War Fever

Insurgents and loyalists would fight each other for control of Cuba, an the Spanish military under orders from Madrid, were battling to keep the richest jewel in the Spanish Empire from gaining complete independence. Spain was a bankrupt power; it's armed forces and economy stretched to contend with the problems in the Philippines as well as in the Caribbean. The US administration could see a chance in forcing the Spaniards' hands in relinquishing control in both regions and McKinley turned all his attention to the crisis. The American people now, with photographs of starving children, victims of the Reconcentration Order, in their daily papers, had a strong sense of indignation at what they saw as typical Spanish cruelty.

In the press, from pulpits and on political platforms Spain became the pariah of the American people. As one gesture to try to defuse some of the ill-feeling now running between the two powers, both sides agreed to send simultaneous visits by a single naval vessel to fly the flag of friendship. The USS Maine (at left) was to sail for Havana, while the Spanish cruiser Vizeaya was to anchor up in New York harbour.

On the 15th February, as the Vizeaya rounded Sandyhook, Havana was rocked by a fearful explosion. In the middle of the night the Maine had exploded with over two-thirds of the crew losing their lives. The calls of foul-play were at first tempered by the US Navy and the President's Office. An enquiry was announced by the Americans, who were to allow the Spanish authorities to participate.

Blanco had to be content with the scant details his officers could collate secondhand, as the US Navy refused his divers access around the wreck in Havana harbour. Predictably, the results were found in favour of sabotage, a belief in the ship's forward magazine detonated by a mine placed beneath the ship, and Spanish collusion was suspected, if not by actual deed, then by negligence.

War Message

In April, McKinley fronted Congress with his 'War Message' and within a week they had passed the Joint Resolution that approved military intervention. Admiral Sampson with the US North Atlantic Squadron began a blockade of western Cuba on 22nd April, and on the following day, 23rd April 1898, Spain recognized formally that it was in a state of war with the United States. The Cape Verdes Squadron of the Spanish Navy, under Admiral Cervera left for the Caribbean on the 29th, arriving at Santiago on the l9th May.

For the US, McKinley's call for Army volunteers had been met with overwhelming support from all quarters including Theodore Roosevelt raising his own regiment known officially as the First United States Volunteer Cavalry, but unofficially as the Rough Riders. Millionaire heiresses pledged thousands of dollars for the War Department. Contractors worked around the clock to complete supply orders and National Guardsmen volunteered to participate on overseas service, occasionally whole regiments at a time.

Elsewhere on the 1st May, Commodore G. Dewey took his US Squadron into Manila Bay in the Philippines and sunk the Spanish Squadron there, and on the 21st, other US Naval elements capured Guam. Throughout May, the American Army forming as Corps throughout the US mainland had undergone selection procedures for the tropical climates expected, dismissing those volunteers who were judged unfit and with the rest, basic rudimentary drill. Certain senior staff were having doubts that the military machine was running just a little too fast. Plans were drawn up laid out and received McKinley's approval.

General William R. Shafter issued assembly orders for the Fifth Corps, frequently referred to as the American Expeditionary Force and set off from Tampa on the 14th June, 1898. The embarkation itself had been a confused, badly managed affair, complete with a near collision off the Florida coast between two troop ships, but luck was with the Americans and the A.E.F. moved towards its goal, the city of Santiagode, Cuba.

US Campaign for Santiago Continued

Part I: Background
Part III: Send in the Marines and AEF
Part IV: Las Guasimas
US Campaign for Santiego Map
Order of Battle

This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com