Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-12-08
WOODBURY., N. J, THURSDAY. DECEMBER 8, 1898

between Spain and the people of Cuba
and to secure in the island the estab-
lishment of a stable government. The
response of the congress, after nine
days of earnest deliberation, during
which the almost unanimous sentiment
of your body was developed on every
point save as to the expediency of cou-
pling the proposed action with a formal
recognition of the republic OF Cuba as
the true and lawful government of that
island-a proposition which failed of
adoption-the congress, after confer
ence on the 18th of April, by vote Of AZ
to So in the senate and 81 to 6 in the
house of Representatives, passed the
memorable joint resolution declaring:
First-That the people Of the island Of
Cuba are and of right ought to be free
and Independent.
Second.-That it is the duty of the Unit
ed States to demand and the government
of the United States does hereby demand,
that the government of Spain at once re-
linquish its authority and government 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 hereby is directed and
empowered to use the entire land and
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
disclaims any disposition or intention to
exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or con
troll over said island except for the paci-l
fcation thereof, and asserts its deter
mination when that Is accomplished to
leave the government and control of the
island to its people.
Our country thus, after an interval Of
half century of peace with all nations,
found itself engaged in deadly conflict
with foreign enemy. Every nerve was
strained to meet the emergency The
response to the initial call for 125, 900
volunteers was instant and complete,
as was also the result of the second call,
of May 25, for $4,000 additional volun-
teers. The ranks of the regular army
were increased to the limits provided by
the act of April 26, 1898.
The enlisted force of the navy on the
18th day of August when it reached it's
maximum, numbered 24,123 men and
apprentices. One hundred and three
vessels were added to the navy by pur-
chase, one was presented to the govern
ment, one leased, and the four vessels
of the International Navigation COM
pany-the st. Paul, st. Louis, New York
and Paris-were chartered In addition
to these the revenue cutters and light
house tenders We're turned over to the
navy department and became Temporal
rily part of the auxiliary navy.
The medium effective fighting force
of the navy during the war, separated
into classes, was as follows:
-Four battleships of the first class, 1
battleship of the second class, armor-
ed cruisers, 6 coast defense monitors, /
armored ram, IL protected cruisers, 3
unprotected cruisers, IS gunboats, !
dynamite cruiser, II torpedo boats; YES
sells of the old navy. including moni-
tors, IA. Auxiliary: Eleven auxiliary
cruisers, % converted yachts, 81 con-
verted tugs, 10 converted Golfers, Is
revenue cutters, lighthouse tenders
and 10 miscellaneous vessels.
There was placed in Cuban waters
completely outfitted cable ship, with
war cables and cable gear, suitable both
for the destruction of communications
belonging to the enemy and the estab-
lishment of our own. Two ocean cables
were destroyed under the enemy's bait
teries at Santiago.
The day previous to the landing of
General Skaters army corps, at Cal
mara, within 20 miles OF the landing
place. cable communications were es-
tablished and cable station opened.
giving direct communication with the
government at Washington.
This service was invaluable to the
executive in directing the operations of
the army and navy With a total force
- I y
camp and field, officers and men In
cluded only five.
How the Fund Was Spent.
The national defense fund of $50,
900 was expended in large part by the
army and navy, and the objects for
which it was used are fully shown in
the reports of the several secretaries.
1t was most timely appropriation, en-
abling the government to strengthen its
defenses and make preparations greatly
needed In case of war.
This fund being inadequate to the re-
quirements of equipment and for the
conduct of the war. the patriotism of
the congress provided the means in the
war revenue act of June 13 by author
izing a per cent popular loan not to
exceed $40O, 100000 and by levying addi-
tionai imposts and taxes. OF the au-
thorized loan $200,000000 was offered
and promptly taken, the subscriptions
so far exceeding the call as to cover it
many times over, while preference be-
ing given to the smaller bids no single
allotment exceeded $1,000. This was a
most encouraging and significant result.
showing the vast resources of the ma
ton, and the determination of the peo-
pie to uphold their country's honor.
The message then recites the salient
features in the history of the war and
continues:
The total casualties in killed and
wounded in the army during the war
with Spain We're: officers killed, 49, en-
listed men killed, 257; total, 2SO; officers
wounded, 113; enlisted men wounded
!. .464; total, 1,577 OF the navy: Killed
IL; wounded 81; died as result of
wounds, 1; nvalided from service, s;
total, 81.
It will be observed that while our ma
w was engaged in two great battles
and in numerous perilous undertakings
in blockade and bombardment and more
than $4,000 of our troops were trans
ported to distant lands and were ell
gagged in assault and siege and battle
and many skirmishes in unfamiliar ter
ritory, we lost in both arms of the serv-
ice a total of 1.66S killed and wounded,
and in the entire campaign by land and
sea we did not lose gun or a flag or
transport or ship, and with the ex-
ception of the crew of the Merrimac,
not a soldier or sailor was taken pris-
oner.
On Aug. Z, 46 days from the date OF
the landing of General Skaters army
In Cuba and 21 days from the surrender
of Santiago, the United States troops
commenced embarkation for home, and
our entire force was returned to the
United States as early as Aug. "a. They
were absent from the United States
only two months.
Tribute Paid.
The president then pays tribute to
that portion of the army which was
kept in camp in the United States and
also to the work of the Red Cross soci-
ETY., He recognizes the hand of God in
The war in these words:
In tracing these events we are con-