Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-12-23
WAR WITH SPAIN
The Administration Knew In Janu-
arY that It Was Inevitable.
Official Dispatches Published WhichWere
Sent to the Commanders of the
Naval Squadrons.

by Associated Press 10 the journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.-Despite
the vigorous denials made at the time,
IL Is now a matter of public record
that President McKinley's admins.
tsatlon became convinced at least as
long ago as The lst day Of January
that war with Spain was probable, If
not Inevitable. Official dispatches
have just been made public which
establish this fact completely.
In January, Admiral SeIfridge was
10 command Of the European station,
and January IL, 1898, he was in
structed to retain his sailors in spite
OF the expiration Of enlistment.
Five days later the gunboat Helena
at Funchai, Madeira, which had been
ordered TO the Aslatic station, received
orders marked 'secret aud contiden-
tial" tn delay its departure, aud the
next day II was ordered TO Lisbon.
AT the same time Captain Chester,
ln commad OF the South Atlantic
squadron, received a confidential dis
patch directing him to announce un-
officially that the cruisers Cincinnati
and Castlne would 20 to the Northern
station for drill aud exercise, then
proceed TO Para, Brazil, "without
causing comment"
The same day, which was January
IL the Wilmington, at Guadaloupe,
received instructions cancellng It's
orders ogo to South America, and
retaining 1t in the Windward islands
without touching at Spanish port.
Commodore Dewey, at Yokohoma,
as early as January q, was instructed
to disregard enllstments and keep
his sailors, The Maine was blown up
February Is; 10 days later Theodore
Roosevelt sent TO Dewey the first war
like dispatch OF the administration
which read:
"Secret aud confidential, Order
the squadron, except Monocacy, TO
Hong Kong. Keep full Of coal. In
the event or declaration OF war with
Spain your duty will be to see that
the Spanish squadron does not leave
the Asiatic coast, aud then begin
offensive operations 10 the Philippine
Islands. Keep olympia until further
orders"
The Monocacy was practically use
less, and the Olympia was under
orders 10 return home,
The day after Ronsevelt's stirring
dispatch to Dewey, Secretary Long
sent dispatches TO Chester, In the
Barbados; Miller, at Honolulu;
Howell, at Lisbon; Dewey, at Hong
Kong; and Sicard, at Key West, all
Of which read Significantly:
keep full Of coal-the best that
can be had"
March I, six weeks before the de-
claration OF war, In ordering the
Brooklyn to Hampton Roads TO leaye
the flying squadron, Secretary Long
nsed the unusual expression:
The situation Is getting worse"
April 7, a little over two weeks be-
fore the declaration Of war, Com
modOre Dewey was cabled;
Land all woodwork, stores, ETC., IL
Is necess ary TO have for operation
10 order whlca, Of course, contemp-
ated nothing less than an attack en-
yhe Philippines.
Three days before that Admiral
Sampson, at Key West, had been in
structed TO be ready at any time to
Jake possession OF the Key West cable
lfiice, aud assigned an officer TO stop
.he transmission TO Cuba OF any tele-
gram relating TO the action OF the
president or congress.
These official dispatches show very
clearly that war was inevitable.