Pictorial History Of Our War With Spain For Cuba's Freedom

PICTORIAL HISTORY OF OUR WAR WITH SPAIN

Dedicated To Our American Volunteers...

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PREFACE.

Information concerning the island of Cuba has been of an exceedingly unsatisfactory character until the search-light of American inquiry was thrown upon it from the beginning of the war for Cuban liberty early in 1895. Although our next-door neighbor to the south, with a perfect winter climate and a host of interesting and picturesque attractions for travelers, tourists had been comparatively few, measured by the numbers that might have been expected. All of the reasons for this were those which

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INTRODUCTION.

When, on the 22d day of April, 1898, Michael Mallia, gun-captain of the United States cruiser Nashville, sent a shell across the bows of the Spanish ship Buena Ventura, he gave the signal shot that ushered in a war for liberty for the slaves of Spain. The world has never seen a contest like it. Nations have fought for territory and for gold, but they have not fought for the happiness of others. Nations have resisted the encroachments of barbarism, but until the nineteenth century they have not f

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OUR WAR WITH SPAIN.

Again at War with a Foreign Power—Spain's Significant Flag— Three Years Without an American Flag in Cuban Waters—Visit of the Maine to Havana Harbor—The Maine Blown Up by Submerged Mine— Action of President and Congress—Spain Defies America—Martial Spirit Spreading—First Guns Are Fired—Cuban Ports Blockaded— Many Spanish Ships Captured—Excitement in Havana—Spain and the United States Both Declare War—Internal Dissension Threatens Spain—President McKinley Calls a Volunteer Army. Civilization agai

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CHAPTER II.

In gratitude of Spain to the Great Discoverer Who Gave Her a New World—How Spain's Evil Colonial Policy Lost the Western Hemisphere to That Obsolete Nation—Early Settlement of Cuba— Character of the Natives at the Time of the Discovery—Founding of the First Cities—Havana Becomes the Island Capital—Docility of the Natives and Their Extermination by Spanish Oppressors. Cuba and Columbus are names inseparably connected. This largest and most fruitful island of the Spanish Main was discovered by the

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CHAPTER III.

Present Men of Prominence Are Types of Those Who Were Infamous Years Ago—Roman Rule in Spain—Weakness of Spanish Power of Resistance—Discoveries in America—Horrors of the Inquisition— Spanish Rule in Holland—Expulsion of the Moors—Loss of American Colonies—Later History of Spain. The signal fact that will present itself to the student of Spanish history is that from the earliest times the country has been in a continual state of conflict, internal, with its colonies, and with other nations; and

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CHAPTER IV.

Spain's Stolen Treasures from Mexico and Peru Tempt Her European Rivals—The Spanish Main the Scene of Piratical Plundering for Many Years—Havana and Other Cities Threatened—Great Britain Takes Santo Domingo—American Troops from the British Colonies Capture Havana—Victory on Land and Sea Is Saddened by Many Deaths of Brave Americans from Fever—Lessons of the First Capture of Havana. After the acquisition of rich and populous countries in the western hemisphere had begun, Spain discovered that her

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THE FUTURE OF COMMERCIAL CUBA.

Under happier conditions, there can be no doubt that Cuba will speedily attain a much higher state of commercial importance and prosperity than it has yet enjoyed. Great as its productiveness has been in the past, well-informed writers assert that proper development of its resources will increase the value five-fold, and a liberal system of government will enable it to take advantage of its admirable position to gain greater prominence in the commercial world....

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CHAPTER VI.

A Delightful Climate—Grand Scenic Surprises—The Caves of Bellamar—The Valley of the Yumuri—Under Nature's Dome—Gorgeous Sunsets—The Palm Tree Groves—The Home of Fruits and Flowers— The Zodiacal Light. When the little island of Cuba, "The Pearl of the Antilles," was assigned a place upon the terrestrial globe, Nature must have been in her most generous mood. Certainly no land beneath the skies was given a more perfect combination of mountains and rivers, forests and plains. Situated within and ne

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CHAPTER VII.

The Palm Tree, the Queen of the Cuban Forests—Sugar Cane and Its Cultivation—The Tobacco Industry—Tropical Fruits and Flowers— Beauties of a Garden in Cuba—Enormous Shipments to Spain—The Wealth of the Island. The forests of Cuba are of vast extent, and so dense as to be almost impenetrable. It is estimated that of about 20,000,000 acres of land still remaining perfectly wild and uncultivated, nearly 13,000,000 are uncleared forest. Mahogany and other hard woods, such as the Cuban ebony, cedar,

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CHAPTER VIII.

