New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-23
A BLOCKADE Is DECLARED.
CUBA,S CHIEF PORTS CLOSED.


PROCLAMATION ISSUED By PRESIDENy
MKINLEY.
NOTICE OF THE BLOCKADE GIVEN 10 TIE uURo.
PEAN POwERs--CAPTAIN sAMPsoNs FLEET
EXPECTED TO SHUT THE SPANISH
TROOPS UP IN THE IsLAND-orHER
WAR MEASURES ADOPTED
IN WASHINGTON.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuNE.l
Washington, April 22.-Though war between
the United States and Spain has not yet been
formally declared by either nation, hOstilities
may be said TO have virtually begun to-day
with the issue Of the Presidents proclamation
announcing a blockade OF the principal CUBAN
ports. To carry out this forcble closure OF the
ports OF Cuba to commerce with the rest OF the
world the North Atlantic feet which has been
lying for several months past at Key West.
sailed this morning 20 take station of the prin.
clpal harbors Of the island now controlled BY
the Spanish authorities. Two double-turreted
monitors. the Terror and the Puritan which
are scarcely fitted for open sea patrol duty.
were left behind at the Key West station, and
with them. for the present the torpedo-boats
Cushing. Dupont and Porter. the dlspatch-boat
Dolphin. the gunboat Helena and the cruiser
Marbehcad BY tonight the remainder Of the
squadron will probably have been disposed
along the northern coast Of Cuba with cruiser
or two detached to shut off communication with
Cienfuegos. the single port Of the southern
coast named In the Presidents proclamation
of blockade.
ONLY THE CHIEF PORTS CLOSED.
To shut in the Spanish forces now quartered
In Cuba more completely the Administration
has decided not 10 attempt general blockade
OF the island, but simply TO close to foreign
intercourse the chief harbors in those provinces
over which the Spanish still maintain civil and
military control On the northern coast four
ports of consequence are affected by to-days
proclamation Honda, Havana, Matanzas
and Cardenas. The first and most westerly fs
in the province Of Plnar del Rio, the second Ia
In Havana Province and the last two are In
the province Of Matanzas. The east and west
coast line on which they lie is about one hun
dred and seventy-ive miles in length, and either
extremity is within half days steaming from
Key West. Cienfuegos is almost directly south
Of Cardenas. across Matanzas and Santa Clara
provinces: but the men-of-war called on 10
blockade that part Of the island will be several
hundred miles from their coal and supply base
| az Key West
The two chief Cuban ports left open to COM
merce by to-day's proclamation are Sagua IA
! Grande, on the northern coast, and santiago dc
! Cuba, on the southern Sagua Ia Grande Is IN
Santa Clara Province. and is only held BY
| Spanish garrison through the assistance OF tho
naval patrol With the naval forces destroyed
or scattered. the town would probably fall into
the hands OF the insurgents and thus become
worthless as an entry port to the Spanish au'
thoritles. Santiago de Cuba lies at the extreme
southeastern end OF the island and Is the cap
ital town Of tn, big and sparsely Inhabited
province ot the same name. 1t is pracucaii!
cut Off from Havana by a long intervening
stretch Of hostile country, and could in no case
be used by the Spanish as means OF COM
munication with the outside world.
BY abandoning any effort, therefore, TO close
these strategically unimportant haroors IN the
eostern half of the island the Government is
enabled to concentrate the great bulk OF the
Kew West feet off Havana and the neighbor-
ing coast towns. and to make the blockade OF
that norton Of Cuba from the outset an In
dlsputaby effective one.
DECLARATION OF WAR UNNECESSARY.
Though the official announcement Of a block.
odo If Snanlsh ports in Cuba can scarcely be
construed rs anything but an act Of war, there
Is still a great deal Of uncertainty expressed In
and our Of Congress whether state Of war be-
,,veon Spoin and this country actually and
legally exists. The expedency Of making
,orual declaration Of war against Spain has
hoop sogerly discussed by the Cabnet and by
nd ~
,hat ccrtain constitutional and military dtE-
culties might be got rid OF through leg!sa-
tlve action sanctioning general hostilties and
c,othinp the Executive at once with undisputed
war powers.
Tho Administration would doubtless prefer 70
horo rho formal declaration of war come from
Srain in the first instance Yet the events OF
,,,o los, two davs have made any formal recog-
milton by either nation OF the state or hostih-
,.s existing between the two countries mere
otter Of domestic expcdency; for the Presi-
dont,s blockade proclamation has already
served sufficient notice on foreign POWERS OF
.,,o .,r,ure ~ friendly relations, and Spain, by
dismissing Minister Woodford from Madrid ana
.a,,,einc ~ receive or discuss the American
ultimatum has evipced WIN equai cmphasis
nnr nurp,se TO maintain her hopeless and
".,,r,r sovereignty in Cuba by force of arms.
II congress should be asked TO pass decm-
acton of war action on a joint resolution could
aas,,, no obtained at any time by general con
s"n, nut the President and his advisers have
NOR va, determined whether or not it is advis-
.rIa 70 take this last I'd now almost meaning.
less step
WAR MEASURES IN CONGRESS.
Though both houses Of Congress agreed to-
a, 70 q conference report on the Volunteer
hill and that measure was signed by the Presi-
dopt II was decided TO delay for day the call
for volunteers to ill the ranks Of the projected
army Of Cuban occupation. Requision Will
- L.. .,nd1. To- naDrrnw on the (,nvern0rS