The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-06

mored cruisers; six coast defense mont
tors, one armored ram, twelve protected
cuiscrs, three unprotected cruisers; eigh-
teen gunboats, one dynamite cruiser,
eleven torpedo boats, vessels of the old
navy, including monitors, fourteen. Aux
iliary navy: Eleven auxiliary cruisers,
tWenty-eight converted yachts, twenty
seven converted tugs; nineteen converted
cOllicrs, fifteen revenue cutters, four
lighthouse tenders and nineteen miscel-
laneous vessels.
PREPARATIONS FOR COAST DE-
FENCE.
Much alarm was felt along our entire
Atlantic seabOard lest some attack might
be made by the enemy. Every prcCau-
ton was taken to prevent possible Injury
to our great cities lying along the coast.
Temporary garrisOns were povide1,
drawn from the State militia; infantry
and light batteries were drawn from the
voluntary forces. About $4,000 troops
were thus employed. The coast signal
service was established for observing
the approach of the enemy's ships TO the
coast of the Unital States. and rhe life
saving and light loIsa services ca-Operat-
ed, 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 under
the authority of Congress was officer
cd and manned by the naval militia Of
the several States. This organization
'patrolled the coast and performed the
duty of Il second line of defense.
Under the direction Of the chief of
engineers submarine mines were placed
at the most exposed points. Before the
outbreak of the war permanent mining
classmates and cable galleries had been
constructed at nearly all important har-
bors. Most of the torpedo material was
not to be found in the market, and had
to be specially manufactured. Under
date of April 10Th, districJ officers were
directed TO take preliminary measures,
short of the actual attaching of the load
ed mines to the cables, and on April
22d, telegraphed orders were issued no
place the loaded mines in position.
The aggregate number of mines placed
was / ,535. at the principal harbors from
Maine to California. Preparations were
also made for the planting of mines at
certain other harbors, but owing to the
early destruction of the Spanish fee,
these mines were not placed.
WORK OF SIGNAL CORPS.
The signal corps was promptly organic
ed and performed service of the most
difficult and important character. Its
operations during the war covered the
electrical connection at all coast fortified
tons, the establishment of the telephone
and telegraphic facilities for the camps
at Manila, Santiago and in Porto Rico
Th Nre were constructed 300 miles of line
at IN great camps, thus facilitating mill
tary movements from these points in a
manner heretofore unknown in military
administration. Field telegraph lines
were established and maintained under
the enemy's fire at Manila and later the
Manila Hong Kong cable was re-opened
CABLE CUTTING AND NIENDING
In Porto Rico cable communication:
were opened over a discontinued route
and on land the headquarters of tht
commanding officer was kept in tele
graphic communication with the division
commander on four different lines OF
operations.
There was placed in Cuban waters q
completely QUILTED cable ship, will
war cables and cable gear, suitable botl
for the destruction of communications
belonging TO the enemy and the establish
ment of our own. Two ocean cables
were destroyed under the enemy's bat
teries at Santiago The day previous tC
the landing Of General Skaters corps
at Caimanera, within twenty miles OF
the landing place, cable communications
were established and q cable station
opened giving direct communication will
the Government at Washington. This
was invaluable to the Executive in di
recting the operations of the army anc
navy. With a total force of over 1900
the loss was by disease in camp anc
field, officers and men included, only
fifty.
FINANCING THE WAR.
The national defense fund of $50,
100000 was expended in large part by
the army and navy, and the objects FOL
which it was used are fully shown IL
the reports of the several secretaries
1t was a most timely appropriation. en-
aiding the Government to strengthen
its defenses and make preparations
greatly needed in case of war.
This fund being inadequate to tn,
requirements of equipment and for the
conduct of the war; the patriotism OF
the Congress provided the means in thu
war revenue act of June 18th, by au
thorizing 3 per cent. popular loan not
to exceed four hundred million dollars
and by levying additional imposts ano
taxes. In the authorized loan, two hun
dred million were offered and promptly
taken, the subscriptions so far exceed
ing the call as to cover it many times
over, while, preference being given tC
the smaller bids, no single allotment
exceeded five thousand dollars This
was most encouraging and significant
result, showing the vast resources Q1
the nation and the determination of the
people to uphold their country's honor.
Events of the War Reviewed.
1t is not within Ne province of this
message to narrate the history of the
extraordinary way that followed the
Spanish declaration of April Dist, but q
brief recital Vof its most important
fAnt ic On 20