Life in the Rural Districts—A Cuban Bill of Fare—The Amusements of the Country People—Sports of the Carnival—Native Dances—An Island Farm—Fruit Used for Bread—Cattle Ranches and Stock Farms —Population of the Island—Education and Religion—Railways and Steamship Lines. The traveler from the north, landing for the first time on Cuban shores, will discover his greatest delight in the radical changes he finds from everything he has been accustomed to in his own land. If he has read Prescott and Irvi

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CHAPTER IX.

Havana and Its Attractions for Tourists—How to Reach Cuba— Description of the Harbor of Havana—How the Proverbial Unhealthfulness of the City May Be Remedied—Characteristics of the Business Quarter—Residences and How the People Live—Parks and Boulevards—Other Features of Life in the City. In spite of the little encouragement which American tourists have had for visiting the city of Havana, for many years it has been a popular place of resort for the few who have tried it or have been recommended

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CHAPTER X.

The Harbor of Matanzas—Sports of the Carnival—Santiago de Cuba and Its Beautiful Bay—Cardinas, the Commercial Center—Enormous Exports of Sugar—The Beauties of Trinidad—Other Cities of Importance. The city of Havana may be said to stand in the same relation to Cuba that Paris does to France, for in it are centered the culture, the refinement, and the wealth of the island, but there are several other towns of considerable importance, and many of them have become places of interest since the strugg

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CHAPTER XI.

Slavery in Cuba—Horrible Tortures Inflicted—The Conspiracy of Lopez—The United States Interferes—Lopez Captured and Executed —Seizure of American Ships—Our Government Demands and Secures Indemnity From Spain—Enormous Salaries of Cuban Officials— Oppressive Taxation. Slavery was a demoralizing influence to Cuba as it has been, to every other country in which the system has existed, and to its presence was traced one of the most sensational episodes in all the sensational history of the unhappy is

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CHAPTER XII.

Cuba Again Stirred to Turmoil—The Taxes of the Island Increased —A Declaration of Independence—Civil Government Organized— Meeting of the Legislature, and Election of Officers—The Edict of a Tyrant. Before the outbreak of the Ten Years' War, the reform party in Cuba, which included all the most enlightened, wealthy and influential citizens of the island, had exhausted all the resources at their command to induce Spain to establish a more just and equitable administration of affairs, but all to n

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CHAPTER XIII.

Excitement in the United States over a Spanish Outrage of Twenty-five Years Ago—The Virginius a Blockade Runner—Severity of the Spanish Court Martial—Insolence to the American Consul—Indignation in the United States—Negotiations Between Washington and Madrid—Settlement an Unsatisfactory One to Most People—No Just Retribution Ever Made. It was less than twenty-five years before the destruction of the Maine, that another vessel whose crew met its fate in a Spanish port in Cuba was the subject of a

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CHAPTER XIV.

The Two Wars Compared—The Havana Volunteers—The Slaughter at the Villaneuva Theater—The Court Martial of the Students—A Holiday in Havana—The Close of the War—The Treaty of Zanjon. The reader who has watched closely the struggle in Cuba for the past three years need not be told that Spain has had every advantage in men, money, arms and ammunition. The same state of affairs existed during the Ten Years' War. In fact, the inequality was even greater, for the Spanish army was then composed of exper

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CHAPTER XV.

Spanish Hypocrisy and Deceit—Cubans Denied Representation— Increase of Taxation—The Royal Edicts—A Plausible Argument, Which Is Not Borne Out by Facts—Spain's Promises Always Broken. If Spain had been sincere in the promises of reform she made her Cuban colony when the treaty of Zanjon was signed, it is probable that the present war would have never occurred. For while a few of the leaders—notably General Maceo—refused to become pacified, the great majority of the better classes were glad to acc

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CHAPTER XVI.

Spain's Policy of Distrust—The Cost of the Ten Years' War—Work of the Cuban Exiles—Revolutionary Clubs in the Western Hemisphere—An Expedition Checked—Heroism of Cuban Women—The Struggle Begun. Ever since Spain lost her colonies on the American continent the Cubans have striven to gain their independence. The Ten Years War cost the mother country 300,000,000 pesetas and 100,000 men, most of them victims of yellow fever. When slavery was abolished in 1880 fresh disturbances ensued. The majority o

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CHAPTER XVII.

