The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-05


days of earnest de!iberation. on April 49,
by a vote OF y 10 S5 In the senate. and 3if
TO I'm the house OF representatives.,
passed the memorable joint resolution
declaring:
First, that the people OF the island Of
Cuba are, and OF right ought 10 be free
and Independent.
Second-That II Is the duty OF the
United States Go demand. and the gov
ernment OF the United States does here
by demand. that the government or spain
at once relinauish its authority and gov
ernment in the island or Cuba and with
draw 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
empowered To use 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 20
carry these resolutions into effect
Fourth-That the United States hereby
disclaims any disposition or intention 10
exercise sovereignty. jurisdiction or CON
troll over saia island. except for the
pacifcation tSsrSof and asserts its de-
termination when that is accomplished
TO leave the government and control OF
the island TO It's people.
This resolution was approved by the
executive on the next day, April 20
copy was at once communicated 10 the
Spanish minister at this capital, who
forthwith announced that his continu-
ance in Washington had thereby be-
come impossible and asked for his pass
ports. which were given him. He there
upon Withdrew from Washington. leav-
ing the protection of Spanish interests in
the United States to the French am
bassador and the Austro- Hungarian
minister.
simultaneously with this communica-
tion TO the Spanish minister here. Cen
eral Woodford. the American minister
at Madrid, was telegraphed confirmation
Of the text OF the joint session, and di--
rected TO communicate IL TO the govern
ment of Spain with the formal demand
/ that II at once relinquish its authority
and government in the island OF Cuba
and withdraw its forces therefrom.
( roupling this demand with the announce
( l1ent OF the intentions OF this govern
! rent as TO the future OF the island, In
: conformity with the fourth clause OF the
/ resolution and giving Spain until noon
! on April z3 TO reply.
That demand although officially made
/ known TO the Spanish envoy here, was
! not delivered al Madrid. After the
J instructions bad reached General Wood
ford on the morning OF April Il, but be-
/ fore he could present IL the Spanish min
Ister of state notified him that upon the
1 presidents approval Of the joint reso-
| lution the Madrid government, regard
1 ing the act as equivalent TO an evident
seclaration of war" had ordered its min
| ister in Washington TO withdraw, there
by breaking off diplomatic relations be-
tween the two countries and ceasing all
/ official communication between their re-
! .nective representatives. General Wood
ford thereupon demanded his passports
and quilted Medrid 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 be-
| tween sovereign states. On April 22 L
proclaimed blockade Of the north coast
Of cuba, including ports on said coast
between Cardenas and Bahia Honda ano
the port OF CienfuegoS on the sou.n coas'
OF Cuba, and on the 23rd i called TOT
volunteers to execute the purpose OIL LIZ
resolution. BY my message or Apih "a
the congress was informed OF the sltua
tion and l recommended formal declara-
ton of the existence or a state OF wal ~ ~
tween the United ST DIES and Spain. me
congress accordingly voted on the same
day the act approved April 20, 1893 oe'
claring the existence of such war IRON
and including the 2lst day OF April an.
re-enacted the provision OF the session y
April 20. directing the president 10 US
all the armed forces OF the hatioh W
that act into effect.
Due notif.,ation OF the existence OF wal
as aforesaid was given April 20 py tele
graph to all the governments Win wiz
the United States maintain reialiohs' IL
order that their neutrality mght pe as
sured during the war. The various SoN
ernments responded with
/ of neutrality each after its own metnous
In further fulfilment OF interhauona
duty / issued April 20, 1898, proclaha
| ton announcing the treatment propose'
TO be accorded to vessels and thelr car
goes as to blockade, contraoand' IN
exercise OF the right OF search, ana III
immunity OF neutral flags ana neutra
goods under enemy's flag. A slmlia
proclamation was made by the Spanish
government.
Our country thus. after an interval
half a century Of peace with all natlotls
found itself engaged in deadly connie
with a foreign enemy. Every nerve wa
strained TO meet the emergency. TIL
response TO the Initial call for l25,OOo VOL
unteers was instant and complete, as wa
also the result OF the second call OF Ma
! 25 for 75 600 additional volunteers. IN
ranks OF the regular army were increase,
to the limit provided by the act Oh apr
&c. 1898.
The enlisted force OF the navy on Aug
I5 when il reached it's maximum, mum
bered 24.l2S men and apprentices. ON
hundred and three vessels were ADDED I
the navy by purchase, one was presente
TO the government, one leased, ana IN
four vessels Of the InternatiOnM Nav
CATION company. the st. Paul, 81. LOUIS
New York and Paris were chartered
addition 10 these the revenue cutters an
lighthouse tenders were turned over
the auxiliary navy
The signal corps was promptly organ
i2ed and performed service OF the mos
! difficult and important character II
operations during the war covered N
electrical connection or all coast foruf
cations, the establishment OF telephonl
end telegraphic facilities for the camp
at Manila. Santiago and In Porto Ricf
, | This service was invaluable 10 the execu
, tive in directing the operations or IN
army and navy. With total force {
over 1900 the loss by disease i'm camp an
field, officers and men included. only nv
, The national defense fund OF SO,ccOO O'
, was expended i'm large part by the arm
md navy, and the objects for which
, was used was fully shown IN the r'
! ports Of the several secretaries. IL wa
, n most timely appropriation. enablin
(. the government To strengthen its IL