The leader., 1898-12-14

ish envoy here, was not delivered at Mad.
rid. After the instructions reached Gen
eral Woodford on the morning of April
81, but before he could present IL, the
Spanish minister Of state notified him that
upon the presidents approval OF the joint
resolution, the Madrid government re-
gardiug the act rs equivalent to an evil
dent declaration of war;" had ordered its
minister in Washington to withdraw,
thereby breaking off diplomatic relations
between the two countries. General Wood
ford thereupon demanded his passports
and quilted Madrid the same day.
Spain having thus denied the demand
Of the United States and initiated that
complete form of rupture Of relations
which attends state of war. the execu.
tive powers authorized by the resolution
were at once usel by me to meet the en-
larged contingency of actual war between
sovereign states. by my message of April
25 the congress was informed of the situa-
ton and recommended formal DECLARE
tion Of the existence of a state of war be-
tween the United States and Spain. The
congress accordingly voted on the same
day the act approved April 25, 1898, de-
claring the existence Of such war from
and including April 81 and re-enacted the
provision of the resolution of April 20 di-
recting the president to use all the armed
forces of the nation to carry that act into
effect.
1t is not within the province OF this mes
sage to narrate the history of the extraor-
binary war that followed the Spanish
declaration of April 81. but a brief recital
of its more salient features is apropos.
The first encounter of the war In point OF
date took place April 81, when a detach-
ment of the blockading squadron made q
reconnaissance in force at Matanzas,
shelled the harbor forts and demolished
several new works in construction.
The next engagement was destined to
mark a memorable epoch in maritime
warfare The Pacific fleet under Comma.
dore George Dewey had lain for some
weeks at Kong Kong Upon the colonial
proclamation OF neutrality being issued
and the customary "a hours notice being
given, it repaired to Mrs bay near Hong
Kong whence it proceeded to the Philip.
pine islands under telegraphic orders to
capture or destroy the formidable Spanish
fleet then assembled at Manila. At day.
break on the morning of May the Amer.
lean force entered Manila hay and after a
few hours engagement effected the total
destruction of the Spanish fleet, consist
ing of ten warships and a transport, be-
sides capturing the naval station and forts
at Cavite, thus annihilating the Spanish
naval power in the Pacific ocean and com.
pletely controlling the bay of Manila with
the ability to take the city at will.
Following the comprehensive scheme Of
general attack powerful forces were as
sembled at various points on our coast to
invade Cuba and Porto Rico Meanwhile
naval demonstrations were adopted at
several exposed points.
Young Hobson's Brave Deed.
The next acts of the war thrilled not
only the hearts of our countrymen, but
the world by its heroism. On the night OF
June 3 Lieutenant iobson, aided by
seven devoted volunteers, blocked the mar
row outlet at Santiago harbor, by sinking
the collier Merrimac in the channel under
fierce fire from the shore batteries, es.
Gaping with their lives as by miracle,
but falling into the hands of the Span.
iards They were subsequently exchanged.
On June 90, the advance of the invading
army under Major General Shafter landed
at Daiquiri, about u miles east of Santi-
ago. On July a severe battle took place,
our forces gaining the outworks at Santi-
ago On the second FL Oaney and San
Juan were taken after desperate charge
and the investment of the city completed.
On the day following the brilliant
achievement of our land force July 8, oc.
Cured the decisive battle of the war. The
Spanish feet, attempting to leave the
harbor, was met by the American squad.
ron under command of Commodore Samp.
SON In less than three hours all the
Spanish ships were destroyed, the two
torpedo boats being sunk and the Maria
Teresa Almirante Oquendo, Viscaya and
Cristobal Colon driven ashore. The Span
ish admiral and over 300 men were taken
prisoners, while the enemy's loss of life
was deplorably large, some 600 perishing.
On our side but one man was killed and
one seriously wounded.
With the catastrophe of Santiago
Spain's power on the ocean virtually
ceased. The capitulation of Santiago
followed.
The occupation of Porto Rico became
the next stragetic necessity. Geneyal
Miles had previously been assigned to Or
ganize an expedition for that purpose. On
July % he entered Ponce, one of the most
important ports in the island, for which
he thereafter directed operations for the
capture of the island. The campaign was
prosecuted with great vigor and by Aug
II much of the island was in our posses
sion and the acquisition of the remainder
was only matter of a short time
Negotiations For Peace.
The annihilation of Admiral Cervera's
fleet, followed by the capitulation of San
tiago, having brought to the Spanish gov
eminent realizing sense of the hopeless
ness of continuing struggle now becom-
ing wholly unequal, it made overtures of
peace through the French ambassador
On Aug. IL, NJ Cambon, as the plenipo-
Tertiary of Spain and the secretary of
state as the plenipotentiary of the United
States, signed peace protocol and ap-
pointed William r. Day, lately secretary
of state. Cushman X, Davis, William p.
Frye and George Gray, senators of the
United States, aud Whitelaw Reid to be
the peace commissioners on the part of
the United States Proceeding in due
time to Paris, they there met on Oct. 1
five commissioners similarly appointed on
the part of Spain. The negotiations have
made hopeful progress so that l trust
soon to be able to lay definite treaty Of
peace before the senate with view of the
steps leading to its signature.
do not discuss at this time the govern
ment or the future of the new possessions
which will come to us as the result of the
war with Spain. Such discussion will be
appropriate after the treaty of peace shall
be ratified. In the meantime, aud until
the congress has legislated otherwise. it
Will be my duty to continue the military
governments which have existed since our
occupation and give to the people security
in life and property and encouragement
under just and beneficient rule.
AS soon as we are in possession of Cuba
and have pacified the island it will be
necessary to give aid and decision to Its
people to form government of them
selves. 1t should be undertaken at the
earliest moment consistent with safety
and assured success, 1t is important that