Government for the relinquishment of their authority in Cuba and naming the 23d as the day when, if the demand was not met, the President would take action. Before the United States Minister could communicate this demand, he was notified by the Spanish Ministry that diplomatic relations between the two countries were broken, and left for Paris on the afternoon of April 21.

On the 22d the President proclaimed a blockade of the Cuban ports, and on the 23d called for 125,000 volunteers. On the 25th these two proclamations were reported to Congress with a recommendation for a declaration of war. The desired resolution was passed by both houses and approved the same day, declaring "that war exists and that war has existed since the 21st day of April, 1898, including said day, between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain."

On the next day the President, announcing the declaration of war by Congress, wisely proclaimed that the United States would discountenance privateering, in accordance with the Declaration of Paris, although the nation was not a signatory to that agreement. He also announced that Spanish ships in American ports would be given until May 21 in which to load their cargoes and depart. This prompt and eminently proper decision gave evidence, at

the very beginning, of the high-minded purpose of the President, which subsequent events fully confirmed, much to the surprise of those cynical observers who could see nothing in the war but an aggressive movement against a weaker nation, the sole object of which was the annexation of Cuba.

Preparations for the war rapidly followed. A bill to raise $100,000,000 additional revenue by imports and taxes was introduced in the House by Mr. Dingley on the 26th of April, and, after much discussion, in which the old questions of the issue of legal-tender notes, the coinage of silver, and the constitutionality of an income tax were again the subjects of controversy, it was finally passed by both houses and approved June 13. It provided for a popular loan, at 3 per cent, not to exceed $400,000,000, of which bonds to the amount of $200,000,000 were offered and promptly subscribed for, the subscriptions being sufficient to cover the loan several times over.

On April 22 the President had approved an act to increase the military establishment and to divide the service in time of war into two branches, designated respectively as the regular army and the volunteer army. The regular army on April 1, 1898, was composed of 2143 officers and 26,040 men. Under the new law this force was gradually increased, reaching a total of 56,362 officers and men

on August 31. The President's first call for 125,000 men under the act met with a quick response, as did his second call for 75,000 men in May. The number of volunteers was overwhelming. Secretary Alger estimated that a million men offered their services at the first call, and that more than 25,000 applications were made for commissions, though the number required and actually appointed was only 1032.1 The forces at the command of the President before the close of the war reached a maximum of regulars and volunteers estimated at 274,717. Fortunately, they were not all needed and 136,000 of them never left the country. The naval force, which at the beginning of the war consisted of 1232 officers and 11,750 enlisted men and apprentices, was increased by the addition of 856 volunteer officers, making a total commissioned force of 2088, while the enlisted strength reached a maximum of 24,123.2

Of the appropriation of $50,000,000 authorized on the 9th of March, nearly $30,000,000 was apportioned to the navy, and was used for the purchase of one hundred and three vessels, which were quickly transformed into ships of war, besides large supplies of guns, ammunition, and other necessaries.

1 Russell A. Alger, The Spanish-American War. 'John D. Long, The New American Navy.

In addition one vessel was presented to the Government, one was leased, and four were chartered.

The naval forces of the United States at the beginning of hostilities consisted of four first-class battleships, one second-class battleship, two armored cruisers, eleven protected cruisers, six monitors, twenty unprotected cruisers and gunboats, and eight torpedo boats, to which must be added the improvised fleet above mentioned. The sum allotted to the army was used chiefly for coast defenses, ordnance, and the work of the Engineering and Signal Corps. The forts were strengthened, guns placed in position, and the harbors filled with mines to such an extent that any sudden attack of the Spanish fleet upon our seaport towns- an event that many people dreaded almost to the point of hysterics - could be surely repelled.

With the actual commencement of hostilities, the same iron will that had resisted a premature beginning of the war was now devoted to its prosecution with sharpness and decision. The results of the months of quiet preparation began to appear. As

1 Spain had but one first-class battleship, one of the second class, three armored cruisers, three protected cruisers, twelve unprotected cruisers, six torpedo gunboats, seven torpedo-boat destroyers, and four torpedo boats. Yet, in spite of this hopelessly inadequate navy, her people were persuaded that the superior discipline of Spanish sailors and the fact (?) that the crews of the Americans ships were made up of "foreign mercenaries" "would give Spain the victory. Even in the United States an absurd fear of the prowess of the Spanish navy was developed in the breasts of many timid people.

Fifteen hundred and thirty-five mines were so placed.

early as October 21, 1897, orders had been issued to Commodore George Dewey to sail for Nagasaki, Japan, and there take command of the Asiatic squadron. Before he sailed, the policy of the administration was outlined to him and he was given instructions regarding the course to pursue in the contingency of a war with Spain.1 He began at once to collect information regarding the Spanish forces in the Philippines. On January 11, 1898, instructions were cabled to the commanders of the various squadrons to retain in service men whose terms of enlistment were about to expire. Two days after the destruction of the Maine the South Atlantic fleet was ordered to proceed at once to Key West, where other vessels were already assembling, so that the Department had a fleet mobilized and ready for instant action should hostilities be found inevitable. Meanwhile the ships under construction or undergoing repairs were completed as rapidly as possible and all the fleets were ordered to engage in evolutions and target practice. On February 25, Commodore Dewey was ordered to mobilize his squadron at Hongkong and advised that in case of war his duty would be to see that the Spanish Asiatic squadron did not escape, and to begin offensive operations in the Philippines.

1 John D. Long, The New American Navy.