Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-12-13

ford thereup0n DEMANDED his passports
and quilted Medrid the same day.
Spain, having thus denied the demand
Of the United States and initiated that
complete form Of rupture Of relations
which attends state of war. the execu-
tive powers authorised by the resolution
were at once used by me to meet the en-
iarred contingency Of actual war be-
tween sovereign states. On April %
proclaimed blockade Of the porth coast
Of Cuba. including ports on said coast
between Cardenas and Bahia Honda and
the port OF Cienfuegoe on the south coast
Of Cuba, and on the 23rd called for
volunteers tn execute the purpose OF the
resolution. BY my message Of April Is
the congress was Informed Of the sttua.
ton and recommended formal deciara-
ton Of the existence OF state OF war be-
tween the United states and Spain. The
congress accordingly voted on the same
day the act approved April rs. 1898. de-
claring the existence OF such war from
and including the 21st day Of April. and
re-enacted the provision Of the session oil
April 20. directing the president TO use
oil the armed forces Of the nation to carry
that act into effect.
Our country thus. after an interval oil
half century OF peace with all nations
found Itself engaged In deadly connict
with a foreign enemy. Every nerve was
strained To meet the emergency. The
response TO the initial call for l25,OW vol
unteers was instant and complete. as was
also the result OF she second call OF May
% for $1,000 additional volunteers. Inc
ranks Of the regular army were Increased
to the limit provided by the act OF April
:6, 1888.
The enlisted force of the navy on Aug.
a. .kul . a Inn NJ
bered 2i.I23 men and apprentices. one
hundred and three vessels were added Ia
the navy by purchase. one was presented
to the government. one leased. and the
four vessels OF the International Navi-
CATION company. the st. Paul. 81. Louis.
New York and Paris were chartered. In
addition TO these. the revenue cutters and
lighthouse tenders were turned over 70
the auxiliary navy.
The signal corps was promptly organ
lied and performed service OF the most
difficult and important character. Its
operations during the war covered the
electrical connection OF all coast FORTH
cations. the establishment OF telephone
and teiegraphic facilities for the camps
at Manila. Santiago and In Porto Rico.
This service was invaluable To the execu-
tive In directing the operations OF the
army and navy. With total force OF
over 1900 the loss by disease In camp and
field. officers and men included. only five.
The national defense fund OF $50. 900. 00t
was expended In large part by the army
and navy, and the objects for which II
was used. was fully shown In the re-
ports OF the several secretaries. IL was
n most timely appropriation. enabling
the government To strengthen Its de-
lenses and make preparations greatly
needed In case OF war.
This fund being inadequate to the re-
cuirements OF equipment and for the
conduct OF the war. the patriotism OF the
congress provided the means In the war
revenue act Of June Is by authorizing a
percent popular loan. not To exceed
500. 900. 900. and by levying additional
imposts and taxes. or the authorized
loan 5000. 900. 900 was offered and promptly
taken. the subscriptions 80 far exceeding
the call as 10 cover II many times over
This was a most encouraging and signi-
ncans result, showing the vast resources
OF the nation. and the determination OF
the people TO uphold their country's
honor.
The first encounter Of the war In point
Of date took place April q. when a de-
tachment Of the blockading squadron
made a reconnaissance In force at Ma
tanzas, shelied the harbor forts and
demolished several works In course OF
construction
The next engagement Was destined "a
mark memorable epoch In marine war
fare. The Pacific fleet. under Commo-
dore George Dewey. had lain for some
weeks mt Hong Kong. Upon the colonial
proclamation Of neutrality being issued
and the customary % hours notice being
given. IL repaired To Mrs bay. near Hong
Kong. whence II proceeded Ia the Philip
pine Islands under telegraph orders 10
capture or destroy the formida BILE Span
tsh feet then assembled at Manila
At daybreak on May the American
force entered Manila bay and after a few
hours engagement effected the total de-
struction OF the Spanish fleet consisting
Of 10 warships and transport besides
capturing the naval station and forts a,
Cayite. thus annihllating the Spanish
naval power In the Pacific ocean and
completely controlling the bay Of Ma.
Mia, with the ability To take the city a;
will. Not life was lost on our ships
the wounded only numbering seven
while not a vessel was materially injured
For this gallant achievement the con-
gress. upon my recommendation. fitly
bestowed upon the actors permanent ana
substantial reward.
The effect OF this remarkable victory
upon the spirit Of our people and upon
the fortunes OF the war was instant A
prestige OF invincibility thereby attac he'd
TO our arms. which continued throughout
the struggle. Reinforcements were
hurried 10 Manila under the command OF
Major General Merritt and firmly estab-
lished within sight % the capital. which
lay helpless before our guns.
Following the comprehensive scheme
OF general attack. powerful forces wer.
assembled at various points on our coast
TO invade Cuba and Porto Rico. Mean
while naval demonstrat tons were made
at several exposed points. ON May II
the cruiser Wilmington and torpedo boat
Winslow were unsuccessful In an at
tempt To silence the batteries at Car
denas. a gallant ensign, Worth w. Bag
ley, and four seamen falling. These
grievous fatalities were strangely enough
among the very few which occurred dur
Ing our naval operations in this ex-
tTaordinary conflict.
Several demonstrations occurred on the
coasts OF Cuba and Porto Rico In prep
aration for the larger event. On May IL
the North Atlantic squadron shelled san
Juan de Porto Rico. On May ~. Com
mpdore Schley's squadron bombarded
the forts guarding the mouth OF SAN
tiago harbor. Neither attack had any
material result. IL was evident that
well ordered land operations were indis'
pensabie to achieve q decisive advan-
tage.
1.-THE president here refers to the MILL
tary and naval operations on Cuba and
Porto Rico. and refers to the assumption
Of affairs In the latter island by the
United States government
The total casualties In killed and
wounded in the army during the war
with Spain were: officers killed. %, en-
list ed men. 257: total 80: officers wound
ed, ll3: enlisted men wounded, 1864; total
1877. OF the navy: Killed, IL; wounded,
g.; died as result Of wounds, /; invaded
from service. 6; total, 81
II will be observed that while our navy
was engaged I'm two great battles and In
numerous perilous undertakings In
blockade and bombardment. and more
than $4,000 of our troops were transport
ed To distant lands and were engaged In
assault and siege and battle and many
skirmishes In unfamiliar territory, we
lost In both arms OF the service total OF
1868 killed and wounded. and In the en-
tire campaign by land and sea we did not
lose q gun or a flag or transport OF a
ship, and with the exception OF the crew
Of the Merrimac. not q soldier or sailor
was taken prisoner.
On Aug. Z. 46 days from the date Of the
landing OF General Skaters army In
Cuba and 81 days from the surrender OF
Santiago. the Urited States troops COM
menced embarkation for home. and our
entire force was returned to the United
States as early as Aug. "a. They were
absent from the United States only two
months.
The humiliation Of Admiral Cervera' Z
feet. followed by the equalization of
Santiago, having brought TO the Spanish
government realizing sense OF the hope
lessness of continuing struggle now
become wholly unequal, 1t made over