The Globe-republican., 1898-12-08

In Cuba. and it, disappointing reception By
Spain, the effort Of the executive vas brought
to an end again reviewed tho alternative
courses Of action which had prepared con-
GLIDING that tho only one consonant With inter
national policy and compatible with our frm
set historical traditions was Intervention as q
neutral to stop the war and check the hopeless
sacrifice Of life. even though that resort
involved hostile constraint upon both the
parties to the contest Is well to enforce
grounds 1ustifying that step were, the interests
Of humanity; the duty to protect life and prop
erty Of our citizens in Cuba: the right to check
injury to our commerce and people through the
devastation Of the island and most important
the need OF removing at once and f0reve {
the constant menace and the burdens en- =
tailed upon our government by the uncer-
tainties and perils Of the situation caused
by the uncomfortable disturbance f. Cuba.
The President then refers to his message to
Congress on the Cuban question last spring.
and the passage Of the resolutions demanding
the withdrawal OF Spanish sovereignty from
Cuba, and continues:
The demand. although. as abave shown. Of
fcially made known to the Spanish envoy here,
was not delivered at Madrid After the in
struction reached General Woodford on tho
morning Of April q, but before he could pre-
sent IL, the Spanish minister of state notified
him that upon the Presidents approval Of the
joint resolution the Madrid government, re-
garding the act as equivalent to an evident
declaration Of war;" had ordered its minister
in Washington to withdraw. thereby breaking
on diplomatic relations between the two coun-
tries. and ceasing all Official communication
between their respective representatives.
General WOodford thereupon demanded his
passports and quilted Madrid the same day.
SPAIN having thus denied the demand Of the
United States and initiated that complete form
OF rupture OF relations which attends q 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 % proclaimed blockade Of the
northern coast OF Cuba including ports on said
coast between Cardenas and Bahia Honda
and the port OF Cienfuegos on the
south coast Of Cuba; and on the sd I
called for volunteers to execute the purpose Of
these resolutions. By my message Of April %
the Congress was informed Of the situation,
and recommended formal declaration of the
existence Of Il state OF war between the United
States and Spain. The Congress accordingly
voted on the same day the act approved April
25, 1893, declaring the existence OF such war.
from and including the 2lst day of April, and
re enacted the provision OF the resolution Of
armed forces Of the nation to carry that act into
effect.
THE WAR PREPARATION.
Our country thus after an interval Of half q
century OF peace with all nations, found itself
engaged in deadly conflict with foreign enemy.
Every nerve was strained to meet the emer-
gency. The response to the initial call for
l25, 900 volunteers was instant and complete as
was also the result Of the second call Of May
Is for q. 900 additional volunteers. The ranks
Of the regular army were increased to the lin
its provided by the act of April q The en-
listed 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 government. one
leased and the four vessels Of the international
Navigation company-the st. Paul, St. Louis.
New York and p ,ris-were chartered. In ad-
dition to these the revenue cutters and light
house tenders were turned over t. the navy de-
partment and became temporarily part Of the
auxiliary navy.
The maximum effective fighting force Of the
navy during tn, war, separated into classes,
was as follows:
Four battleships Of the first class. one battle
ship Of the second class. two armored cruisers,
six coast defense monitors. ono armored ram.
twelve protected cruisers. three unprotected
cruisers. eighteen gunboats. one dynamite
cruiser. eleven torpedo boats fourteen cd
vessels Of the old navy, including monitors.
navy: Auxiliary cruisers, twenty
eight converted yachts, twenty-Seven converted
tugs. nineteen converted golfers. four revenue
cutters, four lighthouse tenders and nineteen
miscellaneous vessels.
Much alarm was felt along our entire Allan
tic seaboard lest some attack might be made
by the enemy. Every precautiOn was taken to
prevent possible injury to our great cities ~
Ing along the coast. Temporary garrisons were
provided. drawn from tho state militia, and
infantry and light batteries were drawn from
the volunteer force. About 1900 troops were
thus employed The coast signal service was
for observing the approach Of an
enemy's ship to the coast Of the United States
and the lighthouse service eo-operated. which
enabled the navy department to have oil por-
tons Of the Atlantic coast from Maine to Tex
Rs. under observation
The auxiliary navy was created under tho
authority OF Congress and was on
militia Of the several states. This organization
patrolled the coast and performed the duty Of
the second arm Of defense.
Under the direction of the chief Of engineers,
submarine mines were placed at the most ex-
posed points. Before the outbreak Of the war
permanent mining encasements and cable gal
eries had peen constructed at all important
aarDofA MOST OF the torpeoo mateHal was not
70 be found in tho market and had to be specially
Under date Of April 10 district |
officers were directed to take all preliminary
short Of the actual attaching Of the
loaded mines to the cables, and on April - tele-
graphic orders were issued to place the loaded |
mines in position.
The aggregate number Of mines placed was |
SIS at the principal harbors from Maine to |
California Preparations were also made for |
the ulantin1 Of mines at certain other harhorS
but owing to the early destruction Of the Span |
Sh feet, those mines were not placed. The |
signal corps Was promptly organized and per-
formed service Of the most difficult and import |
ant character. Its operations during the war |
covered the electrical connection Of all coast |
the establishment Of telephone |
and telegraphic facilities for the camps at Ma |
nila, Santiago and Porto Rico. There were
constructed SOD miles of line at ten great |