The American people were aroused. They demanded that the United States interfere in behalf of the suffering Cubans, who were fighting to be free. They were eager to take up arms for freedom and humanity. [Sidenote: =Battleship "Maine" blown up=] Indignation was brought to its highest pitch when, on February 15, 1898, the United States battleship _Maine_ was sunk in Havana Harbor, two hundred sixty of the crew perishing. What was the cause of the explosion has never been found out, but Americans then believed it to be the work of the Spaniards. [Sidenote: =War declared=] In April the United States demanded that the Spanish troops be taken from Cuba and the Cubans be given their independence. Spain was given three days in which to reply. She immediately declared war against the United States. [Sidenote: =Dewey destroys the Spanish fleet=] =183. A War for the Sake of Humanity.= The war had hardly begun before Admiral George Dewey destroyed the Spanish fleet and pounded to pieces the shore batteries in Manila Bay, Philippine Islands. Dewey, with his fleet, sailed under orders from Hong-kong, China, entered the bay, and did his work without the loss of a man. This deed made him the naval hero of the war. [Sidenote: =California volunteers lead in numbers=] Thousands of men, North and South, rallied to the call of President McKinley. The states of the far West responded with noble enthusiasm. California, largest in population and wealth, led in the number of its volunteers. [Illustration: SCENE OF THE SPANISH WAR IN THE PHILIPPINES] [Sidenote: ="Rough Riders" win fame=] The land forces in Cuba were under the command of General Shafter. They stormed El Caney and San Juan and marched on Santiago. But the "Rough Riders," a regiment raised from the mountains and plains, attracted the most attention. Colonel Leonard Wood had command of them, aided by Theodore Roosevelt. When Wood was made a general, Roosevelt became their colonel, and fought through the war with them. [Sidenote: =Spanish fleet in Santiago Harbor=] A large fleet sent from Spain under Admiral Cervera had kept out of the way of the American fleet under Rear-Admiral Sampson and Commodore Schley and was now hidden in Santiago Harbor. When the Americans captured El Caney and San Juan, the Spanish admiral decided that Santiago would soon be in American hands. To escape being taken prisoner he made a bold dash from the harbor. [Illustration: THE BATTLE OF MANILA BAY] [Sidenote: =Cervera's fleet destroyed=] The American naval forces were on the watch, and soon the entire Spanish fleet was destroyed or captured--July 3, 1898. [Sidenote: =Treaty of peace signed=] The occupation by the Americans of the city of Manila, in the Philippines, in August (1898), brought peace proposals from Spain. These were accepted, the treaty being signed on the tenth of December. [Sidenote: =The Philippines bought for twenty million dollars=]