The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-12-07

| ate no longer the existence of condi-
tion OF danger and disorder at our
doors that made possible such deed.
| by whomsoever wrought Yet the in
stinct of Justice prevailed and the ma :
tion anxiously awaited the result OF
the searching investigation al once set
ON foot. The finding OF the naval
board of inquiry established that the
origin OF the explosion was externally
by a submarine mine. and only halted,
| through lack OF positive testimony, to
TX the responsibility OF its author
| ship.
| All these things carried conviction to
| the most thoughtful. even before the
| finding OF the naval board. that a cri-
sis In our relations with Spain and to-
ward Cuba was at hand So strong
| was this belief that IL needed but a
brief executive suggestion to the con-
! gress to receive immediate answer to
| the duty of making instant provision
| Tor the possible and perhaps speedily
probable emergency of war and the
remarkable. almost unique, spectacle
| was presented of unanimous vote OF
both houses on the 9th of March APP
propriatlng $4,000, O0O FOR the national
defense and for each and every pur-
pose connected Herewith, to be ex-
| pended at the discretion of the Prcsi-
dent That this act of provision came
none too soon was disclosed when the
application of the fund was undertake
en-. our coasts were practically unde-
Tended. Our navy needed large pro-
vision for increased ammunition and
supplies. and even numbers to cope
with any sudden attack from the navy
OF Spain. which comprised modern YES
sells OF the highest type of continental
perfection. Our army also required en-
lareement of men and munitions. The
details OF the hurried preparations for
the dreaded contingency are told In the
reports of the secretaries of war and
OF the navy, and need not be repeated
here. 1t Is sufficient to say that the
outbreak Of war. when II did come,
found our nation not unprepared TO
meet the conflict.
PREPARING FOR HOSTILITIES.
The maximum effective fighting
force OF the navy during the war, sep
arated into classes. was as follows:
Four battleshps of the first class;
] battleship Of the second class: arm
ored cruisers; coast defense monitors;
armored ram; ~ protected cruisers;
z unprotected cruisers; is gunboats; 1
dynamite cruiser; II torpedo boats; II
vessels Of the old navy, including mon
itors Auxiliary navy: II auxiliary
cruisers; 2s converted yachts: % con-
verted tugs; 19 converted colliers; IL
revenue cutters; lighthouse tenders
ara ~ miscellaneous vessels.
Much alarm was felt along our entire
Atlantic seaboard lest some attack
might be made by the enemy Every
precaution was taken to prevent pos
sible injury to our great cities lying
along the coast. Temporary garrisons
We're provided. drawn from the State
militia: infantry and light batteries
were drawn from the volunteer force.
about 1900 troops were thus employ
ed. The coast signal service was es-
tahlished for observing the approach
Of an enemy's ships 10 the coast of
the United States, and the life-saving
and lighthouse services co-operated,
which enabled the Navy department
to have all portions of the Atlantic
coast. from Maine to Texas, under OBJ
servatiOn.
The auxiliary navy was created un-
der the authority of Congress and was
oflicered and manned by the naval mi
litia of the several States. This or
ganization patrolled the coast and per-
formed the duty cf a second line of de-
sense
Under the direction of the chief of
engineers, submarine mines were
placed at the most exposed points Be-
fore the outbreak of the war, perma-
nent mining classmates and cable gal
leries had been constructed at nearly
all important harbors. Most of the tor
pedo material was MT to be found I'm
the market and had to be specially
manufactured. Under date of April 10.
district officers were directed to take
all preliminary measures. short of
the actual attaching of the loaded
mines to the cables, and on April 22,
telegraphic orders were issued to place
the loaded mines in position. The ag-
gregate number of mines placed were
l.b35. at the principal harbors from
Maine to California. Preparations
We're also made for the planting of
mines at certain other harbors, hut
owing to the early destruction of the
Spanish fleet, these We're not placed.
The Signal Corps was promptly or
ganized and performed service of the
most difficult and important character.
It's operations during the war covered
the electrical connection of all coast
fortifcations, the establishment of tel
ephonic and telegraphic facilities for
the camps at Manila, Santiago and i'm
Porto Rico. There were constructed
800 miles OF line at ten great camps.
thus Facilitating military movements
from those points In a manner hereto
fore unknown In military admnistra-
tion Field telegraph lines were es-
taplished and maintained under the
enemy's fire at Manila, and later the
Manila -Hongkong cable was reopened.
~"oNEi IINoN lDEl) B1 CONGRESS.
In Porto Rico cable communications
were opened over discontinued route,
and ON land the headquarters of the
commanding officer was kept in tele-
graphic communication with the divi-
sion commanders on four different lines
OF operations.
There was placed in Cuban waters q.
completely QUILTED cable ship, with
war cables and cable gear, suitable
both for the destruction of communi-
cations belonging to the enemy and
the establishment of our own. Two
ocean cables were destroyed under the
enemys batteries at Santiago. The
day previous to the landing of Gen,
Skaters corps at Caimanera, within
20 miles OF the landing place, cable
communications were established and
cable station opened. giving direct
communication with the government
Mt Washington. This service was in
valuable 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, off,
GERS and men included. only five
The national defense fund Of 5O,0OO,-
900 was expended In large part by the
army and navy, and the objects for
which 1t was used are fully shown in