Organization Which Has Represented the Insurgents in the United States—Splendid Work Done by Senor Tomas Estrada Palma and His Staff—Sources of the War Funds—Generosity of Cuban Cigar Makers Who Have Supported the Revolution—Liberal Gifts from Americans— Some Inside Facts about Filibustering—American Sailors Do Not Like to Capture Insurgent Supplies—Palma's Address to the American People. From the moment of the first outbreak of insurrection in Cuba, in February, 1895, the name of the Cuban Junt

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CHAPTER XVIII.

Cuban Refugees in Key West—Their Devotion to the Cause— Peculiarities of the Town—Odd Sights and Sounds—Filibusters and Their Work—The First Authorized Expedition—It Is a Failure—The Second More Successful—Landing Supplies for the Insurgents— Captain Jose Lacret, and Some of His Adventures. The island of Key West lies sixty miles south of Cape Sable, the most southerly point of the mainland of Florida, and is seven miles long and from one to two miles broad. The city covers nearly one-half of th

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CHAPTER XIX.

The Beginning of the Revolt—Martial Law Declared in Santiago and Matanzas—Arrival of Campos—The Blacks as Soldiers—No Caste Prejudices—General Santocildes Killed—A Story of Maceo—Campos' Campaign Fails—He Returns to Spain. It was the intention of the insurgents to begin operations in the six provinces on the same date, but at the appointed time three of them failed to carry out the plan, and in only one was the aspect at all threatening. In Havana and Matanzas the Spanish officials had no diffic

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CHAPTER XX.

A Cuban Patriot—A Life Devoted to the Cause—First Work for Cuba—Banished From His Native Land—He Returns to Fight for Freedom—His Death—Maximo Gomez, General-in-Chief of the Cuban Forces—His Methods of Warfare—Antonio Maceo, the Colored Commander—Other Military Men of Note in the Cuban Army. When the day comes that Cuba shall take her place among the free and independent nations of the earth, Jose Marti, who probably did more than any other one man to arouse the insurgents to make the final stru

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CHAPTER XXI.

The Sword of Cuba—Battle Cry of the Revolutionists—Cavalry Charges—The Strategies of War—Hand-to-Hand Encounters—Maceo at the Front—Barbarities of the Spanish Soldiers—Americans in the Cuban Army—A Fight for Life—A Yankee Gunner—How a Brave Man Died. There is a story told of a great Roman General who, after having conquered in many battles, beat his sword into a plowshare, and turned from war's alarms to the peaceful pursuit of agriculture. The Cuban has reversed the story. When he left his labo

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CHAPTER XXII.

First Expeditions—Expense to the United States—President Pierce's Action—The Uprising in 1868-The Patrol of the Coasts—An Expedition on the "Three Friends"—Arms and Ammunition for the Insurgents—Desperate Chances—A Successful Landing. The record of the last fifty years is the clearest and most convincing evidence that can be offered against the Spanish contention that the United States is not concerned with the question of government in Cuba, and has not been tremendously injured by the inabilit

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CHAPTER XXIII.

His Ancestry—A Soldier From His Youth—He Succeeds General Campos—A Master of Diplomacy—A Slave of Spain—His Personal Appearance—His Interview With a Woman—His Definition of War— His Resignation. Early in 1896, when the Spanish government began to realize that the insurrection was assuming serious proportions, arrangements were made for the recall of General Campos, then Governor-General of the island, and General Weyler was sent to assume the duties of the office. It was the opinion in Spain tha

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CHAPTER XXIV.

The Civil Guards and Their Crimes—Horrible Murder of Eight Innocent Men—A Man After Weyler's Own Heart—How the Spanish Gain "Victories"—Life, Liberty and Property Sacrificed—The War Not a Race War—Resistance to the Bitter End. Cuba has been under martial law for over fifty years, and its enforcement by the Civil guards (as the officers appointed by the Spanish government are called) has been responsible for innumerable outrages against the lives and property of the inhabitants. These officials h

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CHAPTER XXV.

Importance of the American Consulate at Havana in a Critical Time—General Fitzhugh Lee the Man for the Place—Sketch of the Life of Lee—A Nation's Confidence in Its Popular Hero—How He Left Havana and How He Promised to Return Wife and Family of General Lee—His Place During the Early Period of the War. Never was there a more genuine and typical American gentleman in a difficult position where a genuine and typical American gentleman was needed, than Fitzhugh Lee, the American consul-general at Ha

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CHAPTER XXVL

Spanish Hatred of the American Nation—Instances of Injustice— The Case of Dr. Ruiz—His Death in a Dungeon—Julio Sanguilly— Action of the United States Senate in His Behalf—A Correspondent in Morro Castle—Walter Dygert's Experiences—General Lee Shows His Mettle in the Case of Charles Scott. Not content with their cruel and inhuman treatment of Cuban patriots, the Spanish officials have seemed to take special satisfaction in imprisoning and even murdering American citizens on the slightest pretext

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CHAPTER XXVII.

