The true northerner., 1898-12-07
WAR Is DECLARED.

WAR Is DECLARED.
Spain and Other Countries NOtthed OF
BEGINNING of HOstilities.
spain having thus denied the demand OF
the United States and initiated that COM
plete form OF rupture or relations which
attends a state of war, the executive pow
ers authorized by the resolution were at
once used by me to meet the enlarged con-
tineency of actual war between Spain and
the United States. on April y pro-
claimed a blockade of the northern coast OF
Cuba. including ports on said coast pe-
tween Cardenas and Bahia Honda ana the
port Of Cienfucgos on the south coast Oh
Cuba; and on the 23d | called for volun-
teers TO execute the purpose OF the resolu-
ton. by my message OF ApIll -, the con,
press was Informed OF the situation and
( recommended formal declaration of the
/ existence Of a state Of war between tne
United States and Spain. The congress
( accordingly voted on the same DAY the
act approved April q, 1888. declaring the
I existence of such war, from ana lncluuihe
the 2lst day of APRIL ana reehaSted tne
provision of the resolution OF Aprll ~, ui,
recting the president to use all the armed
forces of the nation to carry that ACT lhto
effect. Due notification OF the eNlsIe &C. oI
war as aforesaid was given April 20 py
telegraph to all the governments WIlh
which the United States maintain relatlohs,
in order that their neutrality mignt oe as
sured during the war. The various gov.
ernments responded with proclamatlohs OF
neutrality, each after its own methous.
IL is not among the least gratifying lhcl-
dents of the struggle that the obligations
of neutrality were impartally dlscharSeu
by all. often under delicate ana oillcult
In further funillment of international
duty | issued April 26 proclamation an
nouncing the treatment proposed 10 oe
accorded TO vessels and their cargoes as
to blockade, contra band, the exercise o.
the right of subjects and the immunity or
neutral flags and neutral goods under enc
We 40 81 nrOClama1lOn
made by the Spanish government. In the
conduct of hostilities the rules OF the dec
laration of Paris, including abstention from
resort of privateering, have accordingly
been observed by both belligerents, al
though neither was a party 10 thAt oee-
laration.
Response to Call for Volunteers.
Our country thus, after an interval OF
half a century OF peace with all natlons :,
found itself engaged in deadly connie. W,ea q
10 meet the emergency. The response to
the initial call for $4,000 volunteers was
instant and complete, as was also tne ope res "a
ditionai volunteers. The ranks of the reg
ular army were increased TO the limits
provided by the act Of April 2s The gnst enads,ee
force of the navy on the 1oth OF August
when il reached its maximum, mum eI
24123 men and apprentices: one huhoreu
and three vessels were aonea anfed 10 dht TO ths
government one leased, and the -FOUR YES
Sells OF the International Navigation com
IT,.
pa aris were chartered. In addition 10 tnest
the revenue cutters and lighthouse tehoer'
were turned over to the navy oepartmen
and became temporarily part OF the aux
iliary navy.
strength of the Navy.
The maximum effective hghtlhg IoIce
the navy during the war, separated int'
classes was as follows: Four battleship
of the first class one battleship or the sec
/, ond class, two armored cruisers, SIX coas
defense monitors, one arliioren nrotacte ro .,
5 Cruisers, IS gunboats. one, dynamit
= cruiser[11 torpedo boats, IA old vessels o
the old navy, including monitors. AUX Auxli
) iary navy: Auxiliary cruisers, y conVerte
yachts: q converted tugs, 19 converted COZ
/, iiers, Is revenue cutters four lighthous
tenders and 10 miscellaneous vessels.
Defense OF the Coast.
r Much alarm was felt along our entir
, Atlantic seaboard lest some attack migh
e be made by the enemy. Every precautlo
e was taken to prevent posslDle injury i I
o our great cities lying along the coas'
Temporary garrisons were provided, draw
: from the state militia; infantry ana lgh
D batteries were drawn from the NOIuhlee
q force. About 1900 troops were thus en-
= ployed The coast signal service was es
n tablished for observing the approach or a
enemy's ships TO the coast of the Unite
: Stetes and The life-saving and Iighthous
q services cooperated, which enabled IN
: navy department to have all portions OF IN
e Atlantic coast, from Maine 10 Texas, unde
J.: observation. The auxiliary navy was ere
= ated under the authority of congress, an
r was offcered and manned by the nave
- militia of the several states. This organ
= ization patrolled the coast and pertorme
; the duty of a second arm OF defense
Planting of Mines.
. Under the direction OF the chief OF eng
/ neers submarine mines were placed at II
most exposed points. Before the outbrea
l. of the war permanent mining castmate
e and cable galleries had been constructe
o at all important harbors Most OF me ,e t1l th
pedo material was not TO be found In IN
: market and had 20 be specially manu1a'
; tured Under date Of April ~ district of
d GERS were directed 10 take all prelimlhai
70 measures, short of the actual attaching
e the loaded mines TO the cables, ana Q
J. April % telegraphic orders were issued
d place the loaded mines in position, m
l. aggregate number of mines placed wS
p l. 535 al the principal harbors from Mar
n 10 California. Preparations were also mac
Is for the planting of mines at certain ON.
e harbors, but owing to the early destructlo
n Of the Spanish fleet these mines were M
placed. .
The signal corps was promptly organize
,e and performed service OF most difficult al
n important character. It's operations du
ir ing the war covered the electrical come
ye ton of all coast fortifications, the esta
D. lishment oftelephonic and telegraphic faci
Of tiles for the camps at Manila, Santlat
ul and in Porto Rico. There were constructt
IN 800 miles of line at ten great camps. TN
s, facilitating military movements fro
~ those points in manner heretofore vi
known In military administration F1e
tained under the enemy's fire at Mani
Of and later the Maniia-H ong-kong cable WI
ee reopened. In Porto Rico cable commur
cations were opened over a discontinu.
I'd route and on land the headquarters OF q
or commanding officer was kept In tel
he graphic or telephone communication Wi
is the division commanders OF four differe
Of lines Of operation. There was placed
al Cuban waters a completely outfitted cab
ship with war cables and cable gear sui
eu able both for the destruction of commur
10 cations belonging to the enemy and Il
al establishment Of our own. Two oces
10 cables were destroyed under the enemy
es batteries at Santiago The day previous
N the landing OF Gen. Skaters corps at ca
Sc manera. within 90 miles OF the landii
- place, cable communications were esta
~ lshed and cable station opened, giving &
" rect communication with the governme
-, vi at Washington. This service was inval
III III able TO the executive In directing the oper
III III tions OF the army and navy.
u u With total force Of over 1900, the 10
was, by disease in camp and field, office
and men included, only five
War Revenues.
40 The national defense under the s50,000,t
IL | fund was expended In large part by &
H. -. "a. fAts d