The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-23
FORMALNOTICE
THAT THE UNITED STATES is
BLocKADING PORTS OF CUBA.
Proclamation Issued by President
Mckinley Giving Fair Warning 20
All Nations of the world.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT STEP
IDENTICAL NOTE SENT TO REPRE-
sENTATIvEs OF THE POWERS,
Informing Them that This Country
VIII Respect the Agreement as to
Privnteers and NeutraIs.
VOLUNTEER BILL SIGNED
AS WAS ALSO THE MEASURE PRO-
HIBITING EXPORT OF COAL.
-A--
Meeting of the Cabinet and Confer
cnccs at the White House-No Dec
IaratiOn of War Yet Issued.
Informing Them that This Country
| VIII Respect the Agreement as to
Privnteers and NeutraIs.
VOLUNTEER BILL SIGNED
AS WAS ALSO THE MEASURE PRO-
HIBITING EXPORT OF COAL.
Meeting of the Cabinet and Confer
IaratiOn of War Yet Issued.
Yesterdays DEVELOPMENTS.


The North Atlantic squadron has
begun the blockade of Cuban
ports, Rear Admiral Sampson and
the greater portion of his feet
having sailed from Key West early
Friday morning for that purpose.
1t is not known whether the
squadron is at Havana or Matan-
zas, but 1T is believed to be some
where off the coast of Cuba. A
Havana newspaper says: "The
war ships of the United States
have commenced to execute the
ignObIe crime deereed by WASH
ingtOn, namely, the blockade of
Havana
The President has issued a proc
lamatiOn notifying all nations
that the United States has begun a
blockade of Cuban ports. Neutral
vessels which attempt to run the
blockade after being warned by
the officer in command Of our
forces Will be captured and treat
ed according to the laws govern
ing prize ships. All neutral ves-
the eDIOckade will be given thirty
days to leave. The proclamation,
though not a Reclamation of war,
is virtually an announcement to
the world that war between Spain
and the United States exists. 1t
was issued in accordance with the
act of Congress directing the Pres
ident to force Spain to evacuate
Cuba. An identical note was ad-
dressed to the representatives of
all the powers, stating that this
country would respect the Paris
decIa ration i'm regard to priva-
teeFing and search of neutral
ships. The President signed the
volunteer bill and the resolution
providing for an embargo on coal
and other cOntraband articles.
The first shot of the war was
fired Friday morning and the first
capture of q vessel sailing under
the enemy's flag effected at the
same time. While the Key West
feet was proceeding to Cuba a
Spanish merchant steamer was
sighted. The guhbOat Nashville
ordered her to stand to by firing a
solid shot across her bow. She
paid no attention to the command,
and a second solid shot was fired
closer to the ship. The steamer,
which proved to- be the Buena
Ventura, of Bilbao, Spain, with
crew CT twenty-eight men, then
surrendered. She had 81 cargo of
lumber, and was bound from Pas
cagOuIa, Miss, to Rotterdam.
prize crew was put aboard the
Spaniard, and she was taken to
Key West. The capture of two
more ships was reported late last
night.
Now that war has begun, wild
rumOrs are given great currency.
1t was reported last night that a
monitor had an engagement with
a Spanish gunbOat off the coast of
Florida. A fisherman told the
story. 1t was also rumOred that
the cruiser Topeka had been sunk
in collision with N bark, that the
cruiser San Francisco had been
blown up, that IL Spanish war snip
larry cruiser Paris would be
chased by one of the enemy's fast
vessels.
when the steamer Rio JaneirO
left Honolulu on the 18th inst. a.
rumor was current that the United
states was about to take possess
sion of the Hawaiian islands for a
coaling station. Friends eff an
nexatiOn AIT Washington hope the
rumOr is true, and say the seizure
of the islands would be justified
owing to their strategic impor-
tance. President Mckinley is re-
ported to have sounded" senator's
as to the wisdom of taking both
the Philippine and Hawaiian ISL
ands. The story, however, is dis
credited by those who ought to
know.
Gen. Stewart L.. WoodfOrd, late
minister of the United States at
Madrid, has reached Paris in safe
ty. Before he arrived at the from
tier the Spanish police at
tempted to arrest his private see
retary, Mr.. MOrena, but the gem
ernI asserted he was under the
protection of the British flag, and
the police officials were forced to
retreat. At one place the train
was attacked by n mob and the
window of the generals coach
broken with stones.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
wASHINGToN. Al 4 22.-The President:
that he had directed block
ade of the more important Cuban ports may
be said to be the first blow of the war. The
blockade was followed almost immediately
by the seizure Of lumber vessel carrying