A Great Leader in a Great Cause—A Modern Judas—The Worthy Son of a Noble Sire—The Farewell Letter—An Estimate of Maceo's Character—Rejoicing Among Spanish Supporters—Their Mistaken Belief—Patriotic Ardor of the Insurgents. In the death of Antonio Maceo the Cuban cause lost one of its strongest defenders. Besides being a man of acute intellect, and a general of great military skill, he had the rare gift of personal magnetism, and no one ever followed his leadership who did not feel for him the de

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CHAPTER XXVIII.

The Object of the Plan—Slaves of Spain—The Massacre of the Innocents—Deserted Fields and Farms—A Fearful Mortality—The Cubans the Oldest Americans of Caucasian Blood—Women and Children Doomed to Die—An Appeal for Help—Our Manifest Duty. When General Weyler promulgated his policy of reconcentration he hypocritically claimed that it was intended to protect the non-combatant peasantry of the island, but his sole object was to compel them to put themselves wholly in the power of the Spanish official

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CHAPTER XXIX.

The American People Favor Cuba—Influence of the Press—Hatred of Weyler—General Lee's Reports of the Horrors of the War—The Question of Annexation—Spanish Soldiers Oppose American Aid for the Suffering—Consular Reports From the Island. The people of the United States, from the commencement of the war, have been deeply interested in the success of the Cuban cause. The leading journals, with hardly an exception, have upheld the revolutionists, and have been largely instrumental in arousing our gove

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CHAPTER XXX.

How Spain Pays Her Debts—An Old Soldier's Experience—The Case of Pedro Casanova—Destruction of Property—Robbery and Murder—A Cruel Attack—The Insurgents to the Rescue—Hiding in a Cane Field—The Appeal to the Consul—Intervention Justifiable. Many American citizens in Cuba have been confined in Spanish prisons, a number have been sent to the penal colonies, the property of some has been confiscated, and others have been murdered in cold blood. A celebrated case, which shows how slowly the wheels o

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CHAPTER XXXI.

McKINLEY SUCCEEDS CLEVELAND. The Cuban Question Not a New One—The Efforts of Former Administrations to Bring About a Settlement—President Cleveland's Message—Recommendations of President McKinley—The Spanish Minister's Insulting Letter—His Resignation Accepted—The Apology of the Spanish Government. For more than ninety years the United States government has been confronted with a Cuban question. At times it has disappeared from our politics, but it has always reappeared. Once we thought it wise

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CHAPTER XXXII.

A Martyr to the Cause—Filial Devotion—Spanish Chivalry—In a Spanish Prison—An American Rescuer—Yankee Pluck Against Brute Force—The Escape—Arrival in New York—Enthusiastic Reception—A Home in the Land of Liberty. Spanish officials in Cuba have always denied the charge that they made war on women, and have insisted that the tales of persecution of the weaker sex that have reached this country were inventions of the insurgents, published to gain sympathy for their cause. In direct contradiction to

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CHAPTER XXXIII.

The Geneva Conference—Miss Barton's Work in the War of the Rebellion—Organization of the American Red Cross—The Work in Cuba—Appeal to the Public—A Floating Hospital—Correspondence with Admiral Sampson—The Spanish Prisoners in Key West, and What the Red Cross Did for Them. Many attempts have been made to bring about an international agreement for mitigating the horrors and mortality of battle. The first successful movement of this kind was started at the same time that the civil war was raging i

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CHAPTER XXXIV.

The Board of Inquiry in Session—Its Report Received by Congress —Spanish Officials in Cuba Show Sympathy—The Evidence of the Divers—A Submarine Mine—The Officers and Men of the Maine Exonerated—Responsibility Not Fixed. The story of the destruction of the battleship Maine has already been told in these pages. The Naval Board appointed to inquire into the causes of the disaster was composed of the following officers of the United States Navy: Captain Sampson, of the Iowa; Captain Chadwick, of the

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CHAPTER XXXV.

Our Former Troubles with Spain Recalled—The Verdict of the People—Spanish Rule a Blot on Civilization—The Attitude of Other Nations—The Necessity for Delay—The Message to Congress— "The War in Cuba Must Stop!" The American people did not wait for the report of the Naval Board to form an opinion as to the cause of the tragedy. The masses think in events, and not in syllogisms, and this was an event. This event provoked suspicions in the public mind. The thought of the whole nation was instantly d

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CHAPTER XXXVI.

