The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-22
THE PORTS OF CUBA TO Be BLOCKADED
the Spanish Fleet Puts Appearance Blockade Will
Be Abandoned and the Forced
to Give

| VI Jul
Mr.. Woodford as medium of commun-
ication until Saturday noon. Mr.. Wood
| ford also announced that he had in
structed Consul General Bowen at Bar
celona to call upon all American consuls
to withdraw. He further stated he had
informed the Spanish government, after
asking for his passports. that he had
placed the American legation in Madrid
ana American interests in Spain gem
orally in the hands of the British en-
bassy. The British ambassador, Right
Hon. Sir Fry-Drummond Wolff is not
at present in Madrid. so American in
terests will be confided to the British
charge, Sir George c. +. Bonham, Bart.
To all intents and purposes this re-
lieves the state department from further
negotiations as to Cuba, save those re-
lating to privateering. neutrality OBJ
servances and the like.
Ii was found necessary to frame a
notice to the powers of the intention of
our government to establish a blockade
of Havana, a notification required by
international law.
The navy department to-day. aside
from giving the orders to the squadron,
continued the work of adding TO the
navy, and purchased another ship at
Norfolk as an auxiliary cruiser and
some small yachts. The news of the
actual beginning of war was received
with gravity at the department and
there were many speculations as to the
destination of the Spanish squadron.
One suggestion was that ii is heading
to cut off the fine battleship Oregon,
now on its way from the Pacific coast
round to join Captains SIMPSONS COM
mand. There is also some fear that the
Oregon may be taken at an unfair dis
advantage. without knowledge of the
existence of war, by the Spanish tor
pedo boat destroyer Temmeire, which is
now lying at Buenos Ayres. Possibly
with view of avoiding conflict in
the Straits of Magellan. where she
would be at disadvantage, the Ore
gon has been ordered to go around
Cape Horn.
Relative to the news that comes from
Chicago that the three revenue cutters
on the lakes cannot be availe.i of for
naval purposes. II is said at the navy
department that the department had
some time ago abandoned the idea of
using these craft owing to the difficulty
in getting them out to the Atlantic sea-
board. 1t was, however. denied that
any obstacle had been encountered in
the shape of a notice from the Canadian
government that the passage of the
ships would not be permitted. The lit
tie Bancroft, now at Boston. has been
placed under command of Captain
Glover. who will meet the ship at Nor
folk within few days and take il to
Key West.
In the war department many orders
flew to and fro. relative to the concen-
tration OF troops in the South, and Sec
retary Alger was several times in con-
sultation with the president resulting
In the determination TO call for 100. 900
volunteers as soon as congress passes
the necessary legislation. The change
in the composition of the cabinet, en-
tirely unexpected. completed the list of
important events of the day.
At about 4:45 o'clock this afternoon |
the president had a brief conference |
with the attorney general. Secretary |
Long and Assistant Secretaries Day |
and A.iee. kilograms were received |
and orders presumably sent out. but |
their purport was not disclosed. At 5:15 |
the president Joined Secretary Long in |
a short walk.
For several days. and especially to- |
day. the secretary of the treasury has /
received a large number OF kilograms |
from collectors Of customs at ports on
the Atlantic and Gulf coast stating that |
ships were being laden for Cuban ports.
Large shipments of mules were being
made from Southern ports and beef and /
coal from those further north. The /
question as to whether these vessels /
should be permitted to sail was referred /
10 the attorney general, and his opinion
was that pending the passage of the
bill prohibiting all expectations of ar
ticles of this character this government
should not interfere.
Secretary Alger's day at the war de-
partment was the busiest he has expe-
rienced for some time. Arrangements |
have been completed under the secre-
tary's directions for calling out l00. 900
OF the militia of the country TO aid the
army In the operations to COM
pei the Spanish evacuation of Cuba, |
although the secretary announced Just
before leaving the department that the
call would not be issued to-day. The
officials are waiting the passage Of the
army bill by congress. in
order that there may he explicit au-
hority for asking for the volunteers.
rhe number of men required from each
'tate. il Is said. will be in the proportion
hat its population bears TO that Of the
whole country. According to this ratio
he several Western states would be
allied on to furnish men as follows:
California. $3.50; Colorado. 1059: Idaho.
Sc; Kansas. 2.23o; Missouri. 4.23s; Mon :