The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1898-12-08

pediency OF coupling the prepared action with
/ formal recognition of the republic Of Cuba as
the true and lawful government Of that island
"a proposition which failed OF adoptlou-the
congress, after conference on the I3ch OF April.
. py vote Of AZ to 81 IN the senate, and 81 10
J IN the house Of representatives passed the
memorable joint resolution, declaring;
First, that the people OF the island OF Cuba
are. ana By right, ought to De- free and inde-
pendent
second. that II is the duty Of the United
/ States and the government Of the United states
/ hereby demands that the government Of Spain
~ once reluquish it's authority ii the island Of
. Cuba and withdraw lis land and naval forces
/ from Cuba aud Cuban waters
-Ihlrd, That the president OF the United
States be, and he is hereby directed ami EN-
powered to use the entire land and naval
forces Of the United States ana to call iut3
the actual S-rgice Of the United States the
militia Of the several states 70 such extent Is
may be necessary - carry these resolutions
into effect
Fourth, that the United States hereby dis
claims any disposition or Intention to exercise
sovereignty, jurisdiction or control oyer said
.7ldAe| ef1tp~ Tor ta5 pat.acA-t51 t1sr+ott an
ass -rts is determination when that is accom-
pli~hed II IeaT. the Government AMI control 4
the island 70 lis people,
The demand. although. as above shown. OIL
claiIy made known To the Spanish envoy Ii -
was not delivered at Madrid. After The inS-rle-
ton reached g n. WOcafJri On the morning
OF April Il but before he could present it, tae
Spanish minister Of state notified him that
upon the presidents approval OF the joint reS0-
luton the Madrid government regarding the
act as equivalent to an evident declaration Of
war had ordered its minister in Washington
to Withdraw, thereby breaking OF diplomatic
relations between the two countries, and reas-
ing all official communication between their
respective representatives Gen Woodforj
thereupon demanded his passport and quilted
Madrid the same day
Declaration OF War.
a. Il Of no
United States ana initiated that complete form
OF rupture OF relations which affords state Of
war, the executive powers authorized by the
resolution were 1T once used by me to meet the
enlarged contingency Of actual war between
Spain ana the United States On April -
proclaimed u blockade Of the uorihcra coast Of
Cuba, including ports on said coast between
Cardenas and Bahia Honda ana the port of
Cienfuegos on the south coast Of CUBA. and on
the 23d called for volunteers To execute the
purpose Of the resolution. BY my message Of
April p, the congress was informed Of the sit
uation and recommended formal declaration
OF the existence OF a state Of war between the
United States and Spain The congress ac-
cOrdingly voted the same day the act APP
proved April %, 1898, declaring the existence Of
| such war, from and incluiing the 2lSt day Of
April, and re- enacted the provision OF the rcso-
luton OF Drill -, directing the president to use
all the armed forces o. the nation TO carry that
| act into effect.
Dewey's Remarkable Victory.
1t IS not within the province of this mes
sage to narrate the history of the extraordinary
war that followed the Spanish declaration Of
April 81. but a brief recital of its more salient
| features is appropriate. The first encounter Of
| the in point of date took place April q,
| when "a detachment OF the blockading squadron
| made a reconnaissance in force at Matan2lS,
| shelled the harbor forts and demolished sew
| eral new works in construction.
| The next engagement was destined to mark
| a memorable epoch in maritime warfare The
| Pacific feet, under Commodore George Dewey.
| had lain for some weeks at Hong Kong. Upon
| the colonial proclamation of neutrality being
| issued and the customary "a hours notice be-
| ing given il repaired TO Mira bay near Hong
| Kong whence it proceeded to the Philip
| pine islands under telegraphed orders to
| capture or destroy the formidable Spanish fleet
| then assembled at Manila At daybreall on the
| LIST of May the American force entered Manila
| bay and after few hours engagement effected
the total destruction of the Spanish fleet con-
| sisting of ten warships and transport, besides
| capturing the naval station and forts ut Cavite
| thus annihiIatiug the Spanish naval power In
| the Pacific ocean and completely controlling
| the bay of Manila with the ability to take tht
| city at will Not life was lost on our ships
| the wounded only mum bering seven, while not
| n vessel was materially injured. For this gal
liant achievement the congress. upon my rec
| concentration, fifty bestowed upon the actors
| preferment and substantial reward
The Military Movements in Cuba
| Not until Admiral Cervera took refuge in the
| harbor of Santiago de Cuba. about May .. was
| it practicable to plan systematic military at
| tack upon the Antillean possessions of Spain
Several demonstrations occurred on the coaS1
| of Cuba and Porto Rico in preparation for the
larger event On May 13 the North Atlantic
| squadron Shelled San Juan de Porto Rico On
| May 30 Commodore Schley : squadron lombard
| ed forts guarding the mouth of Santiago harDor
| Neither attack had any material results
| 1t was evident that well ordered lane
| operations were Indispensable to achieve de-
cided advantage The next act in the wal
| thrilled not alone the hearts of our country
| men but the world. by its exceptional hero
ism. On the night of June 3. Lieut. Hobson
aided b. seven devoted volunteers OlOched tn,
narrow outlet from Santiago harbor by sink
inc the collier Merrimac in the Chlnuel, undel
| n fierce fire from the shore batteries escaping
with their lives as By q miracle, but falling in
| to the hands of the SpauiardS
The Destruction OF Cervera's Fleet.
| on June - the advance of the invading arm,
under Mai Gen. Shafter landed at Baiquirl
| about - mile, east of Santiago. This was &C
complished under great difficulties, but will
marvellous dispatch On June ) the move
ment against Santiago was begun. On the 24tl
the first serious engagement took place il
which the First and Tenth cavalry and to
First Volunteer cavalry. Gen Y0ung's briEad
| of Gen. Wheeler'S division, participated loSln
| heavily Bv nightfalL however, ground within
| five miles Of Santiago was won The adVanta-
| was steadily increased on July q severe Dat
! tie took place. our forces gaining the QUITE
| works of Santiago, and FL Caaey and san Jua
| we're taken after desperate charS
| and the investment of the city wa
completed. The navy co-operated by she-Iin
che town and the coast forts on the day fol
lowing this brilliant achievement Of our Ian
forces. July 3. occurred the decisive naval com
| bat Of the war The Spanish fleet attemptIn
to escape from the harbor, was met by IN
| American squadron under command Of Comno
dore sampson IN less than three hours d
the Spanish ships were destroyed. the two tor
: | ne,io boats sunk and the Maria Teresa. Ami
! | rante Oduendo Vizcaya and Christobal Colo
| driven ashore. The Spanish admiral and owe
! 1900 men were taken prisoners, while tn
enerny's loss of life was deploraoiy large, som
/ 6o1 rarfshinc On our side but one man va
l killed and one seriously wounded
With the caStastrophe of Santiago. Spain