Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-12-16

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGES
"a 81
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'o"i''iLif- ILLS uellNNu Wllu announcements
of the intentions of this Government as to
the future of the island, in conformity
with the fourth clause of the resolution.
and giving Spain until noon of April %
TO reply.
The demand, although, as above shown,
officially made known to the Spanish en-.
voy here, was not delivered Mt Madrid,
After the instruction reached Gen. Wood
ford on the morning of April 81, but be-
fore he could present it, the Spanish min
lister OF state notified him that upon the
Presidents approval OF the joint rcsolu-
ton The Madrid Government, regarding
The act as equivalent to an evident dec
l%aration of war;" had ordered it's minis
ter i'll Washington to withdraw, thereby
breaking off diplomatic relations between
The Two couptrics, and censing all official
communication between their respective
representatives. Gen. Woodford there
Madrid the same day.
Spain having thus denied the demand
of the United States and initiated that
complete form OF rupture Of relations
Which attends II state OF war, the cXccu-
tive powers authorized by the resolution
were at once used hy me to meet the en-
80 Y SOIitIL.rSuSS VI slCtuNl Will VIWtG
Spain and the United States. April % l
proclaimed IL blockade OF the northern
coast of Cuba, and on the Odd l called for
volunteers to execute the purpose of the
resolution. by my message of April %
the Congress vas informed of the situa-
ton, IL l recommended formal. dcclara-
ton of the existence of n state Of war be-
tween the United States and Spain, The
('nHsrfnSS OpaNw<ls,r1V, y.okp1 @,, A1.- ,,.
day that act approved April %, 1898, de-
claring the existence of such war, from
and including the 21st day Of April, and
%rc-enactcd the provision Of tho resolution
of April 20, directing the President to Use
all the armed forces OF the nation TO carry
that act into effect.
Duo notification of the existence of war
as aforesaid was given April % by tele-
graph to all the governments with which
the United States maintains relations.
In further fulfllment of international
duty 1 issued April 2G a proclamation an
%noulcing the treatment proposed to be
accorded 10 vessels and their cargoes as
TO blockade. contraband, the exercise of
the right of subjects and tho immunity
of neutral flags and neutral goods under
enemy's flag. A similar proclamation
was made by the Spanish Government.
Preparations for the War.
Our country thus after an interval of
half q century of peace with all nations
found itself engaged in deadly conflict
strained to meet the emergency. The
response to the initial call for 125,OOO VOL
untecrs was instant md complete, MS was
also the result of the second call of May
% for 10000 additional volunteers. The
ranks Of the regular army were %incrcas:
ed to the limits provided by the act of
April 70. The enlisted force of the navy
on the 10Th of August. when it reached
its maximum, numbered 2l,123 men and
apprentices. One hundred and three yes-
sells were added to the navy by purchase,
one was presented to the Government,
one leased and the four vessels of the In
Paul, st. Louis, New York and Paris
We're chartered. In addition to these the
revenue cutters and lighthouse tenders
were turned over to the Navy Depart
nlent and became temporarily a part of
the auxiliary navy.
Much alarm was felt along our entire
Atlantic senboard lest some attack might
be made by the enemy. Every precau-
ton was taken to prevent possible injury
to our great cities lying along the coast.
The auxiliary navy. patrollcd the coast
and performed the duty Of u second arm
of defense. Under the direction Of the
L SAAtN "a IlNC llllC WIFE
placed at the most exposed points. The
aggregate number of mines placed was
1.535, at the principal harbors from
Maine 10 California.
The Signal Corps was promptly organ
lied and performed service of most diff
t;ons during the war covered the electric
cal connection of all coast Notifications,
the establishment of telephone and tclc-
! graphic facilities for the camps ut Man
lila. Santiago and in Porto Rico. There
were constructed 300 miles of line at ten
great camps, thus facilitating military
movements from those points in n manner
heretofore unknown in military admins
t%ration. With a total force of over 1900
the loss WAS, by disease in camp and
field, officers and men included, only five.
The national defense S50.O00,0O0 fund
was expended in large part by the army
and navy, aud the objects for which it
was used are fully shown in the reports
Vt the several secretaries. This fund, be-
ing inadequate 10 the requirements of
equipment and for the conduct of the
war, the patriotism of the Congress pro-
vided the means in the war revenue act
OF June Is by authorizing q 3 per cent.
and by leyying additional imposts and
taxes.
Salient Features of the War.
1t is not within the province of this
message TO narrate the history of the x
t%raordinary wal that followed the Span
ish declaration of April 21, but q brief
recital Of its more salient features is ap-
propriatc. The first encounter of the war
in point OF date took place April %, when
a detachment Of the blockading squadron
made a reconnaissance in force ut Matan-
Zas. siiclled the harbor and forts and de-
mo.ished several new works in construc-
ton.
The next engagement was destined to
mark a memorable epoch in maritime
warfare. The Pacific fleet, under Com
modore George Dewey, had lain for some
weeks at Hong Kong. Upon the colonial
proclamation of neutrality. being issued
aad the customary twenty-four hours no.
tice being given, it repaired to Mrs Bay.
near Hong Kong, whence it proceeded
to the Philippine Islands under tele-
graphed orders to capture OF destroy the
formidable Spanish fleet then assembled
ut Manila: AT daybreak on the LIST Of
May the American force entered Manila
Bay, and after n few hours engagement
effected the total destruction of the Span.
n trnnSnort. hesideS canturinr tho naval