The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-06
WAR FORMALLY DECLARED.
Foreign Nations We're Notified and
Result OF Warfare Promulgated.

By my message of April 18th the Con-
| eress was informed Of the situation, and
! recommended formal declaration of the
| existence Of state OF war between the
United States and Spain. The Congress
accordingly voted Oh the same day the
act approved April =, 1895, declared the
existence of such war from and including
| the 2ist day of April, ANA re-enacteG the
provision OF the resolution OF April ZJth
directing the President to use all the
armed forces OF the nation TO carry that
act into effect.
Due notification Of the existence of war
as aforesaid. was given April 18th by
telegraph 10 all the governments with
which the United States maintain rela-
tions. i'm order that their neutrality might
be assured during The war.
The various governments responded
with prOclamat0us OF neutrality, each
after It's own methods. IL IS not among
the least gratifying Incidents Of the
struggle that the obligations Of neutrality
were impartially discharged Dy all. often
under delicate and difficult circumstances.
RULES OF WAR.
In further ulnlment of international
duty ! issued April -. lo9S. a proclama-
ton announcing the treatment proposed
20 be accorded 10 vessels and their car
goes as to blockade contraband, the ex-
| ercise Of the right Of search and the i'm
munity OF neutral flags and neutral gov
ernments under enemys flag. Similar
proclamation was made by the Spanish
government.
In the conduct Of hOstilities the rules
Of the treaty Of Paris, including absst
ence from resort To privateering have ac-
cOrdingly been observed by both belllger-
.fsl O.. .ff ha.. -.
that declaration.
Our country thus. after an interval OF
half a century OF peace with all nations
found itself engaged in deadly conflict
with foreign enemy. Every nerve was
strained 10 meet the emergency.
The response 10 the initial call for 125-
C0J volunteers was instant and complete
as was also the response Of the second call
of May %. for 1900 additional volunteers.
The ranks Of the regular army were in
creased 10 the limits provided by the act
OF April g. 1898. The enlisted force OF
the navy on the 5th day Of August. when
IL reached its maximum. numbered "A ls3
men and apprentices. One hundred and
three vessels were added to the navy bv
purchase, one was presented TO the gov
eminent. one leased and the four vessels
Of the international Navigation COMPANY.
the St. Paul. ST. Louis. New York and
Paris were chartered. In addition 10
these the revenue cutters and lighthouse
tenders were turned over to the Navy
Department and became temporarily a
part OF the auxiliary navy
OUR FIGHTING STRENGTH
The maximum effective fighting force
Of the navy during the war, separated
into classes. was as follows.
Four battleships ~ the first class. one
battlesbip OF the second class, two ar
mored cruisers, six cOast-defence moni-
tors one armored ram, twelve protected
cruisers, three unprotected cruisers.
eighteen gunb0ats. one dynamite cruiser.
eleven torpedo boats; vessels OF the old
navy, including monitors, fourteen.
Auxiliary Nayy-Eleven auxiliary cruis.
ers, twenty-elght converted yachts, TWEEN.
ty-seven converted tugs: nineteen con-
verted Golfers. fifteen revenue cutters.
four lighthouse tenders AMI nineteen
miscellaneous vessels
Much alarm was felt along our entire
(Continued on Sixth Pagol