The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-27
WE ARE AT WAR.
Notice Served on Powers by This Govern
ment.

Washington, April 26.-The following
| note was sent to the Powers today:
Department of State,
| April 20, 1898.
A Joint resolution of Congress, approved
April 10. directed intervention Tor the
pacification and independence OF the
island of Cuba. The Spanish government
on April 2lst. informed our minister at
| Madrid that it considered this resolutlon
equivalent to a declaration OF war, ana
that it had accordingly Withdrawn lts
minis tar from Washington ana oerml-
mated all diplomatic relations congress
has therefore by an act approved today de-
clared that state of war exists petWeeh
| the two countries since and lnciuolng
! April 81. You will inform the govern
ment to which you are accredlteu, So ona'
| its neutrality may be assured In tne EXIST
ing war.
| (Signed) SHERMAN.
| Responses have already begun to how
in. First among all neutrals to take cog
nizance OF the situation and OF the exisg-
ence of a state of war are the BRUSH
colonies 1t may not be of q particular
significance, yet it goes in a measure TO
support the contention of this government
that war actually existed before Ine
declaration by Congress yesterday, tnag
the British colonies in cases have acted
and made their proclanations OF neuGrall-
ty in advance of action by Congress. mus
it happens that the British government
Of the Strait settlemr mt at Singapore IS
sued its proclamation yesterday afternoon.
The news was contained in a cablegram
to the State Department from Consul
Pratt at Singapore, received at 2. 40 yes
| terday afternoon. The State Department.
officials i iI have taken note Of the semi M !
effect that that nation will not at present
issue neutrality proclamation. They
are not very much concerned, however,
| believing that any advantage to be gained
by Germany RETAINING from adopting
the usual course in this respect will be
rather technical than practical. Certain
y all OF the advantages to be reaped by
the United States from an enforcement OF
the German neutrality law will be
claimed by our government and it is not
doubted that the laws will be put into
operation In Germany whether or not
Proclamation is issued at this time.
The naval officials have noted with
some disquiet the fact that the Spanish
fleet at Cape de Verde, before leaving
under orders from the Portuguese govern
ment, made heavy purchases of supplies
there. These were of the most varied de-
scrlpt1on, such as medicine and miscel-
laneous goods for which, in ordinary
times, the fleet could as easily have waited
unGll IL reached Spanish port There
fore. it is suspected that the purchases
show purpose on the part Of the Spanish
admiral to start on long cruise. A
suggestion made in this connection
is that the Spanish fleet may make direct
ly for the Philippines by way of the Cape
of Good Hope to attack Commodore
Dewey's squadron, which it would far ex-
coed in strength. The Suez canal being
closed under neutral laws to warships OF
belligerents, there would be nothing to
do in this case, but to send some of Adj
miral Simpsons ships on a long stern
chase after the Spanish feet, or to in
struct Admiral Dewey to repair to home
waters.
Among thu naval orders this morning
was one detaching Commander Elmer
from the charge of the mosquito fotilla
and calling into service retired officer
in the person of Rear Admiral Erben to
take charge of this fiotilla. Captain
Bartlett, retired, has been called to the
department to take charge of the intelli-
gence office in place of Commander
Richardson Glover, who is to command
the Bancroft. Lieut.. Niblack, naval at
tache at Berlin has been relieved of duty
there by another retired officer, Conn
mander r.. N. Barber.
Five retired officers in this case, all
young men, and juniors have been called |
into service to help the navigation bureau.