Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-12-10

/ Simultaneously.wit this communlca-
ton to the Spanish minister here. Gem
( eral Woodford, the American minister
at Madrid. was telegraphed confirmation
! Of the text of the joint session, and di-
rected to communicate 1t to the govern
ment Of Spain with the formal demand
that 1t at once relinquish its authority
and government in the island of Cuba
and withdraw its forces therefrom
| coupling this demand with the announce
rlent OF the intentions of this govern
ment as to the future of the island. in
conformity with the fourth clause Of the
resolution and giving Spain until noon
on April % to reply.
That demand. although officially made
known to the Spanish envoy here was
not delivered at Madrid. After the
instructions had reached General Wood
! ford on the morning of April Il, but be-
fore he could present it the Spanish min
lister Of state notified him that upon the
! presidents approval of the joint reso-
luton the Madrid government, regard
ing the act as equivalent to an evident
declaration of war" had ordered it's min
lister in Washington to withdraw there
by breaking off diplomatic relations be-
! tween the two countries and ceasing all
official communication between their re-
spective representa- tives. General Wood
ford thereupon demanded his passports
and quilted Medrid the same day.
Spain, having thus denied the demand
of the United States and initiated that
complete form of rupture of relations
which attends a state of war, the eXecu-
tive powers authorized by the resolution
We're at once used by me to meet the en-
larged contingency of actual war be-
tween sovereign states. On April %
proclaimed a blockade Of the north coast
of Cuba. including ports on said coast
between Cardenas andBaha Honda and
the port of Cienfuegos on the south coast
OF Cuba, and ON the 23rd / called for
volunteers to execute the purpose or the
resolution. By my message of April 20
the congress was informed Of the stua-
tion and recommended formal declara-
ton of the existence of 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 the 2lst day or April, ana
re-enacted the provision of the session or
April 90 directing the president to use
all the armed forces Of the nation to carry
that act into effect.
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 to meet the emergency. The
response to the initial call for 125, 900 vol
unteers was instant and complete as was
also the result of the second call of May
25 for $4,000 additional volunteers. The
ranks of the regular army were increased
to the limit provided by the act of April
&C. 1898.
The enlisted force of the navy on Aug
15 when it reached it's maximum, num-
bered 24123 men and apprentices. One
hundred and three vessels were added to
the navy by purchase, one was presented
to the government, one leased, and the
four vessels of the International Navi-
cation 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 auxiliary navy.
The signal corps was promptly organ
ICED and performed service of the most
difficult and important character. Its
operations during the war covered the
electrical connection of all coast fortifi-
cations. the establishment of telephone
and telegraphic facilities for the camps
at Manila, Santiago and in Porto Rico.
This service was invaluable to the execu-
tive in directing the operations Of the
army and navy. With total force Of
over 1900 the loss by disease in camp and
field, officers and men included, only five.
The national defense fund of $50 900 900
was expended in large part by the army
and navy, and the objects for which it
was used. was fully shown in the re-
ports of the several secretaries. 1t was
most timely appropriation. enabling
the government to strengthen its de-
fenses and make preparations greatly
needed in case Of war.
This fund being inadequate to the re-
Guirements of equipment and for the
conduct of the war, the patriotism of the
congress provided the means in the war
revenue act Of June 13 by authorizing a
3 percent popular loan, not to exceed
s4OO, ,OO0, 900, and by levying additional
imposts and taxes. OF the authorized
loan 5000, ,000, 900 was offered and promptly
taken, the subscriptions so far exceeding
the call as to cover 1t many times over.
This was most encouraging and signi-
fcant result, showing the vast resources
Of the nation, and the determination of
the people to uphold their country's
honor.
The first encounter of the war in point
of date took place April q, when a de-
tachment of the blockading squadron
made reconnaissance in force at Ma
tanzas. shelled the harbor forts and
demolished several works in course Of
construction.
The next engagement was destined to
mark a memorable epoch in marine war;
fare. The Pacific fleet, under Commo-
dore George Dewey. had lain for some
weeks at Hong Kong. Upon the colonial
proclamation Of neutrality being issued
and the customary "a hours notice being
given 1t repaired to Mrs bay, near Hong
Kong whence 1t proceeded to the Philip
pine islands under telegraph orders to
capture or destroy the formidable Span
lsh fleet then assembled at Manila
At daybreak on May 1 the American
force entered Manila bay and after few
hours engagement effected the total de-
struction of the Spanish fleet, consisting
| Of 10 warships and transport. besides
capturing the naval station and forts at
Cavite, thus annihilating the Spanish
naval power In the Pacific ocean and
completely controlling the bay of Ma
nila, with the ability to take the city at
will. Not a life was lost on our ships,
the wounded only numbering seven,
while not vessel was materially injured
For this gallant achievement the con-
gress. upon my recommendation, fifty
bestowed upon the actors permanent ana
substantial reward.
The effect Of this remarkable victory
upon the spirit Of our people and upon
the fortunes of the war was instant. A
prestige of invincibility thereby attached
to our arms which continued throughout
the struggle. Reinforcements were
hurried to Manila under the command of
Major General Merritt and firmly estab-
lished within sight Of the capital, which
lay helpless before our guns.
Following the comprehensive scheme
of general attack powerful forces were
assembled at various points on our coast
to invade Cuba and Porto Rico. Mean
while naval demonstrations were made
at several exposed points. On May II
the cruiser Wilmington and torpedo boat
Winslow were unsuccessful in an at
tempt to silence the batteries at Car
denas. gallant ensign, Worth w. Bag
ley. and four seamen falling. These
grievous fatalities were strangely enough
among the very few which occurred dur
ing our naval operations in this eX-
traordinary conflict.
Several demonstrations occurred on the
coasts Of Cuba and Porto Rico in prep
aration for the larger event. On May 13
the North Atlantic squadron shelled San
Juan de Porto Rico. On May 80, Com
modore Schley's squadron bombarded
the forts guarding the mouth of San
tiago harbor. Neither attack had any
material result. 1t was evident that
well ordered land operations were indis-
pensable to achieve a decisive advan-