The times., 1898-12-06
WASHINGTON. TUESDAY DECEMBER 6, 1898

dS " tlc CAptulcHNg u Scup.2hS thS - y
posed action with formal recognition oil
the Republic of Cuba as the true and law
ful government of that island-a PROPOSE
ton which failed of adoption-the Con
gress, after conference. on the 18th of
April. by vote of AZ to 35 in the Senate
and 81 to in the House of Representa-
tives, passed the memorable joint reso-
luton declaring
First That the people of the Island OF
Cuba are, and of right ought to be. free
and independent.
Second. That ii is the duty of the Unit
ed States to demand. and the Government
of the United States does hereby demand
that the government of Spain at once re-
linquish its authority and government In
the Island of Cuba and withdraw its land
and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban
waters.
Third That the President of the United
States be, and he hereby Is, directed ana
empowered to use the entire land and ma
val forces of the United States, and to cal
into the actual service of the United States
the militia of the several States, TO such
extent as may be necessary to carry these
resolutions into effect.
Fourth That the United States hereby
disclaims any disposition or intention 10
xercis sovereignty. jurisi lotion or contro
over said Island except fer the paciiication
thereof, and asserts its determination
when that is accomplished TO leave the
government and control of the Island to !ts
people
This resolution was approved by the
Executive on the next day, April 90 a
copy was at once communicated to the
Spanish minister at this capital, who
forthwith announced that his continuance
in Washington had thereby become I'M
possible, and asked for his passports,
which were given him. He thereupon
withdrew from Washington, leaving the
protection of Spanish interests In the
United States tn the French ambassador
and the Austro-Hungarian minister ST.
multaneously with its communication to
the Spanish minister here, General Wood
ford, the American minister at Madrid,
was telegrephed confirmation of the text
of the joint resolution and directed to
communicate 1t TO the Government of
Spain with the formal demand that it at
once reiinquish its authority and gov
ernment In the Island of Cuba and with
draw it's forces therefrom, coupling this
demand with announcement of the inten-
tions of this Government as to the future
of the Island, In conformity with the
fourth clause of the resolution. and Civ
ing Spain until noon Of April 23 to reply.
SPAIN BREAKS OFF NEGOTIATIONS.
That demand, although, as above
shown, officially made known TO the Span
ish envoy here, was not delivered at
Madrid. After the instruction reached
General W-oodford on the morning of
April q, but before lie could present 1t,
the Spanish Minister of State notified him
that upon the Presidents approval of The
joint resolution the Madrid Government,
regarding the act as equivalent to an
evident declaration of war had ordered
its Minister in Washington TO withdraw,
thereby breaking off diplomatic relations
between the two countries and ceasing
ala official communication between their
respective representatives. General Wood
ford thereupon demanded his passports
and quilted Madrid the same day.
WAR FORMALLY DECLAUED.
Spain having thus denied the demand
Of the United States and initi ted that
complete form of rupture of relations
which attends a state of war. the Ex-
ecutive powers authorized by the reso-
luton were at once used by me TO meet
the enlarged contingency of actual war
between sovereign states. On April p
l proclaimed blockade of the no. tn
coast OF Cuba including ports on said
coast bcINttIi tdItttIio anu Idl Id tlUlI-
da and the port Of Cielfuesos on the
south coast of Cuba: and on the ed
called for volunteers to execute the rur-
pose of the resolution. By my m ag
of April % the Congress was informed of
the situation. and l recommended formal
declaration of the existence of a state cr
war between the United States and
Spain. The Congress accordingly voted
on the same day the act approved APP: II
25. 1898, declaring the existence of sch
war from and including the 21st day of
April. and re-enacted the provision of the
resolution of April 20, directing the Pres
ident to use all the armed fo-ces of the
nation to carry that act into eff ct Du
notification of the existence of war as
aforesaid Was given April q by Telegraph
to all the governments with which the
United States maintain relations In o
der that their neutrality might be as
sured during the war. The various gov
ernments responded with proclamations
OF neutrality, each after its own meth
DDS. 1t is not among the least graft yins
incidents of the struggle that the obliga.
tions of neutrality We're impartially dis
charged by all, often under del cate ard
difficult circumstances.
In further fultillment of internationa.
duty / issued, April &c. 1898, proc!ama
ton announcing the treatment proposed
to be accorded TO vessels and Their ca
goes as to blockade contraband, the ex-
ercise of the right of search, and the m
munity of neutral flags and neutral
goods under enemy's flag. A similar prcc-
lamation was made by the Spanish gov
ernment. In the conduct of hosti!ities
the rules of the Declaration of Paris, in
Guiding abstention from resort to pr
watering, have accordingly been observ-
ed by both belligerents although neithe,
was party to that declaration.
HOSTILITIEs BEGUN,
Our country thus after an interval of
half century of peace with all nations.
found itself engaged in deadly conflict
with foreign enemy. Every nerve was
strained to meet the emergency The re-
sponse to the initial call for 125, 900 volun
teers was instant and complete, as was
also the result of the second call of May
%, for 5000 additional volunteers The
ranks of the regular army were increased
to the limits provided by the act of April
26, 1S9S
The enlisted force of the navy on the
18th day of August, when it reached its
maximum, numbered "a 123 men and ap-
prentices. One hundred and three yes
sells were added to the navy by purchase,
l was presented to the Government
leased, and the vessels of the Interna-
tional Navigation Company, the ST. Paul,
st. Louis, New York and Paris. were
chartered. In addition to these the rev.
enue cutters and lighthouse tend
ers were turned over to the Ma
Wy Department and became temporarily
part of the auxiliary navy
The maximum effective fiphtipp fo~na of
the navy during the war, separated into
classes, was as follows:
Four battleships of the first class;
hattleShin of the Saco1ad nI. e.,..<,,.e,.a