Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-12-09
French Ambassador and the Austro-
Zimmerman Minister

ton of the text of the joint resolution
and directed to communicate 1t to the
Government of Spain with the formal
demand that it at once relinquish its
authority and government in the island
of Cuba and withdraw it's forces there
from coupling this demand with the |
announcement of the intentions of this
Government as to the future of the |
island, in conformity with the fourth
clause of the resolution, and giving |
Spain until noon of April % to reply, |
That demand. although as above
shown, officially made known to thu
Spanish Envoy here. was not delivered
at Madrid After the instruction reach
ed Gen. Woodford on the morning of
April 81, but before he could present
it, the Spanish Minister of State mott.
fed him that upon the Presidents APP
proval of the joint resolution the Ma
drid Government regarding the act rs
"equivelant to an evident declaration
of war" had ordered its Minister in
Washington to withdraw, thereby
breaking off diplomatic relations be
tween the two countries and ceaSinI
all official communication between
their respective representatives.. Cen
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 "A state of war the eN-
ecutive powers authorized by the res
olution were at once used by me to
meet the enlarged contingency OF act
ual war between sovereign states.
On April % | proclaimed blockade
of the north coast of Cuba including
ports on said coast between Cardenas
and Bahia Honda. and the port Oh
Cipnfuogos on the south coast OF Cuba
and on the 23u | called for volunteers
to execute the purpose OF the resol''
ton. BY my message of April % the
! Congress was Informed of the Sltua'
ton. and | recommended formal de
claration of war between the United
! States and Spain. The Congress ac-
cordingly voted on the same day the
act approved April %. 1888. declaring
the existence of such war from ana
including the DIST day of April. and re
enacted the provision of the resolution
of April 20 directing the President TO
use all the armed force of the nation
to carry that act into effect.
y
of half a century of peace with all
nations found itself engaged in dead
ly conflict with a foreign enemy
Every nerve was strained to meet thu
emergency. The response to the initial
call for 125.OO0 volunteers was instant
and completes aS was also the result
of the second call of May - for 10000
additional volunteers. and the ranks
of the regular army We're increased u
the limits provided by the act Of April
2G.1S9S.
The story of this successful cam
paign is told in the report of the
Secretary Of War which will be laid
before YOU. The individual valor of
officers and soldiers was never moro
strkingly shown than in the several
engagements leadin'; to the surrender
of Santiago, while the prompt move
meutS and successive victories won
instant and universal applause. To
those who gained this complete tr!-
umph. which established the ascend
ancv of the United States upon land
as the fight off Santiago had fixed oul
supremacy on the seas, the earnest
and lasting gratitude of the nation is
unsDaringly due. Nor should we alone
remember the gallantry of the living
The dead claim our tears, and Oul
losses by battle and disease must clOuC
any eXultation at the result and teacl
us o weigh the awful cost of war, how
ever rightful the cause or signal tht
victory.
1t is fitting that | should bear ties
timony to the patriotism and devo
ton of the large portion of OR army
which, although eager to he ordered t.
the post of greatest exposure fortu
natelY was not required outside OF The
\ United States. They did their who'll
| duty. and. like their comrades at thu
2 front have earned the gratitude of tn,
nation.
In like manner the officers and mel
, of the army and navy who remained il
2 their departments and stations faith
? fully performing most important dutie
connected with the war. ana Who's
requests for assignments in the tiel'
/ and at sea | was compelled to retuS
because their services were indiSpcn
sible here. are entitled to the highes
! commendation. 1t is my regret tina
Y there seems To he no provision for thei
! suitable recognition.
L In this connection it is a pleaSur
+ for me to mention in terms of con
D dial appreciation the timely and use
:, full work of the American Rcd CruSs
1 both in relief measures preparatory /
+ the campaigns. III sanitary assistanc
J. at several of the camps of Assem-
q blagc. and later. under the able ain
experienced leadership of the preSiden
q of the society Miss Clara Barton. O
e the fields of battle ana in the hospital
at the front in Cuba. Working in con
q junction with the Governmental Al
= thorities and under their sanction an
g approval. and with the enthusiast
II cooperation of many patriotic wome
i and societies in the various States tn
Il Red Cross has fully maintained it
II already high reputation FOR intens
carnestness and ability to cXercis
a the noble purposes of its internationi
s. organization, thus justifying the col
a fdence and support which it has +,
IL ceivcd at the hands of the America