The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-20

shine every phase OF the negotiations as
TO obllge us 10 take the Initiative al every
point After the withdrawal OF the iliI,-
isters. and assuming pain does not BACK
down. will follow actual war, but wheth-
er or not the first overt act will be pre-
ceded by a formal declaration Oh war
which would insure the immediate neu-
tralization OF the Powers. or whether inc
North Atlantic Squadron Will make iS
appearance on Havana as a beginning
cannot yet be predicted.
NOT so CERTAIN.
In this connection il may be stated
that the army and navy experts are De-
ginning to take less hopeful view or
AN easy and quick campaign than thcy
entertained a short time go. Months are
now mentioned instead Of weeks as the
probable length Of hostilities. and one
eminent naval officer, who had expe-
rienco I'm the late war. processes a belief
that unless outside pressure Is brought
to bear. a war may easily drag along
for a year under the existing conditions.
Apparently the Powers have abandon
ed open efforts I'm Washington to initu-
ence the course OF our Government.
Matters were very quiet at all the leSa-
tions to-day. and no instructions were
received by any OF the Ambassadors or
Ministers i'm the line OF mediation.
4
"The ultimatum," said one member or
the Cabinet. after the meeting to-day,
"has been agred upon In substance, but
has not yet been formally drawn up. lts
preparation has been entrusted to As
sstant Secretary Day, OF the state De-
partment. ~ will be sent 10 Spain TO-
morrow. and Will reach Madrid IN inc
evening" the difference in time between
this country and Spain being about six
4. Tn 1lt ~
that Spain will be given forty~
eight hours. that is until Friday
evening To submit her reply In accord
ance with the terms OF the resolution. the
President will demand that Spain shall
evacuate the Island. The demand for this
will be nat-fOOced and absolute and no
tentative or halfway reply viii satisfy
the President. nor Will any compromise
that cOntemplaies the withdrawal or
Spain's troops from the island and the
subsequent re-egablishment of Spanish
control or the raising Of the Spanish flag
over the country be accepted by the ad-
min.stratiOn. Possibly it may be that a
suggestion that the matter has been re-
ftrred TO the Cortes which meets to-
morrow for it's consideration, may be
instrumental in postponing for brief
time the putting into effect Of the con-
gressiOnal resolution, but the President
is not uispOSeu 10 DioOk any lufintE hF-
lay. IL is only fair that in a great crisis
like this reasonable time shall be given.
TO BLOCKADE CUBA.
"ff Spain refuses TO cvacuate Cuba.
prompt measures VIII be adopted 10 put
into force the congressional resolution. n
blockade Of cuba will so far as ~ at
present understood be begun at once.
There are an adequate number OF war
vessels i'm the~vicinity TO make this ef-
foctive. / think such supplies as the
spaniards now control will not last them
more than a month. then steps will bc
taken with view OF increasing the equip
ment OF GOmezs forces and furnishing
II with suficient hard tack for food as
will enable him 10 harass the Spaniards
from the rear which win materially assist
I'm bringing them 10 terms. My own in
dividual idea e. that it will probably take
two months to bring about the results
which will compel the Spaniards TO evac-
uate and enable the island TO be occupied
by the United States without molesta-
ton
NO. the United States government VIII
not issue any letters OF msrque and re-
n--isal nor cOuntenance privateering nut
n fhe Spanish government chooses to en-
tor upon this line OF warfare she VIII
have 10 deal with the natiens OF Europe
WITT whose commerce she Seeks TO inter-
fcrc =