The Boys of '98 Part 5

"_Dear Sir_:-In compliance with a painful duty, I have the honour to inform you that there has been sanctioned by the President of the republic a resolution of both chambers of the United States, which denies the legitimate sovereignty of Spain and threatens armed intervention in Cuba, which is equivalent to a declaration of war.

"The government of her majesty have ordered her minister to return without loss of time from North American territory, together with all the personnel of the legation.

"By this act the diplomatic relations. .h.i.therto existing between the two countries, and all official communication between their respective representatives, cease.

"I am obliged thus to inform you, so that you may make such arrangements as you think fit. I beg your excellency to acknowledge receipt of this note at such time as you deem proper, taking this opportunity to reiterate to you the a.s.surances of my distinguished consideration.

(Signed) "H. GULLON."

Relative to the ultimatum and its reception, the government of this country gave out the following information:

"On yesterday, April 20, 1898, about one o'clock P. M., the Department of State served notice of the purposes of this government by delivering to Minister Polo a copy of an instruction to Minister Woodford, and also a copy of the resolutions pa.s.sed by the Congress of the United States on the nineteenth instant. After the receipt of this notice the Spanish minister forwarded to the State Department a request for his pa.s.sports, which were furnished him on yesterday afternoon.

"Copies of the instructions to Woodford are herewith appended. The United States minister at Madrid was at the same time instructed to make a like communication to the Spanish government.

"This morning the Department received from General Woodford a telegram, a copy of which is hereunto attached, showing that the Spanish government had broken off diplomatic relations with this government.

"This course renders unnecessary any further diplomatic action on the part of the United States.

"'April 20, 1898.

"'_Woodford, Minister, Madrid_:-You have been furnished with the text of a joint resolution, voted by the Congress of the United States on the nineteenth instant, approved to-day, in relation to the pacification of the island of Cuba. In obedience to that act, the President directs you to immediately communicate to the government of Spain said resolution, with the formal demand of the government of the United States, that the government of Spain at once relinquish her authority and government in the island of Cuba, and withdraw her land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters.

"'In taking this step, the United States disclaims any disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over said island, except for the pacification thereof, and a.s.serts its determination when that is accomplished to leave the government and control of the island to its people under such free and independent government as they may establish.

"'If, by the hour of noon on Sat.u.r.day next, the twenty-third day of April, there be not communicated to this government by that of Spain a full and satisfactory response to this demand and resolutions, whereby the ends of peace in Cuba shall be a.s.sured, the President will proceed without further notice to use the power and authority enjoined and conferred upon him by the said joint resolution to such an extent as may be necessary to carry the same into effect.

"'SHERMAN.'

"This is Woodford's telegram of this morning:

"'MADRID, April 21. (Received at 9.02 A. M.)

"'_To Sherman, Washington_:-Early this morning (Tuesday), immediately after the receipt of your telegram, and before I communicated the same to the Spanish government, the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs notified me that diplomatic relations are broken between the two countries, and that all official communication between the respective representatives has ceased. I accordingly asked for my pa.s.sports. Have turned the legation over to the British emba.s.sy, and leave for Paris this afternoon. Have notified consuls.

"'WOODFORD.'"

The Spanish newspapers applauded the "energy" of their government, and printed the paragraph inserted below as a semi-official statement from the throne:

"The Spanish government having received the ultimatum of the President of the United States, considers that the doc.u.ment const.i.tutes a declaration of war against Spain, and that the proper form to be adopted is not to make any further reply, but to await the expiration of the time mentioned in the ultimatum before opening hostilities. In the meantime the Spanish authorities have placed their possessions in a state of defence, and their fleet is already on its way to meet that of the United States."

_April 21._ General Woodford left Madrid late in the afternoon, and although an enormous throng of citizens were gathered at the railway station to witness his departure, no indignities were attempted. The people of Madrid professed the greatest enthusiasm for war, and the general opinion among the ma.s.ses was that Spain would speedily vanquish the United States.

In Havana, in response to the manifesto from the palace, the citizens began early to decorate the public buildings and many private residences, balconies, and windows with the national colours. A general illumination followed, as on the occasion of a great national festivity. Early in the evening no less than eight thousand demonstrators filled the square opposite the palace, a committee entering and tendering to the captain-general, in the name of all, their estates, property, and lives in aid of the government, and pledging their readiness to fight the invader.

General Blanco thanked them in the name of the king, the queen regent and the imperial and colonial governments, a.s.suring them that he would do everything in his power to prevent the invaders from setting foot in Cuba.

"Otherwise I shall not live," he said, in conclusion. "Do you swear to follow me to the fight?"

"Yes, yes, we do!" the crowd answered.

"Do you swear to give the last drop of blood in your veins before letting a foreigner step his foot on the land we discovered, and place his yoke upon the people we civilised?"

"Yes, yes, we do!"

"The enemy's fleet is almost at Morro Castle, almost at the doors of Havana," General Blanco added. "They have money; but we have blood to shed, and we are ready to shed it. We will throw them into the sea!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: CAPTAIN-GENERAL BLANCO.]

The people interrupted him with cries of applause, and he finished his speech by shouting "_Viva Espana!_" "_Viva el Rey!_" "Long live the army, the navy, and the volunteers!"

The Congress of the United States pa.s.sed a joint resolution authorising the President, in his discretion, to prohibit the exportation of coal and other war material. The measure was of great importance, because through it was prevented the shipment of coal to ports in the West Indies where it might be used by Spain.

_April 22._ At half past five o'clock in the morning the vessels composing the North Atlantic Squadron put to sea from Key West. The flag-ship _New York_ led the way. Close behind her steamed the _Iowa_ and the _Indiana_.

Following the war-ships came the gunboat _Machias_, and then the _Newport_. The _Amphitrite_, the first of the fleet, lying close to sh.o.r.e, steamed out after the _Machias_, and then followed in order the _Nashville_, the _Wilmington_, the _Castine_, the _Cincinnati_, and the other boats of the fleet, save the monitors _Terror_ and _Puritan_, which were coaling, the cruiser _Marblehead_, the despatch-boat _Dolphin_, and the gunboat _Helena_.

After getting out of sight of land the flag of a rear-admiral was hoisted over the _New York_, indicating to the fleet that Captain Sampson was acting as a rear-admiral. When in the open sea the fleet was divided into three divisions. The _New York_, _Iowa_, and _Indiana_ had the position of honour. Stretching out to the right were the _Montgomery_, _Wilmington_, _Newport_, and smaller craft; to the left was the _Nashville_ in the lead, followed by the _Cincinnati_, _Castine_, _Machias_, _Mayflower_, and some of the torpedo-boats.

At seven o'clock in the morning the first gun of the war was fired. The _Nashville_, which had been sailing at about six knots an hour, in obedience to orders, suddenly swung out of line. Clouds of black smoke poured from her long, slim stacks, her speed was gradually increased until the water ascended in fine spray on each side of the bow, and behind her trailed out a long, creamy streak on the quiet waters.

She was headed for a Spanish merchantman, which was then about half a mile away, apparently paying no heed to the monsters of war.

A shot from one of the 4-pounders was sent across the stranger's bow, and then, no attention having been paid to it, a 6-inch gun was discharged.