distinct war policy in advance of the declaration of war by
Congress. But at noon on Saturday the President issued the
following proclamation calling for 125,000 troops to serve two
years if the war should last so long:

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas, by a joint resolution of Congress, approved the 22d of
April, 1898, entitled "Joint resolution for the recognition of the
independence of the people of Cuba, demanding that the government
of Spain relinquish its authority and government in the island of
Cuba, to withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban
waters, and directing the President of the United States to use
the land and naval forces of the United States to carry these
resolutions into effect," and,

Whereas, by an act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for
the increasing of the military establishment of the United States
in time of war and for other purposes," approved April 22, 1898,
the President was authorized in order to raise a volunteer army to
issue his proclamation calling for volunteers to serve in the army
of the United States.

Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United
States, by the power vested in me by the constitution and laws,
and deeming sufficient occasion to exist, have thought fit to call
for and hereby do call for volunteers to the aggregate number of
125,000, in order to carry into effect the purpose of the said
resolution, the same to be apportioned, as far as practicable,
among the several States and Territories and the District of