The Red Cloud chief., 1898-04-29
WASHINGTON T
WASHINGTON, April

"hoii>'i'N, Hpih ~, io'O'
There has been no occasion for any.
body to find fault with the rapidity |
with which important events have fol.
lowed each other during the past week
The signing by the president Of the
armed intervention resolutions, the nj.
timatum to Spain the breaking up Of
diplomatic relations with us by Spain;
the proclamation declaring to the ma.
tions of the world the intention of the
United States to blockade Havana and
Cuban ports; the actual establishing of
that blockade; the capture Of Spanish
merchant vessels 10y ships Of the block.
aiding squadron; the proclamation call
ing for l25, 900 men to serve two years,
unless sooner discharged. That is the
weeks record of the most important
acts of the executive branch of the
government.
The fighting is not liable to be as
speedy in arriving AS the events which
Immediately precede the opening of
the war. So far as known the bulk Of
the Spanish navy is on the Other side
of the Atlantic, with the intention Of
remaining there and devoting its at
tention to hunting for stray American
merchant vessels which can be taken
without fighting. There are numerous
reports about tn ir coming over here
To fight, but on naval officers do not
believe them, although they would he
more than glad % have them do so.
Our navy will not attack the forts of
the Cuban ports in its b~lockading, un.
less it is first attacked by the forts; at
least, not for n while, The present OBJ
iect is to make the blockade thorough.
~ effective aud 10 capture and destroy
all the Spanish ships that can be
found. In addition 10 that, "A small
force will probably be landed at some
port that j. accessible To the i%nsurgcnt
army in order that it may he furnished
the supplies aud ammunition it needs
L. enable it to assume the aggressive
towards the Spanish army. Food will
also he landed for free distribution To
the needy. While thi, Is going on in
Cuba and Cuban waters the volunteer
army will be gotten together in camps
of instruction and prepared at the ear.
Hest moment to proceed to Cuba and
drive the Spanish army of the island,
This will take time. So it Is Just As
,,nlI nat IA Aynnnt nlnh pnmp ,N ti,ht
lug, unless the Spanish forts seek an
engagement with the ~blockadinp
squadron, or our .Asiatic squadron
finds the Spanish squadron;it is hunt
ing for, for several weeks to come.
The ways and means committee o
the house, upon which devolved tn,
duty of preparing the bill to provide
money to pay the expenses of the war
has performed that duty and rcporte,
the bill to the house. The bill 10y tn,
imposition Of new internal reyenu
taxes and an increase OF the taxes o.
beer and manufactured tobacco, pro
yides for an estimated increase of 800
000, 900 in this country's
also provides for the issue of $500, 900
OC0 in 3 per cent coin bonds, to ru
from ten to twenty years, al the Oh
ton Of the government, and author
ICES the issue of 300, 600, 600 in tire
per sent certificates of Indebtedness b
the treasury, The expectation is lhu
the hill will be passed this week, Il
the disposition of congress is To pus
everything connected with the coi
duct Of the war through without pr,
longcd discussion, recognizing tn
moral effect upon the world .! speed
and united action by congress upo
war measures.
Congress has not been idle durin
the week. 1t has passed the bill a