Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-04-28

involved in thus increasing the army,
regular and volunteer, has caused Gen.
Miles to abandon his Southern trip for
the present
The officials of the department were
overwhelmed to-day with all sorts OF
protests and appeals against their
action in making the assignments OF
troops among the volunteer forces and
many changes may be looked for.
The State Department posted a
notice to-day stating it had been OH
cially advised of the issuance OF neu-
trality. orders by Italy, the Neither
lands, Switzerland, Norway and Swe-
den. Russia and Colombia. To these
should be added Great Britain, that
country having issued a neutrality
proclamation, although the State De-
partment has not yet been ofilclaily
advised of the fact 1t is supposed
also that the official notice of France
neutrality will be received by to-mor-
row, as press dispatches announce that
a proclamation was agreed upon at
Yesterdays cabinet council at Paris.
Up to tonight, however, the French
ambassador. NJ. Cambon, had not re-
ton
Including France, four out OF the SIX
great powers of Europe have declared
their neutrality. namely, Great Brit
ain, France. Italy and Russia. lhere
remains of the great powers. Germany
and Austria, neither Of which have yet
acted The delay of Austria does not
cause surprise, as Austria S sympathy
with Spain is more pronounced than
that of any other country of Europe
1t is not doubted, however, that Aus
tria will assume neutral attitude
sooner or later. The delay of Germany
is felt to be due solely to Germanys
consulting her own commercial inter-
ests before shaping the exact terms OF
her neutrality proclamation. From
the first Germany and Great Britain
have opposed the right of search
AS DETRIMENTAL TO COMMERCE.
Thus far Spain has announced much
more radical doctrine than the United
States on this matter. The Spanish or
Ger published in the official gazette last
Monday announced the purpose OF eX-
ercising the right of search OF all
merchant ships on the high seas. The
Presidents proclamation CT yesterday
qualified the right of search by saying
that it lis to be exercised with strict
regard to the right of neutrals and the
voyages of mail steamers are not to be
interfered with except on the clearest
ground Of suspicion, etc.
Ii is understood that this matter OF
right of search is causing the hesita-
ton on the part of Germany, and that
if it is satisfactorily established that
German merchant ships shall not be
subject to harrassment, Germany Will
adopt the same course as other nations.
The action already taken by four OF
the six great powers shows there Will
be no concert of interference.
The attitude of Portugal is felt to be
more important just at present than
that of any of the great powers OF Eu-
rope. owing to the presence of the Span
ish fleet at the Cape Verde Islands, be-
longing to Portugal Neither the State
Department nor the Portuguese minis
ter at Washington, Viscount de Santo-
Thyrso, had received word up TO to-
night. as to the purpose of Portugal on
the question of neutrality. This caused
considerable apprehension in official
circles here as it was felt that Portu-
gals vicinage to Spain might induce
her to withhold neutrality for the pres
emit. She owns the Cape Verde groupe,
the Azores and the Madeiras, which
would give the Spanish fleet three very
important bases of operation Late in
the day press dispatches from Lisbon
says that the cabinet council would de-
clare neutrality tomorrow relieved this
apprehension considerably. The effect
Of the decree will be to
COMPEL THE SPANISH FLEET AT
CAPE VERDE
to leave Immediately. 1t is felt, how
ever. that Portugal has done her neigh
Dor a good turn in deferring the pro-
clamation until tomorrow, as the Span
ISL fleet has been laying in stores and
coal for several days past, and doubt
less will be fully equipped and ready
TO sail before the neutrality proclama-
ton forces them out of Portuguese
waters.
Colombia is the only South or Cen
trail American republic which has thus
far declared neutrality Spain has
counted much ON the cooperation of
Spanish-American countries, but there
is no reason to doubt that all of them
will adopt a neutral position
Members of the diplomatic corps dis
miss the report coming from Europe
that another move toward European in
tervention will be made as soon as
Spain suffers decisive reverse. This
is said to be purely conjectural, as no
such move has taken form thus far by
the exchange OF notes 1t is accepted
as settled that no more ships intended
for the American navy can leave the
ports of those countries which have de-
clared their neutrality. This result is
most serious in the case of the cruiser
Albany, now at the Armstrong yards,