The age-herald., 1898-12-06

nouncing the treatment proposed to be accorded to vessels and their eargoes as 10 blockade. contraband, the exercise of the right of search and the immunity of neu- tral flags and neutral goods under the enemys flag. A similar proclamation was made by the Spanish government. In the concuct of hostilities the rules Of the dec laraton of Paris including absrentlon from resort of privateering, have accord ngly been observed by both belligerents, al- though neither was a party to that declar- ation.
 Our country thus after an interval of half century of peace with all nations, with foreign enemy. Every nerve was stra ned to meet the emergency. The re- sponse to the initial call for 125,0G0 men was instant and complete was also the result of the second call of May % for 75,- 000 additional volunteers. The ranks of the regular army were increased to the limit provided by the call of April 26
 The enlisted force of the navy the 18th day of August, when t reached its maximum, numbered 24,123 men and ap- prentices. One hundred and three vessels were added to the navy by purchase, one was presented to the government, one was leased. and four vessels of the International Navigation company, the St. Paul. St. Louis, New York and Paris, were chartered. In addition to these the revenue cutters and lighthouse tenders were turned over to the navy department and became tempor- arily part of the auxiliary navy.
 maximum effective fight ng force of the navy during the war, separated into classes was as follows:
 Four battleships of the first class; one batteship of the second class; two armored cruisers; six coast defense monitors; one armored ram twelve protected cruisers; three unprotected cruisers; eighteen gun boats; one dynamite cruiser; eleven tor pedo boats; fourteen old vessels of the old navy includ ng monitors.
 Auxiliary navy: Auxiliary cruisers, twenty-eight converted yachts; twenty-sev- en tugs; nineteen converted colliers; hf- teen revenue cutters four lighthouse tend- CTS and nineteen miscellaneous vessels.
 Fears for Eastern Cities
 Much alarm was felt along our Atlantic seaboard lest some attack might be made by the enemy Every precaution was taken to prevent possible injury to our great cities lying along the coast Temporary garrisons were provided, drawn from the state militia; infantry and light batteries were drawn from the volunteer force About 12,00O troops were thus employed. The coast signal serv ce was established for observing the approaching of an enemy ships to the coast of the United States and the life-saving and lighthouse services CO., operated which enabled the navy depart
  coast from Maine to Texas under observa- ton. The auxiliary navy was increased under authority of congress and was ofn- cered and manned by the naval militia or the several states. This organization pa trolled the coast and performed the duty of a second arm of defense.
 Under the direction of the chief of en- gineers submarine mines were placed at the most exposed points. Before the out break of the war permanent mining case ments and cable galleries had been con- strueted at all important harbors.
 Most of the torpedo material was not to be found in the market and had to be spe- ciafly manufactured Under date of April 19, district officers were directed to take all preliminary measures short of the actual attaching of the loaded mines to the cables, and on Apr'l 22 telegraphic orders were issued to place the loaded mines in posi- tion. The aggregate number of mines placed was 1,535 at the principal harbors from Maine to California Preparations were also made for the planting of mines at certain other harbors, but owing to the early destruction of the Spanish fleet those mines were not placed. The signal corps was promptly organized and performed ser- vice of the most difficult and important character Its operations during the war covered the electrical connection of all coast Notifications, the establ shment of
 
 camps at Manila. Santiago and in Porto Rico. There were constructed 300 miles of line at ten great camps, thus facilitating military movements from those points in a manner heretofore unknown in military ad- ministration. Field telegraph lines were established and maintained under the ene- my's fire at Manila, and later the Manila Hong Kong cable was reopened.
 Controlling Spanish Cables
 ,,;o operated over discontinued route and on land the headquarters of the command ing officer was kept in telegraphic or tele- phonic communication with the division commanders on four different lines of op- erations. This was placed in Cuban waters a completely outfited cable ship with war cables and cable gears suitable both for the destruction of communications belong ing to the enemy and the establishment of our own. Two ocean cables were de- stroyed under the enemy's batteries at San- tiago. The day previous to the landing or General Shafter's corps at Caimanera with in twenty miles of the landing place cable communications were established and cable station operators given direct communlca- tion with the government at Washington This service was invaluable in directing the operations of the army and navy. 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 under the $50,000.0 600 fund was expended in large part by the army and navy and the objects for which 1t was used are fully shown in the reports of the several secretaries It was a most timely appropriation, enabling the govern ment to strengthen it's defenses and make preparations greatly needed in case of war. This fund being inadequate to the require- ments 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 13 by authorizing per cent. popu- lar loan not to exceed s400,000000 and by levying additional imports and taxes. Of the authorized loan $2O0,000000 were offered and promptly taken. the subscriptions far exceeding the call as to cover it many times over. while preference being given to the smaller bids, no single allotment exceeded s5,000 This was Q most encouraging and significant result. showing the vast re- sources of the nation and the determine ton of the people to uphold their country's honor.
 The War Itself
 It is not within the province of this mes- sage to narrate the history of the extraor-