--- 186
Number of bodies not recovered:
Officers 1
Enlisted men and marines 73
--- 74

The work of recovery was continued until April 6, when the wrecking tugs
were withdrawn, and nothing is now being done in that direction so far
as is known; and the last bodies reported as recovered were sent to Key
West on the 30th ultimo. No estimate has been made of the portions of
bodies which were recovered and buried. The large percentage of bodies
not recovered is due, no doubt, to the fact that the men were swinging
in their hammocks immediately over that portion of the vessel which was
totally destroyed.

A.S. CROWNINSHIELD,

_Chief of Bureau_.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, April 25, 1898_.

_To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of
America_:

I transmit to the Congress, for its consideration and appropriate
action, copies of correspondence recently had with the representative of
Spain in the United States, with the United States minister at Madrid,
and through the latter with the Government of Spain, showing the action
taken under the joint resolution approved April 20, 1898, "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 and 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 in to effect."[7]

Upon communicating to the Spanish minister in Washington the demand
which it became the duty of the Executive to address to the Government
of Spain in obedience to said resolution, the minister asked for his
passports and withdrew. The United States minister at Madrid was in turn
notified by the Spanish minister for foreign affairs that the withdrawal
of the Spanish representative from the United States had terminated
diplomatic relations between the two countries, and that all official
communications between their respective representatives ceased
therewith.

I commend to your especial attention the note addressed to the United
States minister at Madrid by the Spanish minister for foreign affairs
on the 21st instant, whereby the foregoing notification was conveyed.
It w