The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1898-12-14

many. the ST. Paul st. Louis. Now
York and Paris were chartered In ad.
adson 10 these the revenue cutters and
lighthouse tenders were turned over ~
the navy department and became tenn
porarlly n part OF the auxiliary navy.
The maximum effective fighting force
OF the navy during the war, separated
into classes, was as follows:
Four bahtleehips Of the first class.on
ba'rtleship OF the second-class; two ar
mored cruisers six coast defense mOni-
tors; one armored ram; Twelve protect
ed cruisers; three unprotected cruisers:
eighteen gunbonts; one dynamite crui-
ser: eleven torpedo boats; fourteen ODD
vessels OF the old navy including msnl-
tors. Auxiliary navy: Auxiliary
cruisers twenty eight converted yachts;
fwenty-seven converted tugs; nineteen
converted colliers; four revenue cut
ters: four lighthouse tenders and nine
| teen miscellaneous vessels.
COAST DEFENsEs.
Much alarm was felt along the entire
| Atnnslc seaboard lest an attack might
be made by the enemy. Every pre-
caution was faken TO prevent possible
/ injury to our greW. cities lying along
the coast Temporary garrlsons were
provided, drawn from. the state militia:
infantry and light bstterles were drawn
from the volunteer force. About H.
600 troops were thus employed The
coast signal service was established for
| observing the approach OF an enemy's
| ship to the coast OF the United States,
and the lighthouse service co-operated,
which enabled the navy department to
have all portions Of the Atlantic coast,
from Maine to Texas. under OBSERVE
ton.
The auxiliary navy was created under
the authority OF Congress and was Of
ficered and manned by the naval mill
tia OF the several states. This organl-
zatlon patroiled the coast and per-
formed the duty OF second arm OF de-
Tense.
HARBoRs MINED.
Under the direction Of the chief en-
gineer, submarine mines were placed
at the most exposed points. Before
the war. permanent mining classmates
and cable galleries had been construct
ed at all important harbors. Most OF
the torpedo material was not TO he
found in the market and had TO be
specially manufactured. Under date
OF April 10. district officers were d.
rected TO take all preliminary measures
short OF the actual attaching Of the
loaded mines to the cables, and Ur
April 22, tefegraphic orders were ISSUED
to place the loaded mines in position.
The aggregate number OF mlnei
placed was 1856 Mt the principal har
bors from Maine TO California. Prep
arltions were also made for the plant
Ing of mines at certain other harbors
but owing 10 the early destruction o
, the Spanish fleet, these mines were no
placed. The signal corps was prompt!
organized and performed service OF tn
! most difficult and important character
J Pts opeintions during the war covered
-. - =. - ali
Qualifications, the esta bhshment OF tele
: phonic ard Geographic facilltles for tn
: camps at Manila, Santiago and in Por
I to Rico. There were constructed 30
: miles OF line at ten great camps. thu
: facilitating military movements fror
! those points In "a manner heretofor
4 unknown In military administration
1 Field telegraph lines were establshe
8 and maintained under the enemy's fir
I at Manila and later Manila Hongkon
e cable was reopened.
: CABLES REFITTED.
In Porto Rico cable communicable
/. was opened over discontinued rout
a and on land the headquarters OF III
4 command officer was kept In telegraph
a 10 and teiephonie communication wit
= the division commanders on four dl
! ferent lines OF operations
4 There was placed in Cuban waters
Il completely outhtted cable ship wit
: war cables and cable gear suitable bot
: for the destruction OF communication
% belonging to the enemy and the estal
N lishment OF our own.
= Two ocean cables were destroyed III
a der the enemy's batteries at Santlag
: The day previous TO the landing
n General Skaters corps at Caimaner
within twenty miles OF the landir
= place. cable communication was q
/ tabllshed and a cable station opene
/ 10. AZ
government at WashlngtonThls servi
was Invaluable to ehe executive In d
rectlng the operations of the army al
u navy.
with a total force OF over 1900, Il
: loss by the disease In camp ana feel
a officers and men included. was only Nv
: WAR REVENUE ACT.
:, The national defense, under the SEt
70 900 900 fund. was expended In large pa
- by the army and navy, ana the objec
:. for which IL was used are fully shown
"a the reports of the several secretarit
a II was a most timely appropriation. e
l. ablng the government TO strengthen
= defense and to make preparatlo
"a greatly needed In case OF war. tt
le fund being inadequate to the requlr
d ments OF equipment and FOR the condu
lie OF the war. the patriotism II the CO
s. gress provided the means In the W
l. revenue act OF June 18th by authorl
l. ing a per cent popular loan no. to c
l. coed four hundred million dollars. al
he by levylng additional imports and tax,
IS OF the authorized loan, 5000, 000,C
lie were offered and promptly taken fro
* the subscriptions 80 far exceeding I
A. call as to cover II many times ov,
g. while preference being given 40 I
m smaller bids, no single allotmens exceo
10 ed five thousand dollars. This was
m most encouraging and significant I
4 suit. showing the vast resources OF I
az nation and the determination Of the pC
q pie to uphold their country's honor.
IN II is not within the province OF q
ID message TO narrate the history OF I
Nv extraordinary war that followed I
ne Spanish declaration OF April 2lst, but
~ brirf recital OF its more salient featui
a, is Appropriate. The first encounter
~ the war. In point Of date, tok place Ap
a nth, when a detachment OF the bloc
- aiding squadron made a reconnaissar
- In force at Matanzas, shelled the hS
:. Dor fortifications.andd demolished sevel
u new works In construction.
al MANILA'S MAY DAY.
on The next engagement was destined
10 mark a memorable epoch In martin
rs warfare. The Pacific fleet, under Co
r. modore George Dewey, had laid
ne some weeks at Hongkong. Upon
=. q