The herald., 1898-12-06

tional volunteers. The ranks of the reglr
lar army were increased to the limits pro,
vided by the act OF April 23 The enlisted
force of the navy, on the 18th of August,
when it reached its maximum, numbered
a, l23 men and apprentices. One hundred
and three vessels were added to the navy
| by purchase, one was presented to the gov
eminent one leased and the four vessels OF
the international Navigation Company, the
st. Paul, st. Louis, New York and Paris were
chartered. In addition to these the revenue
cutters and lighthouse tenders We're turned
over to the Navy Department and became
temporarily 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 firstclass; one bat
| tleship of the second class; two armored
cruisers; six coast defense monitors one
armored ram; twelve protected cruisers;
three unprotected cruisers; eighteen gun
boats; one dynamite cruiser; eleven tor
pedo boats; fourteen old vessels Of the old
navy, including monitors.
Auxiliary Navy-AuXiiary cruisers, %
converted yachts; q converted tugs; 10 con-
yerted colliers; four revenue cutters; four
| lighthouse tenders and 10 miscellaneous YES
sells.
THE COAST DEFENSES
Much alarm was felt along the entire At
| lantic seacoast lest an attack might be made
| by the enemy. Every precaution was taken
to prevent possible injury to our great cit.
les lying along the coast. Temporary garri-
sons were provided, drawn from the State
militia, infantry and light batteries were
drawn from the volunteer force About r.
600 troops were thus employed. The coast
| signal service was established for observing
the approach of an enemy's ship to the coast
of the United States, and the lighthouse
service cooperatcd, which enabled the Navy
Department to have all portions of the At
lantic coast from Maine to Texas, under
observation.
The auxiliary navy was created under the
authority of Congress and was differed and
manned by the naval militia of the several
States. This organization patrolled the coast
and performed the duty OF second arm of
defense.
Under the direction of the Chief Engineer
submarine mines were placed at the most
exposed points. Before the war, permanent
mining casemates and stable galleries had
been constructed at 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, dis
trict officers were directed to take all pre-
cantonary measures short of the actual at
taching of the loaded mines to the cable, and
on April % telegrapbc orders were issued
to place the loaded mines in position.
The aggregate number of mines placed was
1866 at the principal harbors from Maine
to California. Preparations were 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 was promptly or
ganized and performed service of the most
a jiffinr,lt and mr. MT pb raj Tt-
ations during the war covered the electrical
connection of all coast Notifications, the es-
Enlistment of telephone and Geographic
facilities for the camps at Manila, Santiago
and in Porto Rico. There were constructed
three hundred miles OF line at ten great
camps, thus formulating military movements
from those points III u manner heretofore
unknown in military administration. Field
telegraphic lines were established and main
tanned under the enemy's firesat Manila and
later the Manila Hong Kong cable was re-
opened.
In Porto Rico cable connection was open
ed over discontinued route, and on land
the headquarters of the commanding officers
kept up telegraphic and telephone commun-
ieation with the division commanders on
four different lines OF operations.
There was placed in Cuban waters COM
pletely Quilted cable ship with war cables
and cable gear suitable both for the de-
struction OF communication belonging to the
enemy and the establishment of our own
Two ocean cables were DESTROYED under the
enemy's batteries at Santiago. The day pre-
vlous to the landing of General Shafter's
troops at Caimanera, within twenty miles
OF the landing place, cable communication
was established and cable station opened,
giving direct communlcation with the gov
ernment at Washington. This service was
Invaluable to the Executive in directing the
operations of the army and navy
MILLIONS FOR DEFENSE
The $4,000, 900 fund was expended in large
part BY the army and navy, and the objects
for which it was used are fully shown in re-
ports Of the several secretaries 1t was a
most timely appropriation, enabling the
government to strengthen its defense and
make preparations greatly needed in case
of war This fund being Inadequate to the
requirements of equipment and for the con
duct of the war, the patriotism of the Con-
gress provided the means in the war revenue
act of June 18th by authorizing popular
loan not to exceed three hundred million
dollars, and by, levying additional imports
and taxes. OF the authorized loan, two hun
dred millions were Offered and promptly
taken, the subscriptions so far exceed
ing the call a,sto cover it many times over,
while, preference being given to the smaller
bids, no single allotment exceeding five
thousand dollars. This was most encour-
aging and significant result, showing the
vast resources of the nation and the deter
mination of the people to uphold their coun-
try's honor.
1t is not within the province of this mes
sage to narrate the history of the extraor-
dinary war which followed the Spanish
declaration of April 2lst, but brief recital
Of its more salient features is appropriate.
THE FIRST ENCOUNTER
The first encounter of the war, in point of
date, took place April 9th, when a detach-