For three weeks the Maine lay rocking at anchor. Then on the night
of 15th February, 1898, while every one on board was peacefully
sleeping the vessel was blown up, and two hundred and sixty-six
men and officers were killed.
When the people of the United States heard the news a wave of anger
passed over the land. But the President was calm.
"Wait," he said, "wait till we know how it happened."
So grimly the people waited until experts made an examination. What
they found made them believe that the Maine had been attacked from
outside. There seemed no doubt that the Spaniards had blown up the
vessel although they indignantly denied having had anything to do
with it.
Now there was no holding the people, and very shortly war was
declared. It was short and sharp. In less than four months it was
all over. On land and sea the Spaniards were hopelessly beaten,
while in the whole campaign the Americans lost scarcely five hundred
men in battle, although more than twice that number died of disease.
The war was fought not only in the West Indies but also in the
Pacific. For there Spain possessed the Philippine Islands. These
islands had been in the possession of Spain ever since their discovery
by Magellan more than three hundred and fifty years before, and
they had been called the Philippines after King Philip II of Spain.
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