Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-06

6ucy. ING response 10 tue lu1lWh call
for 126, 900 volunteers was instant and
complete, as was also the result OF the
second call Of May Is, for 5000 addi-
tional volunteers. The ranks of the
regular army were increased to the
limits provided by the act of April rs.
The enlisted force Of the navy on the
18th day of August, when it reached its
maximum, numbered 24123 men and
apprentices. One hundred and three
vessels
WE'RE ADDED TO THE NAVY
by purchase, one was presented to the
government, one leased, and the four
vessels of the International Navigation
Company, the st. Paul, st. Louis, New
York and Paris, were chartered. In
addition to these the revenue cutters
and lighthouse tenders were turned
over to the Navy Department and be-
came temporarily a part of the auxil-
larry navy.
The maximum effective fighting force
of the navy during the war, separated
into classes, was as follows:
Four battleships of the first class;
one battleship of the second class; two
armored cruisers; six coast defense
monitors; one armored ram; twelve
protected cruisers; three unprotected
cruisers; eighteen gunboats; one dyn-
| amite cruiser; eleven torpedo boats;
! fourteen vessels of the old navy, in
Guiding monitors. Auxiliary navy:
Eleven auxiliary cruisers; twenty-eight
converted yachts; twenty-seven con-
verted tugs; nineteen converted COL
liers; fifteen revenue cutters; four
| lighthouse tenders and nineteen mis-
| cellaneous vessels.
| Much alarm was felt along our en-
| tire Atlantic seaboard lest some attack
might be made by the enemy. Every
precaution was taken to prevent posi-
| BILE injury to our great cities lying
| along the coast. Temporary garrisons
were provided, drawn from the State
| militia; infantry and light batteries
| were drawn from the volunteer force.
About IL 900 troops were thus employ
| ed. The coast signal service was es-
| tablished for observing the approach of
AN ENEMY'S SHIPS
to the coast of the United States, and
the life saving and lighthouse services
| co-operated which enabled the Navy
| Department to have all portions OF the
| Atlantic coast, from Maine to Texas,
| under observation.
The auxiliary navy was created un-
der the authority of Congress and was
Differed and manned by the naval mi
litia of the several States. This organ
ization patrolled the coast, and per-
formed the duty of a second line OF de-
Tense.
Under the direction Of the Chief of
Engineers, submarine mines were
placed at the most exposed points. Be-
fore the outbreak of the war, perma-
nent mining classmates and cable gal
leries had been constructed at nearly
all important harbors. Most of the tor
pedo material was not to be found in
the market, and had to be especially
manufactured. Under date of April
10, District officers were directed to
take all preliminary measures, short of
the actual attaching of the loaded
mines to the cables, and on April %,
telegraphic orders were issued to place
the loaded mines in position.
The aggregate number of mines plac-
ed was 1885, at the principal harbOrs
from Maine to California. Prepara-
lions were also made for
THE PLANTING OF MINES
at certain harbors, but owing to the
early destruction of the Spanish fleet,
these mines were not placed.
The Signal Corps was promptly or
gained, and performed service of the
most difficult and important character.
Its operations during the war covered
the electrical connection of all coast
Notifications, the establishment of tel
ephonic and Geographic facilities for
the camps at Manila, Santiago and in
Porto Rico. There were constructed
300 miles of the line at ten great camps,
thus facilitating military movements
from these points in manner hereto
fore unknown in military administra-
ton. Field telegraph lines were es-
tablished and maintained under the en-
emys fire at Manila, and later the Ma
nila-Hong Kong cable was re-opened.
In Porto Rico cable communications
were opened over a discontinued route,
and on land the headquarters of the
commanding officer was kept in tele-
graphic or telephone communication
with the division commanders on four
| different lines of operations.
There was placed in Cuban waters a
completely outfitted cable ship, with
war cables and cable gear, suitable
both for the destruction of communica-
| lions belonging to the enemy and the
establishment of our own. Two ocean
cables were destroyed under the enc
my's batteries at Santiago. The day pre-
vious to the landing of Gen. Shafter' s
corps at Caimanera. within twenty
miles of the landing place, cable COM
munications were established and a
cable station opened giving direct cum
munication with the government at
! Washington. This service
WAS INVALUABLE
| to the executive in directing the opera
tons of the army and navy. With a
| total force of over 1900 the loss was
| by disease in camp and field, officers
and men included, only five.
The national defense fund of $780,
600, 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,
enabling 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
cop d,ot pf tho war tho natriotic,,, 0f