Evening journal., 1898-04-22
WOODFORD LEAVESSPAIN
Spanish Senators Are Promising I'M
possible Victories.
THE AMERICAN EAGLE TORN DOWN
Riotous Demonstrations In the Spanish
Capital, In Which the Police and the
Civil Governor Join--The Spanish
Fleet stnI Mt Cape Verde.

tlect Still Mt Cape verde.
WASHINGTON, April 22.-war be-
tween the United States and Spain Is a
fact. though not yet officially declared
80 by congress.
The stirring events OF Wednesday
were succeeded yesterday with rapidlty
by others OF equal Importance. culmi-
mating In the afternoon in orders for
the departure OF the north Atlantic
squadron for Havana. This practically
IS an act of war. so that the war be-
tween this country and Spain may fair
ly be said TO date from April 2f Two
minutes after the opening Of the state
department yesterday morning came
word from Minister WoOdford that the
Spanish government, having anticipated
and prevented his intention to present
the presidents ultimatum, he had ask
cd for his passports. The administra-
tion In public statement announced
that Il regarded the action of the Span
Ssh government as rendering unneces-
sary further diplomatic action on the
part OF the United States and further
stated that IL regarded the course
adopted by Spain as one placing upon
that country the responsibility for the
breach of friendly relations. Mr.. Wood
ford's cablegram resulted In the calling
of a special cabinet meeting TO arrange
and outline a plan OF campaign, or
rather to determine how TO begin the
execution Of the plan of campaign al
ready prepared by the strategic boards
OF the army and navy departments. The
immediate result was the order for the
north Atlantic squadron to begin the
blockade OF Havana. How much fur
ther than this the cabinet progressed In
its deliberations IL Is not possible to
say, for the obvious reason that the
time has now come when the interests
OF the government require that the
movements Of ships and troops should
be guarded with the greatest care from
undue publicity in order to prevent the
enemy from taking advantage Of the in
formation.
The north Atlantic squadron, under
Captain SIMPSONS command, makes a
splendid array OF fine vessels compris-
ing batteships such as the Iowa and
Indiana; monitors like the Puritan. Ter
ror and Amphitrite; armored cruisers
like the New York (nagship) protect
ed cruisers such as the Cincinnati Mar
blehead and Montgomery; gunboats like
the Vicksburg. Wilmington and Anap-
oils; regular torpedo boats such as the
Ericsson. Cushing, Wlnslow and the
like and not 10 speak of the large num-
Der OF fast yachts and other vessels
that have been added 10 the fleet by
purchase. This force is quite competent
10 blockade all the ports I'm Cuba, or at
least all the ports connecting by rail
with Havana and so likely to be used
TO supply that place, I'm the event of
siege, with food and munitions of war.
This statement is TO be taken with the
understanding that It does not contem-
plate the coming to Cuban waters Of
the Spanish fleet. In such case, how
ever, the probable policy would be to
abandon the blockade and endeavor to
force the Spanish fleet TO battle.
Minister Woodford's action yesterday,
as reported TO the state department in
late telegram. indicated that he was
following a carefully prepared pro-
grammo. A significant feature of his
message was the statement that the
Spanish government notified him that
II regarded its withdrawal Of Minister
Polo Wednesday as terminating diplo-
matte negotiations, showing that II was
not disposed to accept the expressed in
tention Of our government 70 continue
Mr. Woodford as a medium OF commu-
nieation until Saturday noon. Mr..
Woodford also announced that he had
instructed Consul General Bowen at
Barcelona to caIse all the American
consuls in Spain TO Immediately with
draw from the country He further
stated that he had Informed the Span
ish government after asking for his
passports that he had placed the Amer
ican legation in Madrid and American
Interests In Spain generally in the hands
Of the British embassy. The embassa-
dor Right Hon. Sir Henry Drummond
Woln, is not at present Ia Madrid so
American interests viii be connded 10
the British charge, Sir George G. l..
Bonham, Bart. To all intents and pur-
poses this relieves the state department
from further negotiations as to cuba.
save those relating 20 privateerlng. nCu-
trality observances and the like IL was
found necessary 70 frame notice IN
the powers of the intention Of our gov-
ernment 70 establish a blockade of Ha-
Nana, a notification required hy inter-
national law
The navy department yesterday. aside
from giving the orders TO the SQUADRON
continued the work of adding TO the
navy and purchased another shin M
Norfolk as an auxiliary craft ard some
small yachts The news of the actual
beginning OF war was received with
gravity at the department. and there
were many speculations as 10 the desti-
nation of the Spanish squadron one
suggestion was that il is headline TO
cut Off the fine battleship Oregon now on
her way from the Pacific coast around
TO join Captain Simpsons command.
There Is also some fear that the Oregon
may be taken at an unfair advantage
without knowledge OF the existence OF
war BY the Spanish torpedo destroyer
Temmerire, which Is now lying a;
Buenos Ayres. Possibly with a view 10
avoiding conflict in the straits of
Magellan, where she would be at a
disadvantage. the Oregon has been or
dered TO go around Cape Horn.
Relative 60 the news that comes from