Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-26

naval war material went rapidly on.
THE SquadronS, ships, officers and
crews We're in admirable condition and
training, and as nearly as April Is, four
weeks before Admiral Cervera's fleet
reached Cuban waters. the navy of the
United States was ready for the out
break of hostiiities. The north Allan
tic fleet at Key West covered Cuba;
the flying squadron at Hampton Roads
stood ready to defend our own coast, or
to threaten that of Spain, and the Ash
attic squadron at Hong Kong only
awaited information of the outbreak of
hostilitias.
ION April 81, Congress declared war
Admiral Sampson in command of tbs
North Atlantic fleet, which had beer
engaged during the five or six pre-
ceding months in gunnery and tactical
practice off Florida, was at once or
derei to blockade that part of the
northern coast of Cuba extending from
Cardenas to Bayan Honda. AT $50 A.
NJ, on April %, the admiral sailed on
that errand."
Commenting on the victory at Manila,
Mr. Long said: This victory gave to
our fleet the complete control of the
bay of Manila. The naval station at
Cavite was taken possession of and its
Notifications were destroyed The adj
miral reported that the city could be
taken at any time when sufficient
number of troops were on hand to hold
it.
aside from the mere fact of hav-
ing won without the loss of single
Go 4%,,.f
victory at the very outset of the war
with all the confidence which it in
fused throughout the country and into
the personnel of every branch of the
service, it removed at once all appre-
hension on the Pacific coast. The di-
rect pecuniary advantage to the Uni
ted States in the way of saving an in
crease of insurance rates and assuring
the country of freedom from attack on
the coast is incalculable."
The reports give bffef accounts of
the several engagements between our
fleet and Spanish vessels in West In
dian waters and the destruction of
Cervera's feet at Santiago.
The number of enlisted men before
the war was 1850. On Aug. Is. there
were "a, 1913 men in the service, this in
crease being made necessary by the
addition of 10 auxiliary ships to the
navy.
The maximum fighting force was: Four
first-class bat,leships, / second-class bat
tleship. armored cruisers, 6 coast de-
fence monitors, | armored ram, y pro-
teeted cruisers, unprotected cruisers, Is
gunDoats, ] dynamite cruiser, IL torpedo
boats. IA vessels of the old navy. includ-
ing monitors, and in auxiliary navy, IL
auxiliary cruisers, % converted yachts, Is
revenue cutters, 4 lighthouse tenders, Y
converted tugs, 10 converted golfers, -
miscellaneous.
Fleet and squa dron, commanders and
the captains of individual vessels serving
far away frofa their bases of supply and
information were kept in touch with the
department BY means of cable communi-
cation and dispatch boat service and
were furnished promptly with informA-
ton collected from the many sources at
the disposal .bf the department.
: Arrangements We're made to s,lppy. the
fleet if Cugan waters and the squadron
in the Philippines with coal and fresh
visions. md the North Atlantic feet had
at its .aispQHal a thoroughly equipped hos
pital ship.s td:stilling ships and a repair
vessel casable of making. any bit the
largest re4aairs. 80
The depaF t5nent feels in Contemplating
I ne vast amount OF work necessary to tht.
successful Operations Of the Macy durins
ne past YEAR that the countiYs as well
IS u he serv3ge has "a use Tor eefgra tr4a
ton IN tila2feSuIfS WEic 3ahQ We otlOIHasfl