Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-12-10

between Spain and the people Of Cuba
and to secure in the island the estap-
lishment Of a stable government. The
response of the congress. after nine
days of earnest deliberation, durins
which the almost unanimous sentiment
OF your body was developed on every
point save as TO the expediency Of cou-
ping the proposed action With 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 confer
ence on the 18th of April, by vote OF 4
to IS in the senate and 81 to in the
house of representatives, passed the
memorable joint resolution declaring
First.-That the people Of the island of
Cuba are and of right ought to be free
and Independent.
Second. That IT is the duty Of the Unit
ed States to demand. and the government
OF the United States does hereby demand.
that the government of Spain AZ once re-
linquish its authority and government 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 hereby is directed and
empowered 20 use The entire land and
naval forces Of the United States and to
cali 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
ourth.--That the United States hereby
disclaims any disposition or intention to
exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or con-
troll over said island except for the paci-
fcation thereof and asserts It's deter
mnation when that is accomplished to
leave the government and control Of the
island to its people.
Our country thus. after an interval OF
half a century of peace with all nations,
found itself engaged in deadly conflict
with foreign enemy. Every nerve was
/ strained to meet the emergency. The
response to the initial call for 125,0G0
volunteers was instant and complete,
as was also the result OF the second call,
/ of May % for Is, 900 additional volun
! teers. The ranks Of the regular army
were increased to the limits provided by
the act Of April &C. 1898.
The enlisted force of the navy on the
4 18TH day of August, when it reached its
maximum, numbered 24123 men and
1 apprentices. One hundred and three
! vessels were added to the navy by pur-
] chase, one was presented to the govern
ment one leased and the four vessels
/ of the international Navigation COM
pany-the st. Paul, st. Louis New York
| and Paris-were chartered. In addition
/ to these the revenue cutters and light
| house tenders were turned over to the
navy department. and became Temporal
rily part of the auxiliary navy.
The medium effective fighting force
of the navy during the war. separated
/ into classes, was as follows:
-Four battleships of the first class, l
/ i 10. q
ed cruisers. coast defense monitors,
armored ram, IL protected cruisers. 8
unprotected cruisers, is gunboats, /
dynamite cruiser. II torpedo boats; YES
sells of the old navy including mont
tors, IA. Auxiliary: Eleven auxiliary
cruisers, IS converted yachts 81 con-
verted tugs, 10 converted Golfers, Is
revenue cutters. lighthouse tenders
and 10 miscellaneous vessels.
There was placed in Cuban waters
completely outfltted cable ship. with
war cables and cable gear, suitable both
! for the destruction OF communications
belonging to the enemy and the estab-
lishment of our own. Two ocean cables
were destroyed under the enemy's bat
teries at Santiago.
The day previous ito the landing Of
General Skaters army corps at Cali
mara, within 20 miles of the landing
place, cable communications were es-
tahlishe5 and a cable station opened.
giving direct communication with the
government at Washington.
This service was invaluable to the
executive in directing the operations of
the army and navy. With total force
of over 1900 the loss was by disease in
camp and field, officers and men in
cluded, only five.
How the FunG Was spent.
The national defense fund of $4,000
600 was expended iR large part by the
army and navy and the objects for
| which it was used are fully shown in
the reports of the several secretaries.
1t was a most timely appropriation, en-
aiding the government to strengthen its
defenses and make preparations greatly
needed in case Of war,
This fund being Inadequate to the re-
quirements of equipment and for the
conduct of the war. the patriotism Of
/ the congress provided the means in the
war revenue act of June 10 by author
izing a 3 per cent popular loan not to
exceed $500, 600. coo and by levying addi-
tional imposts and taxes. OF the au-
thorized loan $200O00C00 was offered
!
so far exceeding the call as to cover II
many times over, while preference be-
| ing given to the smaller bids no single
allotment exceeded $1,000. This was
most encouraging and significant result,
| showing the vast resources of the ma
ton, and the determination OF the peo-
| pie to uphold their country's honor.
! The message then recites the salient
features in the history OF the war and
continues:
The total casualties in killed ard
wounded in the army during the war
with Spain We're: officers killed. %; en-
! listed men killed 257; total ESQ; officers
| wounded. 11S; enlisted men wounded,
! 1864: total. .577. OF the navy: Killed.
II; wounded, CT; died rs result of
wounds. /; invalided from service, 6;
total 81.
1t will be observed that while our ma
! Wy was ensaged in two great battles
and in numerous perious undertakings
| i'm blockade and bombsrdment and more
7 than 50 0o3 OF our troops were trans