La Junta tribune., 1898-12-10
DISCUSSION OF NATIONAL

and disorder a; our doors that mad,
possible such deed by wbomsoeyei
wrought Yet the instinct OF justic.
awaited The result of the searching in
veStigation nr once set ON foot. Ths
finding of the naval board OF inquiry
established Tim, the origin OF the eS
plosiOn was external by submarine
mine. and only halted through lack
OF positive testimony TO Tx the re
sp0nsibility of its authorship.
All thos" things carried conviction
to the most thoughtful. even before
the iinding OF the naval court. that n
crisis in our relations with Spain and
toward Cuba We're at hand. So strong
was this belief that IL needed bur n
brief executive suggestion to the Con
grcss To receive ininedIatcl answer Ia
tn" duty Of making instant provision
for the possible aud 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 ap'
propriatinE SJD.OoO.noJ for the na.
tionai defens.. and for each and every
purpose connected Herewith. to be eN.
pended ~ the discretion of the Presi'
dent"
That this act OF provision came none
too soon was disclosed when the APP
pilcation OF the fund was undertaken.
our forts were practically und.fended.
our navy needed large provision for
increased ammunition and supplies.
and even numbers. to cope with any
sudden attack from the navy OF Spain.
which comprised modern vessels OF the
L. snt on
our army also required enlargement,
of men and munitions. The details OF
the hurried preparations for the de
cided contingency i told In the re-
ports OF the secretaries OF war and
navy. and need not bs repeated here.
II H. sufficient TO say that the outbreak
of the war. when II did come. found
our nation not unprepared to meet the
conflict.
The Conduct of the war.
IAfter r-itlng at length the well.
known facts concerning the rupture OF
our diplomatic relations with Spain and
tn. declaration of war. President Nc.
kinlcy proceeds TO rchearse the chief
features Of the conflict. From this
summary OF leading events is taken the
most lmportan portiJnst
our country thus. after an interval of
half a century OF peace with all ma
tiuns found itself engaged in deadly
conflict with II foreign enemy. Every
nerve was strained To meet the cmerg.
ency The response TO the initial call
for l25.V'D volunteers was instant and
complete. MS WIS also the result OF the
second call OF May Iih for 1000 addl-
,ional volunteers. The ranks OF the
regular army were Increased TO the
limits provided by The act of April
-. Th. enlisted force of tie navy.
ON the 18th of August. when 1t reached
lts maximum. numbered ~. 1o:. men
and apprentices. One hundred and
three vessels wcr. added to the navy
by purchase. on" was presented TO the
government. one leased and the -four
vessels OF the international Navigation
Company. the ST. Paul. ST. Louis. New
York aud Paris. We're chartered. In
addition 10 these the revenue cutters
and lighthouse tendcrs We're turned
over 10 the Navy Department and be,
came temporarily a part OF the auxil
larry navy.
The maximum cffcctiv. lighting fore,
of the navy during the war separated
into classes WAS rs follows:
Four bartleships OF the first class
one bafileship OF The second class. two
armored cruisers. six coast defens,
monitors. one ar;nored ram. tweiv.
protected cruisers. eighteen gunboaits
one dynamite cruiser. eleven torpcd.
boats, fourteen old vessels Of the old
navy. including monitors. Auxiliar,
navy: Auxiliary cruisers. twenty -eIgh,
converted yachts twenty-seven con
verted tugs. nineteen converted Golfers
| four revenue cutters. four Lighthouse
tar n oil
| sells.
The national defense. under the
SJO.00.00o fund. was expended IL
large part by the army and navy. ant
| the objects for which II WAS used ar,
| fully shown in the representations oi
| the several secretaries. 1t was {
most timely appropriation, enablin,
| the government to strengthen its de
fense and to make preparations great
/ ly needed In ease of war. This funt
being inadequate to the requirement,
of equipment and for the conduct o
the war. the patriotism OF Congress.
provided the means In the war reve
nue. act OF June by authorizing :
per cent. popular loan not to excee.
| S4O0.0oO.OOO. and by levying additiona
imports and taxes. or the authorizes
loan x2OO.0OO.OOO was offered an,
4 tht SuDstTlDIlOuS ~
far exceeding the call as to cover 1
many times over. while. preference be
! ing given TO the smaller bids, no sin
gle allotment exceeded 5000. Thi
was most encouraging and siguifi
cant result. showing the vast re
| sources of the nation and the deter
mination OF the people TO uphold thei
country's honor.
HIstory of the Conflict.
1t Is not within the province OF thi
message to narratc the history of fh
extraordinary war that followed th
Spanish declaration OF April 21st, bu
| a brief recital Of its more salient feat
ures Is appropriate. The first encoun
ter of the war. in point OF date. tool
place April 9th. when n detachmen
Of the blockading squadron made
reconnaissance in force at Matanzas
shelled the harbor forts and demol