The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-05-18
Continued from last Issue.)
CHAPTER u.
~. c,uora ~ fba Qap,urai

The nation was In turmoil.
Throughout the night and the follow
ing day me newspapers Of the country
sent forth a more or less trustworthy
recountal Of the opening OF hostili-
ties. II had been known for weeks
that the transports Of Japan guarded
BY her entire navy had assembled OF
Nagasaki. II had even been reported
that they had sailed away for southern
waters; but this had met with later
denial. The blow had fallen as swiftly
as would that of a rattlesnake which
for weeks had been coiled and sinu-
ously moving its head in preparation
for attack.
Strangely enough the first reports
OF war came from foreign sources; but
they were undoubtedly official, having
been impaired by Japan to her ally,
Great Britain. The bulletins issued
by the London papers bore the I'M
doubted ring OF semi-official utter
ances. That of the Daily Mail, cabled
in full to the American press. read;
Japan, reluctantly abandoning hope
OF peace by ordinary methods, has
been driven. TO the extreme recourse
and has officially declared war against
the United States of America"
Within half an hour after the Is
nouncement was made. which took no
cognizance Of the fact that the Official
declaration must have been preceded
by decisive action:
"The Japanese war ONCE has been
advised that on the 27th instant at
noon the Philippine islands were com
PEELED to surrender to the japanese
feet, which appeared OF Manila. Not
only did the city itself capitulste, but
possession of the entire islands has
been given over. The japanese gov
eminent announces with due modesty
that 1t has gained a complete and un.
qualified victory without the loss OF
man.
"I.ater-It Is announced by the
Japanese government that the parole
Of all officers and men Of the United
States army in the Philippines has
been accepted. and the men Of the
vanquished army have been allowed
TO sail for San Francisco on board
foreign ships, which were lying in the
harbor at the time OF surrender"
From every quarter Of the land cane
insistent demands for official news
from the government, coupled with re-
quests for detailed accounts of the de-
feat The administration replied with
the brief statement that no verified
report of the action in the Philippines
could be given out at that time. 1t
did state, however, that the official
declaration of war had been duly re-
ceived, that the japanese ambassador
had been withdrawn. the legation
closed and that the officials would
leave New . crk for their own country
that evening, sailing by way of Liver
pool.
Public clamor gave way to popular
indignation. The country was aflame
with war spirit. Guardsmen gath
cred in their armories, awaiting Of
fetal bulletins and the expected call
10 arms and yet no orders came.
The governors of several states tele-
graphed to the war department for
advice: but their only satisfaction was
In the following message sent broad
cast by the secretary OF state:
The government. recognizing the
patriotism and readiness OF the Ma
tional Guard of the United States.
does not at this immediate moment
desire it's services. 1t is well TO bear
in mind, however, that a sudden call
may be issued at a later date and to
be prepared for emergencies. II
wishes to announce further that in its
Judgment there will be no necessity
for fighting on land. and that the stu
alton is completely under control. So
far there have been no casualties re-
ported from the Philippines"
Whatever may have been the state
of the public mind before the Issuance
Of this declaration, the country now
gasped with amazement Some OF the
more violent and outspoken journals
demanded Of the men al Washington
a statement Of what they purposed to
do in this emergency. and the most
radical intimated in no uncertain
terms that incompetent administra-
| tions were subject to impeachment.
| But TO all of this outburst the govern
ment officials most directly interested
presented only the same calm. placid
and Indifferent front. There was moth.
| ing to be detected in their demeanor
to indicate that any action whatever
had been taken.
The various members Of the diplo-
| matte corps, even TO the highest OF the
| foreign ambassadors. gathered no new
| information. They were invariably
told, first. that the United States
knew there had been a declaration OF
war; second, that the United States
knew that the Philippines had been
surrendered; third, that no orders had
been issued up TO that hour for the
| sailing of any feet. but that IL was ex-
| pected orders would be given before
| the day was over. The men of the
foreign representation one and all felt
gentle rebuff tantamount TO being
| told that the Omitted States was at
| tending strictly TO It's OWE business
| and desired neither TO be advised nor
| 10 be compelled TO answer questions.
1 f,r 81 Id 81. a. L..