The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-22
THE FIRST CALL FOR
VOLUNTEERS WILL BE
RESTRICTED TO THE
NATIONAL GUARD

OinlO ~ iHE
NATIONAL GUARD
The Call by the President will be for 100, 900
Men.-The President Authorized at His Dis
cretion to prohibit the Export Of Coal or Other
Material used in War From any Seaport of
the United States Unless Otherwise Ordered
by Congress The Volunteer Army, and The
Sundry Civil Bills Passed by The Senate.
Washington, ID. c., April 21.War be-
tween the United States and Spain is Il
fact though not yet Officially declared 50
by Congress.
The stirring events of Yesterday were
succeeded to-day with rapidity by others
of equal importance, eliminating in the
afternoon in orders for The departure
or the atlantic squadron FOR Hayana
This practically is an act Of war, SO that
war between this country and Spain
may be fairly said to date from to-day,
April u, 1893. Two minutes after the
opening of the State Department this
morning word came from Minister
WOndford that the Spanish government
having anticipated and prevented his in
tention TO present the Presidents ulti-
matum. he had asked for his passports.
The administration in public state
ment announced that it regarded the
action of the Spanish government rs
rendering unnecessary further diplomatic
action on the part of the United States,
and further stated that it regarded the
course adopted by Spain as one placing
upon that country the responsibility. for
the breach of unfriendly relations. Mr..
Woodford's telegram resulted in the
calling of a special Cabinet meeting to
arrange and outline Il plan of campaign,
or rather to determine how to begin the
execution of the plan of campaign 81
ready prepared by the strategic board o.
the Army and Navy Departments. The
immediate result was the order for The
North Atlantic Squadron to begin the
blockade of Havana. How much further
than this the Cabinet progressed in its
deliberations it is not possible to say for
the obvious reason that the time has
HOW come when the interests Of the
government require that the move
ntent of ships and troops should he
guarded with the greatest care from
undue publicity in order to prevent the
enemy from taking advantage of the
information.
SPLENDID ARRAY OF SHIPS.
,rhe North Atlantic Squadron, unde.
Captain Sampson, makes Il splendid ar
ray of fine vessels, comprising battle
ships. such as the Iowa and Indiana,
monitors like the Puritan, Terror and
Amphitrite; armored cruisers like the
New York, flagship, protected cruisers.
such as the Cincinnati, Marblehead and
Montgomery: gunboats like the Vicks
burg. Wilmington and Annapolis; regu'
lar torpedo boats, as the Ericsson, Cush'
ing. Winslow and the like, not to speak
of the large number of fast yachts and
other vessels that have been added e
the feet by purchase. This force Is
quite competent to blockade all the ports
in Cuba, or at least all Of the ports con
meeting by rail with Havana, and SO
likely TO be used to supply that place il
the event of seigc with food and munl-
tions of war This statement. is to be
taken with the understanding that il
does no contemplate the coming TO Gu
ban waters Of the Spanish fleet In
such case, the probable policy would be
to abandon the blockade and endeavor
TO force the Spanish fleet to battle.
Minister WOodford's action during the
day as reported to the State Department
in late telegram, indicated that he
was following a carefully prepared pro.
gramme. A significant feature of his
message, was the statement that the
Spanish government notified him that il
regarded the withdrawal of Minister
Polo yesterday as terminating the dipo
matte negotiations, showing that it wae
not disposed TO accept the programme oi
our government to continue Mr.. Wood
ford as medium of communication unit
Saturday noon. Mr.. Woodford also an
nounced that he had instructed C0nsu