Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-12-09

a formal recognition OF the republic of Cuba as
the true and lawful government of that island
"a proposition which failed of adoption-the
congress, after conference on the 10th of April
by a vote or AZ to 35 in the senate. and 81 8
In the house OF representatives. passed the
memorable joint resolution, declaring:
First, that the people Of the island of Cuba.
are. and By right, ought To be free and indie
pendent
Second, that it Is the duty of the United
states and the government of the United States
hereby demands that the government of Spain
at once relinquish its authority in the island of
Cuba and withdraw its land and naval forces
from Cuba and Cuban waters
Third, that the president of the United
states be. and he is hereby directed and en-
powered to the entire land and naval
forces of the United States. and to call into
the actual service of the United States the
militia OF the several states, to such extent as
may be necessary to carry these resolutions
into effect r.
- Fourth that the United States hereby dis
c1airns any disposition or intention to exercise
sovereignty, jurisdiction or control over said
island except for the pacification ther aof, and
asserts its determination when that is accom-
pliShed to leave the government and control of
the island to it's people,
The demand. although. above shown, OFF,
cially made known to the Spanish envoy here,
was not delivered at Madrid. After the instruc-
ton reached Gen Woodford on the morning
of April 81 but before he could present it, the
Spanish minister of state notified him that
upon the presidents approval of the Joint reso-
| luton the Madrid government. regarding the
act as equivalent TO an evident declaration of
war; had ordered its minister in Washington
TO withdraw. thereby breaking of diplomatic
relations between the two countries, and ceaS-
ing all official communication between their,
respective representatives. Gen Woodford
thereupon demanded his passport and quilted
Madrid the same day.
Declaration OF War
Spain having thus denied the demand OF the
United States and Initiated that complete form
OF rupture OF relations which affords a state of
war the executive powers authorized by the
resolution were at once used by me to meet the
| enlarged contingency of actual war between
| Spain and the United States On April - 1
proclaimed a blockade or the northern coast Of
Cuba. including ports said coast between
Cardenas and Bahia Honda and the port of
Cienfuegos on the south coast OF Cuba and on
the I'D L called for volunteers TO execute the
purpose OF the resolution. By my message OF
April %, the congress informed of the sit
uation and recommended formal declaration
| OF the existence of state of3agar between the
United States and Spain. The congress oac-
coro1fIgly voted on the same day the act ap
proved April 25s 1895. declaring the existence off
| such war. from and Including the 2ist day of
Aprfl,sand re- enacted the provision of the So
luton OF April D. directing the president to use
all the armed forces of the nation to carry thai
act into effect 90
Dewey's Remarkahie Victory. p
1t is not within the province of this
sage to narrate the history OF th5'axtraordinary
war that followed the Spanish declaratiors OF
April p out brief recital of it's more salient
fearlIres is appropriate. gThe first encounter OF
| the war in point of date took place April %,
! when detachment OF the bloSlIadIng SO Eadron
! made a reconnaissance in force at NIatanzas.
| shelled the charbor forts and demolishedasey-,
eral new works in construction.
The next engagement was destined to mark
& m memorable epoch in maritime warfare The
| Pacific feet, under Commodore George Dewey.
had lain for some weeks atHongs Kong. UIzEn
the colonial proclamation OF neutrality beg6g
| issued and the customary "A hours notice be-
| ing given it repaired to Mira bay, near Hong
| Kong. whence it proceeded to the Philip
| pine islands under telegraphed orders cto
! capture or destroy the fornidabl. Spanish feet
| then assembled at Manila Atdaybrea3> on the
! 1suof May the American force entered Manila
| bay and after a few hours engagement effected
the total destruction OF che Spanish feet con-
| sisting of ten warships and transport besides
capturing the naval station and forts At Cavite,
| thus aenihiating thu Spanish naval power in
| the Pacific ocean and completely controlling
| the bay OF Manila with the ability take the
| city at will Not life was lost on our ships
| the wounded only numbering seven. while not
! avessel WIS materially injured. oFor-this gal
liant achievement the congress upon my rect
ON Iendatiou, fifty bestowed upon tho actors
| preferment and substantial reward. e
| The Military Movements in Cuba.
| Not until Admiral Cervera took refuge in the
| harbor of Santiago de Cuba. about May 2,
it practicable To plan a systematic military at
| Several demonstrations oecurred on the coast
of Cuba and Porto Rice in preparation for the
| larger event., On May the North Atlantic
squadron sbeued SanDJuan de Porto Rico On
| May 30 Commodore Schley's 50 iadron benz bard
| ed forts guarding the mouth of Santiago harbor
| Neither attack had any material results,
ut evident that we'll ordered land
operations were Indispensable Ia, achieve a de-
| cided advantage The next act in the war
thrilled not alone the hearts OF -Opr country
| men. but the world. by its exceptional hero
ism On the night OF June 3. Lieut. uobson
aided by seven devoted volunteers. BLOCKED the
| narrow outlet from Santiago harbor by sink
ing the collier Merrimac in the channel under
| fierce fire from the shore batteries. escaping
| with their lives as by u miracle. but falling
| to The hands of the Spaniardse O.
The D-structtou-O 1Cervera's Fleet
| On JuHe - the advance of the it4endiDS army
le,lnder Maj Gen Skater landed at Baiouiri
| about - miles east of Santiago This was &C
cOuIptishet under great dificulsieS but with
| marvellous odispa:ch On CJune IS the move
| Elent agatnS. Santiago was begun On the 9th
the first serious nGagement took place in
which the First and Tenth cavalry and the
First Volunteer cavalry, Gen Youngs brigade
of Gen. Wheeler's division. PARTICIPATED. losing
heavily. By nightfsslL however, ground within
five milestc3 Santiago Won The advantage
was steadily inc -eaSeL On July a eyere bat =
Lite took place. Our forces gaining the outer
works of Saptiago. and FL Caney and San Juan
and the Investment of the Getty was
COMPLETED The navy co-operated by Smelling
the town and the coast forts On the day fol-
lowing this brilliant achievement of our land
forces July 3. occurred she decisive naval COM
, bat OF the war The Spanish feet. attempting
to escape from the harbor. was met b. the
American squadrop under command of ComuFo-
dore Sampson In less than TIRES hours all
the Spanish ships were DESTROYED, the two tor
pedo boats sunk and the Maria Teresa, Alrni-
I rante OQuendo. Vizcaya and oChristobal Colon
driven ashore TAe Spanish admiral and over
81 1880 men were taken prisoners while the
| enemy 81 loss of life was deploraoly large some
| go perishing On our sid but one MN was
| killed and one seriously wounded
With the catastrophe of Santiago, Spain :
| EFFORT upon the OCEAN virtually ceased A