The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-12-06

l-'1.A1l'l1l
maintained relations. In order that their
Neutrality might BE- assured during me
war 1ho various governments responded
with prociamaiions Of neutrality. each
after lts own methods. Il Is not among
the leaet gratifying Incidents Of the
struggle that the obligations u neutral
~ were impartially discharged BY afl.
often under delicate and dinicult cir
curstances.
In further fuIhIiment Of intcrnatIonul
duty ! fnsued April z5 proclamation
announcing tho trontment proposed 10
be accorded 70 vessels and their oarxoes
~ 70 blockade, conknband. the exeroiao
Of tho right of SUBJECTS and ll1s immuu-
ity Of neutral flags and neutral goods
under enemys nag. A similar procia-
nation vas made By me Spanish govsrn-
ment. In the conduct Of hostllllIep the
rules Of the declaration Of Paris, lnciud-
ing abslsnticn from resort 70 pfivateer-
Ing. have accordinGivi been observed by
both belligerents, although neither was 3
parry 20 that declaration.
Our country thus. after an Interval of
half century. Of peace With all nations.
found Itself engaged In deadly CONFLICT
with q foreign enomy Every nerve was
strained to meet the emergency, Tho re-
sponse to the initial caIl lot 11s.ooo volun-
tsers was instant and eompleta. as wa
also the result OF the second call OF MAY
5 Tor 1900 additional volunteers. The
ranks Of the regular army wore Increased
to the limit provided by the act Of April
q The enlisted force Of The navy on
August IS. when II reached its maximum.
numbered 2i,l9 men and apprentices.
One hundred and three vessels were ad-
ded to the navy By purchase, ono was
presented to the government, one leased.
and four vessels OF the International Nav
igation Company. the st. Paul, 81. Louis.
New York and Paris, were chartered. In
addition TO these the revenue cutters and
lighthouse tenders were turned over 10
the navy department and became tenn
Dorarily a part OF the auxiliary navy.
STRENGTH or ARMY AND NAVY.
The maximum effective fighting force
OF the navy during the war. divided into
classes. was as follows:
-Four battleships Of the nrst class. one
batttleahip Of the second class. two ar
mored cruisers. six coast-defense moni-
tors, one armored ram. z protected
cruisers. three unprotected cruisers, Is
gunboats. one dynamite cruiser, II tor
pedo-boats. II old vessels ofthe old navy.
including monitors.
Auxiliary navy--Auxillary cruisers, q
converted yachts. q converted tugs 10
converted coiliers four revenue cutters.
four lighthouse tenders and 70 mlscellan-
eous vessels
Much alarm was felt along the entire
Atianuc seabOard lest an attack might
be made BY the enemy. Every precau-
ton was taken to prevent possible injury
to our great cities lying along the coast.
Temporary garrisons were provided.
drawn from the state militia. and infan-
try and light batteries we're drawn from
the volunteer force About 12Oo0 troops
were thus employed. The coast signal
service was established for observing the
approach OF the enemy's ships 70 the
coast OF the United States. and the light
house service co-operated. which en-
abled the navy department to have all
portions OF the Atlantic coast from Maine
TO Texas under observation.
The auxiliary navy was created under
the authority OF congress and was OH
cered and manned by the naval militia
OF the several states. This organization
patrolled the coast and performed the
duty of a second arm Of defense.
Under the direction OF the chief en-
gineer, submarine mines were placed at
the most exposed points. Before the war
permanent mining easements and cable
galleries had been taxed 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 district officers were d.
rected to take all preliminary measures.
short Of the actual attaching Of the load
ed mines, to the cable. and on April q
relegraphic orders were issued to place
The loaded mines In position.
The aggregate number of mines placed
was 1855 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.
the mines were not placed. The signal
corps was promptly organized and per-
formed service OF the most difficult and
important character. Its operations dur
Ing the war covered the electrical con-
nection OF all coast fortlications, the
Of telephone and teIe-
graphic facilities at camps at Manila,
and in Porto Rico. There were
800 miles OF line at 10 great
camps. thus facilitating military move
nents from those ports In manner
unknown IN military admlnis-
tation. Fdeld telegraph lines were estab-
ished and maintained under the enemy's
Ire az Manila, and later the Manila-Hong-
Kong cable was reopened.
In Porto Rico cable communication was
opened over a discontinued route and on
and The purposes Of commanding officers
Was kept in telegraphic and telephonlc
with the division COM
randers on four different lines Of oper-
atoms. There was placed in Cuban wat
srs completely Quilted cable ship with
war cables and cable gear suitable both
'or the destruction OF communications
belonging to the enemy and the establish
nent of our own. Two ocean cal,les were
under the enemy's batteries at
Santiago. The day previous to the land
ng of General Skaters corps at Caiman-
ira within 20 miles Of the landing place.
,ahle communication was established and
/ cable station opened. giving direct COM
with the government at
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