Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-04-28
STRICT NEUTRALITY.
Rapidly Settling Down to the Con-
ditions of Actual War.
THE NATIONS WILL HOLD HANDS OFF.
May be Declared No ~Prize-Consuls All
Safe-Secretary Sherman Resigna-
tion-The Volunteer Army-Re-
fused to Accept Resignation.

-
WASHINGTON, April 27.-Conditions
In Washington " rapidly settling
down to those Of actual war. Notices
came to the state department from the
four quarters of the globe yesterday
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 strug-
gle. In most cases they were in an
swer to the identical note sent ont
Monday by the state department to all
United States embassies and legations
~instructing them to inform the govern
ments to which they were accredited
that war has existed since April 81.
England's Neutrality Proclamation.
Great Britain has always taken an
advance stand in the principles of
neutrality, so that it was with great
interest that the news was received
here of the terms of the neutrality
proclamation issued in London.
On the whole, the officials are dis
posed to take the view that the strict
adherance by Great Britain to these
rules will be rather more advantageous
to the United States than to Spain,
particularly as we now are operating,
In the naval sense, close to our own
base of supplies, and in all probability
soon will cut Spain off from the two
bases that she now has in the neigh
borhood of Cuba
Rules Governing the Seizure of Prizes.
The president issued a proclamation
during the day, laying down rules as
to seizure of prizes, and the result, it
is believed, will be the release of some
Of the ships already captured, though
it will be for the prize courts TO de-
termine in each case whether the con-
ditions under which the ships were
captured are such as to warrant re-
lease.
The impression prevails that the
Buena Ventura, the first on the list of
prizes, will be declared nc prize. The
case of the Panama, whose seizure was
reported yesterday, is more compli-
Gated, owing to the fact that while
otherwise exempt, the ship was re-
ported to have contained supplies for
the Spanish army in Cuba, which are
contraband. However, it may be said
that while the settlement of these
questions will be left t o the courts, the
administration believes the greatest
liberality should be shown in the ap-
p~lication of the laws where a vessel is
not contraband, or attempting to run
the blockade. That is shown in the
liberal terms Of the proclamation it
self, by which the prize courts must
be guided.
1t is noted, also, that the admins
tration has not been deferred by any
criticism in congress from again for
mally pledging its elf to the nations of
the world to refrain from privateering
and abide by the declaration Of Paris
of 1856.
United States ConsuIs All Safe.
So far as is known all the United
States consuls have made their way
safely out of Spain. Consul Fay at
Dania, has reported to the department
from Lisbon; Consul Bowen at BARGE
iona from Paris, and Consul Carol at
Cadiz, and Consul Bartelem at Malaga,
from Gibraltar. The department has
assured itself that the others are safe.
Secretary sherman's Resignation.
Secretary Sherman retired finally
yesterday from the position of secre-
tary of state, and his successor was
confirmed in the person of Judge Day.
John Bassett Moore undoubtedly will
be confirmed to-day in Judge Days
place. The latter is expected to return
to Washington in about two days time.
The army reorganization bill became
. law during the day, and the var de-
partment officials have begun to de-
wise the best means of carrying out
the purposes of the act, which will re-
suit in an increase of the regular army
to more than 10000 men.
Organization of the Volunteer Army.
In the war department preparations
went on with ceaseless energy for
the organization of the volun-
teer army. All the officers were
detailed who are to be sent to the
various states and territories to muster
the guardsmen into the service Of the
United States. The plans for the full
organization of the army were also
perfected.
To provide officers for the regular
army, and volunteers, Secretary Alger
ordered the assignment to duty of all
the cadets at the West Point military
academy, who would in the ordinary
course of events have graduated in
June.
Anxious for News from the Blockading
Squadron.
The greatest anxiety was shown at
the navy department for news from
the blockading squadron. Notwith-
standing the frequent reports that
come from two unofficial sources of en-
gagements between the feet and the
shore batteries, no word of confirma-
ton came officially.
The Prizes Seized by the FIeet-Want to
Go to the Front.
The three prizes reported yesterday
70 have been seized by the feet were
not referred to in the official dis
patches, but the press reports of the
seizures were received with the great
est satisfaction by the officers of the
department, who, in some cases, did
not hesitate to declare their envy of
their fortunate brother officers with
the feet. In fact, 1t is becoming very
hard for Secretary Long to retain in
the service of the department the
officers who are absolutely required, in
view of their earnest desire to go to
the front. A few days ago, for in
stance, Commodore Bradford, chief of
the equipment bureau. rendered his