrality might be as
sured during the war. The various gov
ernments responded with prociamations
of neutrality, each after its own meth
DDS II is not among the least gratifying
incidents of the struggle that the obliga-
tions of neutrality were impartially dis
charged by all, often under del cate ard
difficult circumstances
In further fulfillment of International
duty i issued. April 2G 1898, a prCc.ama-
tion announcing the treatment proposed
to be accorded to vessels and Their ca =
goes as To blockade, contrablnd, the ex-
ercise of the right of search, and the IN
munity of neutral flags and neutl al
goods under enemys fiag. A similar pFcc-
lamation was made by the Spanish gcy-
ernment In the conduct of hostilities
the rules of the Declaration of Pa is, in
c,ud.ng abstentioH from resort to pr
Watering. have accoI dinghy been cbserv-
was party to-Ihat dec aration.
HOSTILITIFs EEGUN.
our country thus, after an interval of
half 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 re-
spOnse to the initial call for lbs 900 Volun-
teers was instant and complete. as was
also the result OF the second call of May
- for 1900 additional volunteers The
ranks Of the regular army We're increased
to the limits provided by the act of April
26 1898
The enlisted force of the navy on. the
18th day Of August, when il reached its
maximum, numbered "a. 123 men and ap-
prentices. One hundred and three YES
sells Were added To the navy by purchase.
] was presented to tho Government, !
leased. and the vessels of the Interna-
tional Navigation Company the St Paul.
| st. Louis. New York and Paris. were
chartered. In addition to these the rev.
enue cutters and lighthouse tend
ers We're turned over to the Ma
w Department and became temporarily
a part of the auxiliary navy.
The maximum effective fighting force of
| the navy during the war. separated into
classes, was as follows:
Four battleships of the first class; /
battleship of the second class: armored
cruisers: coast-defense monitors; l ar
mored ram: l. protected cruisers: 3 un-
! protected cruisers; IL gunboats: ] dyna-
mite cruiser; II torpedo boats; vessels of
the old navy including monitors II. Aux
! Hilary navy: ii auxiliary cruisers y con-
| verted yachts; q converted tugs; l9 con-
Verted collierS; Is revenue cutters; 4 light
| house tenders, and 10 miscellaneous ves-
! sells
GUARDING: OUR COASTS.
/ Much alarm was felt along our entire
/ Atlantic 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
! Temporary CARR sons were provided. drawn
I from the State militia: infantry and light
! batteries We're drawn from the volunteer
! force. About y coo troops We're thus en-
! ployed The coast signal service was
/ esta blished for observing the approach of
/ an enemy's ships TO the coast of the Unit
I I'D States. and the Life-SaVing and Light
/ House Services co-operated. which en-
! abled the Navy Department to have all
! portions Of the Atlantic Coast from Maine
10 Texas. under observation.
The auxiliary navy was created under
! the authority of Congress and was officer
/ ed and manned by the Naval Militia OF
the several States. This organization pa
troiled the coast. and performed the duty
/ of second line OF defense.
PLACING HARBOH MINES.
Under the direction of the Chief of En-
! gineers submarine mines We're placed at
/ the most exposed points. Before the OUT
/ break Of war permanent mining case
{ ments and cable galleries had been con-
/ structed at nearly all important harbors.
/ Most of the torpedo material was not to
: be found in the market and had TO be
! specially manufactured. Under date of
! April 10. 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 22 telegraphlc
/ orders were issued TO place the loaded
mines in position.
J The aggregate number of mines placed
J was l.535. at the principal harbors from
! Maine to California. Preparations We're
I also made for the planting of mines at
/ certain other harbors. but owing to the
/ early destruction of the Spanish fleet these
! mines were not placed.
THE SIGNAL CORPS.
The Signal Corps was promptly organ
lied, and performed service of the most
difficult and important character. Its OPP
erstions during the war covered the cleo
trical connection of all coast fortifica-
tions. the establishment of telephone and
telegraphic facilities for the camps at
Manila. Santiago, and in Porto Rico.
There were constructed 800 miles OF line
at ten great camps, thus facilitating mill