Cuba's Friends in Congress—Senator Proctor's Address to His Colleagues—A Notable Exhibition of Patriotism—An Appropriation for the National Defense—Relief for the Survivors and Victims of the Maine—The Recognition of Cuban Independence. From the date of the first attempt of the people of Cuba to secure their independence from Spain, they have had advocates in the American Congress who have worked with voice and vote in their behalf. After the commencement of the revolution in 1895 these champion

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CHAPTER XXXVII.

PRESIDENT McKINLEY ACTS. The Message to Congress—Loss of American Trade—Terrible Increase in the Death Rate—American Aid for the Starving—The President's Proposition to Spain—Grounds for Intervention—The Destruction of the Maine—The Addenda. With the press and public of the entire country at a fever heat of indignation, and the evident determination on the part of a large majority of the members of the Congress of the United States to bring matters to a crisis, it was evident to all that the tim

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SECOND RATE.

NAME Displacement Guns in indicated Hull (tons) main battery horsepower Chicago 4,500 18 9,000 Steel Baltimore 4,413 10 10,064 Steel Philadelphia 4,324 12 8,815 Steel Monterey 4,084 4 5,244 Steel Newark 4,098 12 8,869 Steel San Francisco 4,098 12 9,913 Steel Charleston 3,730 8 6,666 Steel Miantonomah 3,990 4 1,426 Iron Amphitrite 3,990 6 1,600 Iron Monadnock 3,990 6 3,000 Iron Terror 3,990 4 1,600 Iron Lancaster 3,250 12 1,000 Wood Cincinnati 3,

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THIRD RATE.

NAME Displacement Guns in indicated Hull (tons) main battery horsepower Hartford 2,790 13 2,000 Wood Katahdin 2,155 4 5,068 Steel Ajax 2,100 2 340 Iron Canonicus 2,100 2 340 Iron Mahopac 2,100 2 340 Iron Manhattan 2,100 2 340 Iron Wyandotte 2,100 2 340 Iron Detroit 2,089 10 5,227 Steel Montgomery 2,089 10 5,580 Steel Marblehead 2,089 10 5,451 Steel Marion 1,900 8 1,100 Wood Mohican 1,900 10 1,100 Wood Comanche 1,873 2 340 Iron Catskill 1,875 2

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FOURTH RATE.

NAME Displacement Guns in indicated Hull (tons) main battery horsepower Vesuvius 929 3 3,795 Steel Yantic 900 4 310 Wood Petrel 892 4 1,095 Steel Fern 840 0 0 Wood Bancroft 839 4 1,213 Steel Michigan 685 4 365 Iron Pinta 550 2 310 Iron...

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TORPEDO BOATS.

NAME Displacement Guns in indicated Hull (tons) main battery horsepower 1-Gushing 105 3 1,720 Steel 2-Ericsson 120 3 1,800 Steel 3-Foote 142 3 2,000 Steel 4-Rodgers 142 3 2,000 Steel 5-Winslow 142 3 2,000 Steel 6-Porter 0 3 0 Steel 7-Du Pont 0 3 0 Steel 8-Rowan 182 3 3,200 Steel 9-Dahlgren 146 2 4,200 Steel 10-T. A. M. Craven 146 2 4,200 Steel 11-Farragut 273 2 5,600 Steel 12-Davis 132 3 1,750 Steel 13_Fox 132 3 1,750 Steel 14-Morris 103 3 1,750 Steel 15-Talbot 46 1/2 2 850 Steel 16-Gwin 46 1/2

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TUGBOATS.

NAME Displacement Guns in indicated Hull (tons) main battery horsepower Fortune 450 0 340 Iron Iwana. 192 0 300 Steel Leyden 450 0 340 Iron Narkeeta 192 0 300 Steel Nina 357 0 388 Iron Rocket 187 0 147 Wood Standish 450 1 340 Iron Traffic 280 0 0 Wood Triton 212 0 300 Steel Waneta 192 0 300 Steel Unadilla 345 0 500 Steel Samoset 225 0 450 Steel...

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SAILING SHIPS.

NAME Displacement Guns in indicated Hull (tons) main battery horsepower Monongahela 2,100 4 0 Wood Constellation 1,186 8 0 Wood Jamestown 1,150 0 0 Wood Portsmouth 1,125 12 0 Wood Saratoga 1,025 0 0 Wood St. Mary's. 1,025 0 0 Wood...

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RECEIVING SHIPS.

