People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1898-12-06


the true and lawful government Of that island
"a proposition which failed Of adoption-the
congress, after conference, on the 10Th 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 by right ought to be free and indie
pendent
Second, that it is the duty of the United
States and the government of the United States
hereby demands that the government Of Spain
al once relinquish its authority 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 is hereby directed and en-
powered to use the entire land and naval
forces Of the United States, and to call 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
Fourth, that the United States hereby dis
Claims any disposition or intention to exercise
sovereignty, jurisdiction or control over said
island, except for the pacifcation thereof and
asserts its determination when that is accom-
pliShed to leave the government and control Of
the island to its people"
The demand, although, as above shown, off,
cially made known to the Spanish envoy here,
was not delivered at Madrid. After the instruc-
tion reached Gen WoOdford on the morning
OF April q, but before he could present 1t, the
Spanish minister Of stare notified him that
upon the presidents approval OF the joint reso-
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 ceas-
ing all official communication between their
respective representatives. Gen Woodford
thereupon demanded his passport and quilted
Madrid the same day
Declaration OF War.
Spain, having thus denied the demand Of the
United States Gndtnitiated that complete form
Of rupture OF relations which affords state o;
war, the executive powers authorized by the
resolution were at once used by me TO meet the
enlarged contingency Of actual war between
Spain and the United States On April %
proclaimed blockade OF the northern coast OF
SNbos AhSAuulhS pOA w Sdlu OOtASb DcbNtcu
CardenaS and Bahia Honda and the port OF
Cienfuegos on the south coast OF Cuba; and on
the I'D 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 state Of war between the
United States and Spain. The congress &C.
cOrdingly voted on the same day the act ap-
proved April %, 1898 declaring the existence OF
such war, from and including the 2lst day OF
April, and re- enacted the provision OF the reso-
luton OF April %, directing the president to use
all the armed forces OF 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 brief recital OF its more salient
features Is appropriate. The first encounter OF
the war in point Of date took place April q,
when detachment Of the blockading squadron
made a reconnaissance in force at Matanzas,
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 Hon, Kong Upon
the colonial proclamation OF neutrality being
issued and the customary "a hours notice be-
ing given, it repaired to Mira bay, near Hong
Kong. whence 1t proceeded TO the Philip
pine islands under telegraphed orders to
capture or destroy the formidable Spanish feet
then assembled at Manila Atdaybreak on the
1st Of May the American force entered Manila
bay and after few hours engagement effected
the total destruction of the Spanish feet con-
sisting OF ten warships and transport, besides
capturing the naval station and forts at Cavite,
thus annihilating the Spanish naval power in
the Pacific oceaa and completely controlling
the bay Of Manila with the ability to take the
city at will Not life was lost on our ships,
tbs wounded only numbering seven, while moi
vessel was materially injured For this gal
liant achievement the congress upon my rec.
ommendatiOn, fifty bestowed upon the actors
prSermenS aud substantial reward.
the Military Muv- mont. In Cuba.
Not until Admiral Cervera took refuge In the
harbor Of Santiago de Cuba. ABOUT May Q, was
1t practicable TO plan a systematic military at
tack upon the Antilleau possessions Of Spain
Several demonstrations occurred on the coast
Of Cuba and Porto Rico in preparation for the
larger event On May IS the North Atlantic
squadron Shelled San Juan de Porto Rico On
MAY 30 Commodore Schley'S squadron lombard
cd forts guarding the mouth Of Santiago harbOr
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 by seven devoted volunteers, blocked tht
narrow outlet from Santiago harbor By sink
ing the collier Merrimac In the channel. under
fierce fire from the shore batteries, escaping
with their lives as by miracle, but falling in
to the hands Of the Spaniards
The Destruction OF Cervers's Fleet
On June q the advance Of the invading arn,
under Maj Gen Shafter landed at Baiquir!
about Is miles east of Santiago This was &C
compished under great difficulties, but will
marvellous dispatch. On June 3 the move
ment against Santiago was begun On the 24t
the first serious engagement took place i
wnich the First and Tenth cavalry and tn
FRS. Volunteer cavalry. Gen Young's brigad
OF Gen Wheeler's division, participated losir
heavily. Bv nightfall however, rround With
five miles of Santiago was won. The advanta9
was steadily increased. On July severe bat
tie took place, our forces gaining the cute
works OF Santiago, and Ell Caney and San Jus
were taken after a desperate charg
and the investment Of the city We
completed The navy co-operated by she.lir
the town and the coast forts On the day fol
lowing this brilliant achievement of our Ian
forces, July g. occurred the decisive naval com
bat Of the war The Spanish feet attemptin
to escape from the harbor. was met by tn
American squadron under command Of Commc
dore Sampson. In less than three hours o
the Spanish ships we're destroyed, the two tor
pedo boats sunk and the Maria Teresa, Almi
rante Oquendo, vizcaya and Christobal Colo
driven ashore The Spanish admiral and owe
1870 men were taken prisoners. while th
enemy's loss OF life was deplorably large, som
| 800 perishing On our side but one man wa
/ killed and one seriously wounded
J With the catastrophe Of Santiago, Spain
effort upon the oc'an virtually ceased