The National tribune., 1903-06-18
THE AMERICAN.
SPANISH WAR.
Continued from first pags.)

of war, were put to work Mt their full ca
pacity, by night as well as by day.
On April II, the President addressed
message to Congress, setting forth in de-
tail the final efforts he had made. through
diplomatic channels, by means Of Minister
Woodford at Madrid, to bring about an
amelioration Of the condition of the peo-
pie Of Cuba, and the reply Of the Spanish
Government, which remitted the question
Of the settlement of terms of peace with
the Cuban insurgents to the so-called In
sular Congress of the pretended Autono-
mist Government of Cuba. "With this
last overture" he said, Sin the direction OF
| immediate peace, and its disappointing re
ception by Spain, the Executive is brought
to the end of his effort"
| The President referred to the destruc-
tiOn of the Maine as tragic horror, in
| Creasing the elements OF danger and dis
order, and asked that Congress authorize
and empower the President to take meas
ures to secure a full and final termination
| OF hostilt;eS between the Government of
! Spain and the people of Cuba. and to Sc
cure in the island the establishment of Il
stable Government, capable of maintain
ing order and observing its international
obligations, insuring peace and tranquility
and the security of its citizens as well as
our own, and TO use the military and naval
forces of the United States as may be nee
essary for these purposes.
On the same day he sent to Congress the
delayed Consular correspondence relating
to the atrocities perpetrated on the recon-
centrados of Cuba.
On April 10. after nine days debate and
conference. Congress passed a joint reso-
luton calling upon Spain to withdraw its
land and naval forces from Cuba and Gu
ban waters, and directing the President to
nse the entire land and naval forces Of the
| United States, and to call into the actual
cf ha faI ha militia nf
the several States. to such extent as might
be necessary to carry this resolution into
effect. This was in effect a formal dec
laratiOn Of war.
THE SWORD DRAWN.
On the morning of April 81, before he
could present this ultimatum to the Span
ish Government, Minister WOodfOrd re-
ceived his passports, and Immediately aft
erward Minister Polo Barnabe withdrew
from Washington. On April % the block
ade of the north coast of Cuba was pro-
claimed by President Mckinley, and on
April 25 Congress passed an act declaring
the existence of state Of war between
the United States and Spain.
1t is not the purpose of this chapter to
follow in detail the events OF that brief
and glorious struggle, but only to indicate
some Of the prominent incidents of the
Presidents personal participation therein.
Every great Ut SHiuh, Ic-
ceived the benefit of his personal consid |
Grafton, and of the experience he had gnin- |
ed in the war of 1S61-'65, the animosities |
arising from which his efforts did so
much to obliterate. 1t was indeed for
tunate for the Government and the pe0- |
pie of the United States that man occn-
pied the Executive chair who was by birth |
and training so well equipped to perform !
the duties devolving upon him as was Viii |
liam Mckinley. In the prime of life, 50 |
years of age, his mental and physical Wig |
or sustained by life of conspicuous recti-
tude and his administrative powers en-
forced by years Of trying experience, he |
entered the arena with every qualification
to command the esteem Of his countrymen /
and to insure also the respect of the Gov
ernments of other Nations. In the selec-
tion of the general officers to command the
volunteer forces he ignored sectional lines,
calling to his aid distinguished army Of
ficers who had worn the gray to co-ope-
rate with those who had worn the blue.
thus presenting to the world the imposing
spectacle of a United Nation of T0.000, 900
of people-a -.,
Tower of strength,
(which stood four-square to all the winds
that blew"
When 100000 volunteers responded
promptly to the President 8 CALL he said:
81 feel that the American people have
committed these boys to my hands," and
he watched over the minutest details of
their equipment, encampment, SuStenance,
hospital accommodation and transporta-
ton, not contenting himself with the re-
ports Of his capable Chiefs of Depart
ment. but going directly to the Bureau Of
ficials who had the actual work in charge.
The President spent hours every day fol
lowing the movements of the campaign
with pin points on the maps in the war
room OF the White House, studying out
every possible condition and contingency.
He knew neither rest nor recreation from
the hour when hosti!ities commenced un-
til the protocol of peace was signed. Like
Lincoln, he never slept when there was
duty to perform.
CAREFULLY WATCHING EVERYTHING.
The Cabinet met frequently, sometimes
twice day. 1t was by the Presidents
sued the famous order to Admiral Dewey
to proceed to the Bay of Manila, capture
or destroy the Spanish fleet, and take pos
session of the harbor and the city. 1t is
said that when the President announced
to the Cabinet his determination to strike
this decisive blow at the power of Spain
in the East, the audacity and gravity of
could be felt, and which was not broken
for several minutes. The President car
ried his point, and the result is known to
all men.
When the land attack on Santiago was
determined upon, the President asked how
many siege guns were ready to be taken
to Santiago, and the reply was that Is or
20 were at command. The President con-
tended that not less than so were neces-
sary, and it was not his fault that 80 We're
not sent. Thus he looked after the details
Of preparations for battle.
Direct telegraphic communication was
established between Playa del Este, the
Cuban cable terminus on the Santiago
coast. and the Executive Offices at the
White House in Washington, and was
during and after the battles of
San Juan and Ell Caney. Gen. Shafter's
camp was near Sevilla, within easy COM
munication distance Of Playa del Este.
The interchange Of cable messages was
rapid. and on the part of our Command ,
ing General indicated a desire to retreat
Dr. to ask for parley with the Spanish
!
On July 3, Gen. Shafter cabled that he ,
had the city Of Santiago well invested on
The north and east, but, as he added sig :
a very thin line" He =
said that as he approached the city he
found the defences so strong that it would i;
be impossible to carry it by storm with q