NAME Displacement Guns in indicated Hull (tons) main battery horsepower Franklin 5,170 4 1,050 Wood Wabash 4,650 0 950 Wood Vermont 4,150 0 0 Wood Independence 3,270 .6 0 Wood Richmond 2,700 .2 692 Wood...

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UNSERVICEABLE.

NAME Displacement Guns in indicated Hull (tons) main battery horsepower New Hampshire 4,150 .6 0 Wood Pensacola 3,000 0 680 Wood Omaha. 2,400 0 953 Wood Constitution 2,200 4 0 Wood Iroquois 1,575 0 1,202 Wood Nipsic 1,375 4 839 Wood St. Louis 830 0 0 Wood Dale. 675 0 0 Wood Minnesota 4,700 9 1,000 Wood...

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UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

NAME Displacement Guns in indicated Hull (tons) main battery horsepower Kearsarge 11,525 22 10,000 Steel Kentucky 11,525 22 10,000 Steel Illinois 11,525 18 10,000 Steel Alabama 11,525 18 10,000 Steel Wisconsin 11,525 18 10,000 Steel Princeton 1,000 6 800 Comp Plunger 168 2 1,200 Steel Tug No. 6 225 0 450 Steel Tug No. 7 225 0 450 Steel Training ship. 1,175 6 0 Comp Spain's navy is decidedly weak when compared with that of the United States. A mere gla

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FIRST-CLASS BATTLE SHIPS.

NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. Batteries. knots/hour. Pelayo 9,900 22 17.0 Steel Vitoria (inefficient)7,250 0 11.0 Iron...

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OLD BATTLE SHIPS.

NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. Batteries. knots/hour. Numancia 7,250 10 11.0 Iron...

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FIRST-CLASS ARMORED CRUISERS.

NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. Batteries. knots/hour. Carlos V 9,235 28 20.0 Steel Cisneros 7,000 24 20.0 Steel Cataluna 7,000 24 20.0 Steel Princess Asturias 7,000 24 20.0 Steel Almirante Oquendo 7,000 30 20.0 Steel Maria Teresa 7,000 30 20.0 Steel Vizcaya 7,000 30 20.0 Steel Cristobal Colon 6,840 40 20.0 Steel...

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SECOND-CLASS ARMORED CRUISERS.

NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. Batteries. knots/hour. Alfonso XII 5,000 19 20.0 Steel Lepanto 4,826 25 20.0 Steel...

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UNARMORED CRUISERS.

NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. Batteries. knots/hour. Reina Christina 3,520 21 17.5 Steel Aragon 3,342 24 17.5 Steel Cartilla 3,342 22 17.5 Steel Navarra 3,342 16 17.5 Steel Alfonso XII 3,090 23 17.5 Steel Reina Mercedes 3,090 21 17.5 Steel Velasco 1,152 7 14.3 Steel C. de Venadito 1,130 13 14.0 Steel Ulloa 1,130 12 14.0 Steel Austria 1,130 12 14.0 Steel Isabel 1,130 15 14.0 Steel Isabel II 1,130 16 14.0 Steel Isla de Cuba 1,030 1

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TORPEDO BOAT DESTROYERS.

NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. Batteries. knots/hour. Audaz 400 6 30.0 Steel Furor 380 6 28.0 Steel Terror 380 6 28.0 Steel Osada 380 6 28.0 Steel Pluton 380 6 28.0 Steel Prosperina 380 6 28.0 Steel...

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SMALL TORPEDO BOATS.

NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. Batteries. knots/hour. Ariete 0 0 26.1 Steel Rayo 0 0 25.5 Steel Azor 0 0 24.0 Steel Halcon 0 0 24.0 Steel Habana 0 0 21.3 Steel Barcelo 0 0 19.5 Steel Orion 0 0 21.5 Steel Retamosa 0 0 20.5 Steel Ordonez 0 0 20.1 Steel Ejercito 0 0 19.1 Steel Pollux 0 0 19.5 Steel Castor 0 0 19.0 Steel Aire 0 0 8.0 Steel...

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GUN VESSELS (SO-CALLED).

NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. Batteries. knots/hour. General Concha 520 0 0 Steel Elcano 524 0 0 Steel General Lego 524 0 0 Steel Magellanes 524 0 0 Steel...

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BUILDING.

(Battle ship.) NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. Batteries. knots/hour. —— 10,000 0 0 Steel (Armored cruisers.) NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. Batteries. knots/hour. —— 10,500 0 0 Steel Pedro d'Aragon 6,840 0 0 Steel (Protected cruisers.) NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. Batteries. knots/hour. Reina Regente 5,372 0 0 Steel Rio de la Plata 1,775 0 0 Steel (Torpedo boats.) Fiv

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LINERS FOR CONVERSION.

NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. Batteries. knots/hour. Magellanes 6,932 0 17.0 Steel Buenos Aires 5,195 0 14.0 Steel Montevideo 5,096 0 14.5 Steel Alfonso XII 5,063 0 15.0 Steel Leon XIII 4,687 0 15.0 Steel Satrustegui 4,638 0 15.0 Steel Alfonso XIII 4,381 0 16.0 Steel Maria Cristina 4,381 0 16.0 Steel Luzon 4,252 0 13.0 Steel Mindanao 4,195 0 13.5 Steel Isla de Panay 3,636 0 13.5 Steel Cataluna 3,488 0 14.0 Steel City of Cadiz 3,0

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INTEREST IN THE WORKING OF MODERN WAR SHIPS.

The puzzle that was troubling every naval authority as well as every statesman in the civilized world, at the outbreak of the war between the United States and Spain, was what would be the results of a conflict at sea between the floating fortresses which now serve as battle-ships. Since navies reached their modern form there had been no war in which the test of the battle-ship was complete. Lessons might be learned and opinions formed and prophesies made from the action of battle-ships in the w

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HOW THE BIG GUNS ARE USED.

The 14-pounder, although not included in the navy armament, is given for the purpose of comparison, since it is with guns of this caliber that some of the Spanish torpedo-boat destroyers are armed. The largest gun as yet mounted on our largest torpedo-boats is the 6-pounder, while a single 1-pounder is the gun armament of the ordinary torpedo-boat. The Hotchkiss revolver cannon is not given in the table because its caliber, etc., is the same as that of the 1-pounder, and, in fact, the latter has

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CHAPTER XXXIX.

The North Atlantic Squadron Sent to Key West—Commodore Schley at Hampton Roads—The Voyage of the Oregon—The Camp at Chickamauga— Where the Initial Work of Mobilizing the Troops Was Done—Life at Camp Thomas—Life on the Famous Battle Field—Rendezvous at Fort Tampa—The Great Artillery Camp. Immediately following the action of Congress authorizing the President to call into service the army and navy of the United States, the North Atlantic squadron, under command of Captain Sampson, was mobilized at

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CHAPTER XL.

Grave Responsibilities Bravely Met—The Ultimatum to Spain—The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Sends Minister Woodford His Transports—Our Consuls in Cuba Leave the Island—Fate of Americans Left Behind—Spanish Spies at Work—Playing a Desperate Game. None but those who were close to the men at the head of our Government just prior to the commencement of the war with Spain can realize with what solicitude they watched the development of the preliminary proceedings. With full appreciation of thei

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CHAPTER XLI.

Capture of the LaFayette—The Government Orders Her Release— Towing Prizes Into Key West—The Spanish Set a Trap—The Vicksburg and the Morrill Take the Bait—The Spanish Gunners Poor Marksmen— Another Narrow Escape. Shortly after the proclamation of the blockade of Cuban ports a capture was made which threatened international complications. The French mail steamer LaFayette was held up almost under the guns of Morro Castle. The Annapolis hailed her in the harbor offing and receiving no answer but a

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CHAPTER XLII.

The Spanish Minister in Washington Demands His Passports— Minister Woodford Leaves Madrid—Formal Declaration of War—Our Government Declares Its Intentions—The War Feeling in Spain— Effect of the Declaration in Cuba—Opinion of the Vice-President of the Cuban Republic. Spain was given until Saturday, April 23, at noon, to answer the demand of our government expressed in, the joint Cuban resolutions, passed by both Houses of Congress, and signed by the President. In default of an answer by that tim

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CHAPTER XLIII.

Enthusiastic Answer to the Call—Requirements of the War Department—Who May Enlist—How the Army was Formed—In the Training Camps—The American Makes the Best Soldier—The "Rough Riders"—Cowboys and Society Men—Their Uniforms and Their Weapons—Their Fighting Leaders. If all the men who showed a desire to answer the call to arms had been accepted, no nation in the world could have boasted of a larger army. The demand was so limited and the supply so great that many more had to be refused than were ac

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CHAPTER XLIV.

Contraband of War—Confiscation of Cargoes—Establishment of a Blockade—Notice to Other Nations—Prizes, Lawful and Unlawful— Privateering Abolished—Distribution of Prize Money—The Use the Government Makes of Its Share. While the great blockade was in progress the air was full of talk about "prizes," "contraband," "search," and "seizure," and some of the terms proved rather puzzling to the average citizen who had never had occasion to study the rules of war. First about "contraband." It is one of t

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CHAPTER XLV.

