The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-06
OPENING OF AcsTILrrIEs.
Blockade of Cuba and Call For Vol
unteers.


Spain, having thus denied the de-
mand of the United States and initiated
that complete form of rupture of rela-
tons which attends a state of war, the
executive powers authorized by the res
olution were used by me to meet the
enlarged contingency of actual war be-
tween Spain and the United States. On
April %, l proclaimed blockade of the
northern coast of Cuba, including ports
on said coast between Cardenas and
Bahia Honda and the port of Cienfue-
COS on the south coast of Cuba: and
on the 23rd l called for volunteers 10
execute the purpose of the resolution.
By the message of April %, the con-
gresS were informed of the situation
and I recommended formal declaration
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 p, 1898,
declaring the existence of such war
from and including the 21st day of
April, and re-enacted the provision of
the resolution of April 20, directing the
president to use all the armed forces
of the nation to carry that act into eff
feet Due notification of the existence
of war as aforesaid was given April %
by telegraph to all the governments
with which the United States main
tanned relations, in order that their
neutrality might be assured during the
war. The various governments re-
sponded with proclamations of neutral
ity, each after its own methods. 1t is
not among the least gratifying Incl
dents of the struggle that the obliga-
lions of neutrality were impartially dis
charged by all, often under delicate and
difficult circumstances.
In further fulfillment of international
announcing the treatment proposed to
be accorded to vessels and their car
goes as to blockade, contraband, the
exercise of the right of search and the
immunity of neutral flags and neutral
goods under enemy's flags. A similar
proclamation was made by the Spanish
government. In the conduct of HOSTILE
ties the rules of the declaration of Paris,
including abstention from reoort of
privateering have accordingly been OBJ
served by both belligerents. although
neither was party to that declaration.
Our country thus, after an interval
of half q century of peace with all ma
tons, found itself engaged in deadly
conflict with a foreign enemy. Every
nerve was strained to meet the emer-
gency. The response to the initial call
for $4,000 volunteers was instant and
complete. as was also the result of the
second cali of May 5 for $4,000 addi
tional volunteers. The ranks of the
regular army were increased to the
limits provided by the act Of April %.
STRENGTH OF NAVY.
The enlisted force of the navy on the
18th of August when it reached its
maximum, numbered q, 123 men and
apprentices. One hundred and three
vessels were added to the navy by pur
chase, one was presented to the gov
eminent, one leased and the four yes
sells 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 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 dyna-
mite cruiser; eleven torpedo-boats;
fourteen old vessels of the old navy,
including monitors.
Auxiliary navy: Auxiliary cruisers,
twenty eight converted yachts. twenty
seven converted tugs, nineteen con-
verified golfers, four revenue cutters,
four lighthouse tenders and nineteen
miscellaneous vessels.
Much alarm was felt along the entire
Atlantic Seaboard lest an attack might
be made by the enemy. Every precau-
ton was taken to prevent possible in
jury to our great cities lying along the
coast. Temporary garrisons were pro-
vided, drawn from the state militia; in
fantry and light batteries were drawn
from the volunteer force. About Il, 600
troops were thus employed. The coast
signal service was established for OBJ
serving the approach of an enemy's
ship TO the coast Of the United States,
and the lighthouse service co-operated,
which enabled the navy department to
have all portions of the Atlantic coast,
from Maine to Texas, under observa-
ton.
The auxiliary navy was created I'M
der the authority of congress, and was
differed and manned by the naval mill
tia of the several states. This organ
iZation patrolled the coast and per-
formed the duty of a second arm of
defense.
HARBoRs MINED.
Under the direction of the chief en-
gineer, submarine mines We're placed
at the most exposed points. Before the
war, permanent mining classmates and
caole galleries had been constructed at
all important harbors. Most of the
torpedo material was not to be found
in the market and had to be specially
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 cable, and on April % Geographic
orders We're issued to place the loaded
mines in position. The aggregate num-
Der of mines placed was 1856. at the
principal harbors from Maine to Cali
fornia- Preparations were also made
for the planting of mines at certain
other 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.
It's operations during the war covered
the electrical connection of all coast
Notifications. the establishment of
telephone and telegraphic facilities for
the camps at Manila, Santiago and in
Puerto Rico. There were constructed
800 miles of line at ten great camps,
thus facilitating military movements
from those points in a manner here
tofore unknown in military admins
tration. Field telegraph lines were es-
tablished and maintained under the
enemy's ire at Manila, and later the