Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-04-20
A FEN BRIEF HOURS.


reply. In accordance with the terms
of the resolution, the President Will
demand that Spain shall evacuate the
island The demand for this will be
fiatfooted and absolute, and no tenta-
tive or halfway reply will satisfy the
President Nor will any compromise
that contemplates the withdrawal OF
SPANS troops from the island subse-
ouent to the establishment of Span
ish control or the raising of the Span
ISL flag over the country be accepted
by the administration Possibly II
may be that suggestion that the mat
ter has been referred to the Cortes,
which meets tomorrow, for its con-
sideration, may be instrumental III
postponing for a brief time the pit
ting into effect of the Congressional
resolution, but the President is dis
posed not to brook any further delay.
1t is only fair that in great crisis like
this reasonable time shall be given.
IF Spain refuses to evacuate Cuba
prompt measures will be adopted to
put into force the Congressional reso-
luton. A blockade of Cuba will SO
far as at present understood be begun
at once.
There are an adequate number of
war vessels in the vicinity to make
Mi
as the Spaniards now control will not
last them more than d month. Then
steps taken with a view to increasing
the equipment of Gomez's soldiers and
furnishing them with sufficient food to
enable him to harrass the Spaniards
from the rear, which will materially
assist in bringing them to terms. My
own individual idea is that it will prob
ably take two months to bring about
the results which will compel the
Spaniards to eyacuate and enable the
island to be occupied by the United
States without molestation.
mo, the United States government
Win not issue letters of marque and
reprisal nor countenance privateering,
but if the Spanish government chooses
to enter upon this line or warfare she
will have to deal with the nations of
Europe with whose commerce she
seeks to interfere"
Military and naval preparations con-
rano Tod x-ierA
Seven fleet steam yachts suitable for
navigation in Cuban waters we're pyo-
cured, and several bids for steam col
Tiers were made. Arrangements are
making to utilize a number of the pow
erful converted
SMOOTH-BORE GUNS,
survivors of the late war, as armament
for the auxiliary cruisers. Many
agents for ship owners were at the
Navy Department to-day, offering to
sell crafts to the government, but
where the vessels are suitable the
prices are said to be excessive, and no
purchases were made.
The important event in the War
Department was the decision to enlist
only national guardsmen under the
first call for troops, which will be very
gratifying to the militiamen.
Some idea of the cost Of transport
ing troops may be formed from the
fact that it was necessary to allot one
million dollars to-day to defray the
expense of the movements already or
dered. Reports from all over the
country this morning indicated that
the movements We're going on with
the most gratifying CELEBRITY.
A picturesque reminder of the war
like conditions was presented right in
Washington by the departure for the
South of the Sixth cavalry, and Secre-
tary Alger, busted as he was with
official tasks, managed to take time to
get to the station to see them Off
An allotment of funds for a balloon
service shows that the War Depart
ment does not propose to ignore any of
the latest scientific aids to warfare.
The authoritative statement was
made at the War Department to-day
that on the first call for troops
ONLY THE NATIONAL GUARD
will be given an opportunity to volun-
teer for service in war. This state
ment is in accordance with those made
by Secretary Alger to the national
guardsmen who called upon him at the
War Department on Saturday, when
the modified Hull bill for the expansion
of the army in time of war was under
consideration.
Secretary Alger thinks that such a
course is in keeping with sound dscre-
ton, and the dictates of common sense,
for the organized militia have gone to
great expense and have devoted much
time to perfecting themselves for mill
tary duty. Any other course, he be-
lieves, would be destructive TO the best
interests of the guard. AS far as prac-
ticable, the state organizations enter
ing the volunteer service will remain
intact, the governors of the various