Connecticut western news., 1898-04-28
WAR WITH SPAIN.
The HOstiIities Have Now AC
 tually Begun.
THE DUPLICITY OF SPAIN.
Message to Minister WOOdfOrd
 Withheld Many Hours.
WE ARE READY TO FIGHT.

The President Asks For 1a5, 900 Men For
 Service Against Spain In Cuba-Block-
 ade of Cuban Ports Ordered and
 Promptly Effected by the North Att
 lantic Squadron-war Formally De-
 cIared by Congress, and Its Action Ap-
 proved by the President.
 Washington, April 26.-The past week has been the most eventful in the his tory of the country since the days of the war of the rebellion. Momentous and stirring events have succeeded each other with startling rapidity until now war with all it's terrible possibilities and responsibilities is fully in progress.
 On Wednesday last the president sent to Madrid an ultimatum for trans- mission through Minister Woodford to the Spanish government. It was sent as an open cablegram. no cipher being used, and was received in Madrid at o'clock Wednesday evening. With char aeteristio Spanish duplicity the Madrid authorities caused the delivery of the message to be delayed, and it did not reach the American minister until aft CT noon on Thursday. Meanwhile the Spanish cabinet had prepared note to Minister Woodford rendering his pass ports before he had an opportunity to present the presidents ultimatum. This summary action was regard ed by the president and his advisers as tantamount to a declaration of war. Minister Woodford placed American in- terests in the hands of the British lega- tion and at once left for Paris amid the insults and imprecations of the Spanish people, the train bearing the American minister being stoned before it reached the French frontier. The ultimatum demanded that Spain should consent to abandon Cuba by Saturday noon.
 Senor Polo Bernabe, the Spanish minister at Washington, asked for his passports on Wednesday. which were promptly given him. He left for Cana da, placing the interests of Spain in charge of the French ambassador and the Austrian minister.
 The Blockade Ordered.
 On Thursday the president notified the representatives of all foreign coun- tries in Washington of his intention to blockade the ports of Cuba, and the north Atlantic squadron, under com mand of Rear Admiral Sampson, was ordered to Cuban waters for that pur- pose. Since that time the fleet has taken six Spanish merchant ships as prizes and has been fired upon from Morro castle, though no damage was done. The fire was not returned.
 On Friday Rear Admiral Sampson re- ported to the president that he had es- tablished an effective blockade of Ha- vana and nearly the entire northern coast of the island. On the same day the president issued a proclamation an- .s. H. T.
 On Saturday the president, in ac- cordance with an act of congress of the previous day. issued a proclamation calling for 125,000 volunteers for the army to serve in war against Spain.
 On Sunday of this week the admin, istration was informed that Spain had declared war against the United States.
 President Mckinley Monday sent a message to congress asking that a formal declaration of war be passed. This was done without opposition in ei- ther house, and the act of congress speedily received the executive approval which makes the United States at war with Spain in law as we'll as in fact.
 President Mckinley yesterday issued n proclamation making rules as to the seizure of prizes and defining the rights of Spanish ships. The postmaster gen. eral ordered that no more mails should be sent from the United States to Spain. Responses to the presidents call for volunteers were received from the gov ernor of nearly every state and terri tory. The offers were in excess of the demand.
 Notices were yesterday received at the state department from the four quarters of the globe showing that the nations, as a rule, are prepared to assume an attitude of strict neutrality as between the United States and Spain in the present struggle.
 Call For Volunteers.
 The following is the presidents call for 125,000 volunteers:
 Whereas By a joint resolution of con- gress approved on the 20th day of April, 1898. entitled Joint resolution for the rec ognition of the independence of the people of Cuba demanding that the government or Spain reiinquish It's authority and gov ernment in the island of Cuba and with draw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters, and directing the pres ident of the United States to use the land and naval forces of the United States to carry these resolutions into effect; and Whereas, By an act of congress. entitled
 An act to provide for temporarily in creasing the military establishment of the | United States in time of war and for other purposes. approved April % 1898. the ore sident is authorized in order to raise a volunteer army. to issue his proclamat' 'o9 calling for volunteers to serve in the arm Gf the United States.
 Now. thersfure. I. William McKinI Y. president of the United States by virtue of the power vested in me by the consttu- ton and the laws, and deemng sufficient occasion to exist, have thought fit to call for and hereby do call for volunteers to the aggregate number of 125. 900. in order to carry into effect the purpose of the said resolution. the same to be apportioned far as practicable among the several states and territories and the District of IfOll1nlbiu according nOnllatiDn. serve for two years unless sooner dis charged. The details for this object will be immediately communicated to the proper authorities through the war depart ment.