Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 December 1898 — WAR WAS EXPECTED. [ARTICLE]

WAR WAS EXPECTED.

ORDERS NOW MADE PUBLIC PROVE THIS TO BE TRUE. ‘ Preparations Began Early in January for the Conflict Which Seemed Probable if Not Inevitable —An Unusually Disastrous Season on the Lakes. Despite the vigorous denials made at the time, it is now a matter of public record that the United States Government became convinced at least as long ago as the first day of January, 1898, that war with Spain was probable, if not fhevitable. During all the period from the meeting of Congress in December until the actual declaration of war the President and his advisers, in spite'of thelf reiterated belief in a peaceful solution of the difficulty. were steadily preparing for Actual hostilities, and this, too, long before the Maine was blown up. Official dispatches have been made public which establish this fact completely. In January Admiral Selfridge was in command of the Europearf station, and on Jan. 11, 1898, he was instructed to retain his sailors in spite of the expiration of enlistment. Five days later the gunboat Helena, at Funchal. Madeira, which had been ordered to the Asiatic station, received orders marked “secret and confidential,” to delay its departure, and the next day it was ordered to Lisbon. At the same time Captain Chester, in command of the South Atlantic squadron, received a confidential dispatch directing him. to announce unofficially that the cruisers Cincinnati and Castine would go to the northern boundary of his station for drill and exercise, then proceed to Para. Brazil, “without causing comment.” The same day, Which was Jan. 17, the Wilmington, at Guadeloup, received instructions canceling its orders to go. to South America,‘(gid retaining it in the Windward Islands without touching at Spanish ports. Commodore Dewey, at Yokohama, as early as Jan. 27 was instructed to disregard enlistments and keep his sailors. The Maine was blown up Feb. 15; ten days later Theodore Roosevelt sent to Dewey the first warlike dispatch, which read: “Secret and confidential: Order the squadron, except Monocacy, to Hong Kong, Keep full of coal, Iq the event of declaration of war with Spain your duty will be to see that the Spanish squadron does not leave the Asiatic coast, and then begin offensive operations in the Philippine Islands. Keep Olympia until further orders.” The Monocacy was practically useless and the Olympia was under orders to return home. At this time Secretary Long was giving out interviews daily affirming that the Maine was destroyed by accident and that there was no danger of war. Yet the day after Roosevelt’s stirring dispatch to Dewey Secretary Long sent dispatches to Chester in the Barbadoes, Miller at Honolulu, Howell at Lisbon. Dewey at Hong Kong and Sicard at Key West, all of which read significantly: “Keep full of coal—the best that can be had.” March 7, six weeks before the declaration of war, in ordering the Brooklyn to Hampton Roads to leave the flying squadron, Secretary Long used the unusual expression: “The situation is getting worse.” April 7, a little over two weeks before the declaration of war, Commodore Dewey was cabled: “Land all woodwork, stores, etc., it is not considered necessary to have for operation”—an order which, of course, contemplated nothing less than an attack on the Philippines. Three days before that Admiral Sampson at Key West had been instructed to be ready at any time to take possession of the Key West cable office, and assigned an officer to stop the transmission to Cuba of any telegram relating to the action of the President, or Congress. The destruction of the Maine hurried things along, but the United States, it appears, was preparing for a war without exciting comment long before that terrible catastrophe.