Spain Threatened with Interior Difficulties—Danger that the Crown Might Be Lost to the Baby King of Spain—Don Carlos and the Carlists Are Active—Castelar Is Asked to Establish a Republic— General Weyler as a Possible Dictator—History of the Carlist Movement and Sketch of "the Pretender." While these events were in progress in the international relations of the United States and Spain, with a threat of a hopeless war hanging over the latter, the embarrassments of the government of the peninsular

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CHAPTER XLVI.

The Philippines Another Example of the Shocking Misgovernment of Spain's Outlying Possessions—Interesting Facts About the Philippines—Spanish Oppression and Cruelty—Manila, the Capital of the Islands—Manufactures and Trade of the Eastern Archipelago—Puerto Rico and Its History—The Products and People —Spirit of Insurrection Rife—The Colonies Off the Coast of Africa Where Spain Exiles Political and Other Offenders—The Canaries, Fernando Po and Ceuta. From the very beginning of our war with Spain

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CHAPTER XLVII.

Eagerness to Fight—Matanzas Bombarded—Weyler's Brother-in-law a Prisoner of War—The Situation in Havana—Blanco Makes a Personal Appeal to Gomez—The Reply of a Patriot—"One Race, Mankind"—The Momentum of War—Our Position Among Nations. The striking peculiarity at the commencement of the war was the general eagerness to fight. There have been wars in which there was much maneuvering and blustering, but no coming to blows. There have been campaigns on sea and land in which commanders exhausted the

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CHAPTER XLVIII.

The Eyes of the World Fixed on the First Great Naval Battle of Our War with Spain—Asiatic Waters the Scene of the Notable Conflict—Importance of the Battle in Its Possible Influence on the Construction of All the European Navies—Bravery of Admiral Dewey and the American Sailors of His Fleet—A Glorious Victory for the Star-Spangled Banner—Capture of Manila and Destruction of the Spanish Fleet. Seldom has the attention of all the world been so directed upon an expected event in a remote quarter of

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CHAPTER XLIX.

Location of the Islands—Their Population—Honolulu, the Capital and the Metropolis—Political History—The Traditional Policy of the United States—Former Propositions for Annexation— Congressional Discussion—The Vote in the House of Representatives—The Hawaiian Commission. A work of this character would be incomplete without mention of the Hawaiian Islands, and their intimate political and commercial connection with our own country. For many years prior to the commencement of the war with Spain the

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CHAPTER L.

The Bombardment of San Juan—The Engagement at Cardenas—The Voyage of the Oregon—The Battle at Guantanamo—Santiago Under Fire—Landing the Troops in Cuba—The Charge of the Rough Riders —The Sinking of the Merrimac—The Destruction of Cervera's Fleet— The Fall of Santiago. On the morning of May 12, a portion of the fleet, commanded by Admiral Sampson, made an attack on the forts of San Juan de Puerto Rico. The engagement began at 5:15 a. m. and ended at 8:15 a. m. The enemy's batteries were not sile

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CHAPTER LI.

General Miles' Landing at Ponce—The American Army Received with Cheers and Open Arms by the Native Puerto Ricans—News of Peace Stops a Battle and Brings Hostilities to a Close. The United States military expedition, under command of Major-General Nelson A. Miles, commanding the army of the United States, left Guantanamo bay on the evening of Thursday, July 21, and was successfully landed at the port of Guanica, island of Puerto Rico, on July 25. The ships left Guantanamo bay suddenly Thursday ev

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CHAPTER LII.

Landing of General Merritt at Manila—The German Fleet Warned by Admiral Dewey—The Ladrone Islands—Fierce Battle in Darkness and Storm—Foreign Warships Notified of the Attack—Combined Assault by Dewey and Merritt—The City Surrenders. In the meantime, far away in the Philippines, Admiral Dewey was sustaining the reputation he made at the outbreak of hostilities. After the battle of Manila there remained but three Spanish warships in Pacific waters. One of them was in dry dock at Hongkong and the t

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CHAPTER LIII

Spain Sues for Peace—President McKinley's Ultimatum—French Ambassador Cambon Acts on Behalf of Spain—The President's Proclamation—The Protocol—Spanish Losses in Men, Ships and Territory—Appointment of the Evacuation Committees and the Peace Commission. On Tuesday, July 26, the Spanish government took the first well defined step to bring about a cessation of hostilities. The French ambassador, accompanied by his secretary of embassy, called on President McKinley, and under instructions from his g

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