Cause. The injury to American interests on the
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84 Cummings’ Bneyclopadia, tion on the part of the United States government tobring about a cessation of hostilities on the island, werethe direct causes of the war. Congress on April 19,1898, passed the following resolution: First. The people of the island of Cuba are and ofright ought to be free and independent. SECOND. That it is the duty of the United States todemand, and the government of the United States doeshereby demand, that the government of Spain at once re-linquish its authority and government in the island of Cubaand withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba andCuban waters. THIRD. That the president of the United States be,and hereby is, directed and empowered to use the entireland and naval forces of the United States, and to call intothe actual service of the United States the militia of theseveral states to such an extent as may be necessary tocarry this resolution into effe -t. FouRTH. That the United States hereby disclaimsany disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty, juris-diction or control over said island. except for the pacificationthereof, and asserts its determination. when that is accom-plished, to leave the government and control of the island toits people. THE UutTimatom. On Arzril 20, McKinley. in per-su nce of the foregoing resolution, issued an ultimatum toSpain demanding that she withdraw her land and navalforces from Cuba and Cuban waters by noon of Saturday,April 23, 1898. This paper was sent to our minister at Ma-drid General Woodford The Spanish gove rnment, however,in anticipation of the ultimatum, handed Woodford hispassport before he had an opportunity to present the paper. DECLARATION OF WAR. On April 25 1898, war wasformaily declared as follows: ‘'That war be and the sameis hereby declared to exist and that war has existed sincethe 21st day of April, A. D. 1898. including said day. betweenthe United Stat:s of America and the Kingdom of Spain.That the President of the United S ates be and he hereby isdirected and empowered to use the ent’re land and navalforces of the United States and to call into actual service ofthe United States the militia of the several states, to suchextent as may be necessary to carry this act into effect.”’ THE BrocxapE. President McKinley issued a proe-Jamation directing a blockade of all the Cuban ports.Admiral Sampson at once effected a blockade of theports of al] important Cuban towns. Cummings’ Encyclopedia, 485 BaTTLe oF Carpenas. Cardenas, situated north ofHavana, was attacked from its inner harbor by the- American gunboats, Wilmington and Hudson, and theterpedo boat Winslow, on May 11. The Winslow wasdestroyed and Ensign Worth B»g'ey and four otherswere killed. The disabled Winslow was towed out ofrange of the Spanish fire. The order to attack was some-body’s blunder; it gave to Spain her first victory. BaATTLe or Cavite. On the breaking out of hostili-ties, Commodore George Dewey, commanding the Asiaticsquadron, was ordered to b'ockade the city of Manila,Philippine Islands. As the American fleet neared thebay, in the darkness of Sunday morning, May 1, 1898,they were attacked by the Spanish fleet. The story is‘most effectively told in Dewey’s own words:| ‘““Manita, May 1—-The squadron arrived at Manilaat daybreak this morning. It immediately engagedthe enemy and destroyed the following Spanish vessels :Reina Cristina, Castilia, Don Antonio, Isle de Ulla, Islede Luzon, Isle de Cuba, General Lazo, Marques DelDuero, El Corso, Valasco, one transport, Zsle de Min-danao. The squadron is uninjured, and only a few menwere slightly wound-d. We have taken the fortificationsand effected a landing at Cavite. We have 256 woundedSpaniards as prisoners, and the town of Manila is at ourmercy. DrEwey.’’ This marvelous sea fight surpassed anything innaval history; it eclipsed historic Trafalgar. The su-perb commander of this magn ficent victory, CommodoreGeorge Dewey, was promoted to the rank of Rear-Ad-miral, and was presented with a sword and the thanksof Congress.
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