Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-12-07
bnt~een cardenas and Bahia Honda md

| the port of Cianfuegos on the south coast
! of Cuba, and on the 23rd / called for
volunteers to execute the purpose Oh tne
resolution. By my message OF April %
/ the congress was informed OF the situa-
| ton and I recommended formal deciara-
ton of the existence of n state OF war be-
| tween the United States and Spain. The
congress accordingly voted on the same
day the act approved April rs, 1898, de-
| claring the existence of such war from
and including the 2lst day of April. and
! re-enacted the provision of the session OF
April 20. directing the president to use
all the armed forces OF the nation 10 carly
| that act into effect
| Due notification OF the existence OF war
as Aforesaid was given April 70 oy teie
| graph to all the governments Win whicn
the United States maintain relations IN
order that their neutrality might be a.
sured during the war. The various gov
ernments responded with proclamations
NJ neutrality each after its own methods
In further fulfilment OF International
| duty / issued April 26, 1898, a prociama-
ton announcing the treatment proposed
TO be accorded to vessels and their car
goes as to blockade. contraband. the
exercise of the right of search. ana the
! immunity of neutral flags and neutral
| goods under enemys flag. A similar
| proc lamation was made by the Spanish
! government.
Our country thus. after an interval or
| half a century OF peace with all nations,
found itself engaged In deadly eonnict
! with foreign enemy. Every nerve w as
! strained to meet the emergency. The
response to the initial call for l25. 900 vol
unteers was instant and complete as was
also the resuls of the second call of May
| ~ for - 600 additional volunteers. the
ranks of the regular army were increased
to the limit provided by the act of April
! &c. 1895.
! The enlisted force of the navy on Aug
! 1S when Il reached its maximum, num-
hered "A l23 men and apprentices. one
/ hundred and three vessels were added TO
I the navy by purchase. one was presented
! to the government. one leased. and the
/ four vessels # the International Navi-
4 cation company. the st. Paul. st Louis.
4 New York and Paris We're chartered, In
/ addition to these. the revenue cutters and
j lighthouse tenders were turned over to
i the auxiliary navy.
! The signal corps was promptly organ
zed and performed service ef the most
difficult and important character. Its
/ operations during the war covered the
electrical connection Of all coast fortif-
7 cations, the establishment Of telephone
and telccrauhic facilities for the camps
- Manila. santiago and in Porto Rico.
This Ssrvi-e gas inNaluai.Ia to the eNeeu-
tive in directing the operations Of the
army and navy With a total force Of
over 1900 Tho logs hv disease in camp and
field officers AMI men included. only five
The national defense fund OF $50 600 0d0
+ was expended inIarge part by the army
ard navy. and the objects for which it
was us"d. "fs fully shown In the re-
ports of Tho several secretaries. 1t was
n most ;!T@tv APPROPRIATION. enabling
the government To- strengthen its de-
+ fenece and mako preparations greatly
needed In case OF war.
This fund being inadequate 10 the re-
cuirements Of equipment and for the
f conduct - no var the patriotism r the
congress provided tho means I'm the war
revenue act n june ls be authorizing a
2 perorri. perrlar loan. not to exceed
$500 zoo 0aa and by levying additional
imposts and taxes. or the authorized
f loan seu0 nna GOO MS offered ana promrtly
'4hen. lhe s3lhegriut3 aus SO far axc.eding
the call as ta- eavar Il many times oyer.