The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-04-21

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any fleet and alone on the ocean, The bat.
tie ship Oregon, now on her way to Key
West from San Francisco, Is the subject OF
some concern on the part Of the naval offic.
jals. who, while confident that the big
flrhtcr can we'll care for herself should she
meet a small Spanish fleet, would much
prefer that she were with Captain Sarip'
sons command than In having to pass
through waters which in two weeks may
be well patrolled by Spanish war vessels.
Nothing has been heard from the Oregon
since she sailed from Callao on April D,
aud nothing is expected to be received from
her for week and perhaps longer. Under
ordinary steam, and II no heavy weather
was encountered in the South Pacific, IL
ia estimated by her former commander,
Captain Barker, that she should now be
in the Straits Of Magellan, and probably
at Sandy Point the midway station, where
coal is received and brief stop generally
made by all vessels for water. From the
straits TO Montevideo is almost one week 8
run, and unless the Oregon has orders to
stop in there and await instructions she
may not be reported until Rio or Bahia
Is reached.
Somewhere off the South American
coast is a Spanish torpedo boat which
may be laying for tho big ship, but unless
caught unexpectedly, and the authorities
have no fear this will occur, 1t Is not be
lieved tho little craft could harm the big
one. But after rounding Cape st. hoque'
the eastern extremity of Brazil, and point.
ing then to the west and north for the
vicinity of Florida the Oregon must pass
right across tho limo of travel takun by the
Spanish fleet, If it comes over to this side.
The Oregon will be near Porto Rico also,
and If the Spanish vessels operated within
few hundred miles of that port they
might fall in with the American vessel
when she passes along there about three
weeks from now.
Sugges ion has been made that the de-
partment should not place the Oregon in
the perllous situation of having to make
the voyage through wa ers that arc liable
to be the scenes of action between the
two fleets and that she should be held at
Rio, Bahia or MonLevideo, where no for.
eign fleet could attack her so long as she
remained III pert. Another proposition
has been made-that the Oregon should DO
ocean, latitude. apd longitude given, on
fixed date when she will DO Joined by
strong fleet and conveyed to the rest Of the
squadron.
The authorities are not disposed to hold
the Oregon south and want her with the
fleet as soon as she can reach 1t, but there
are several officers advising that some plan
should be Mt once determined on for as
surfing the safe arrival of the vessel. The
Spanish torpedo tlotilla would be exceed
ingly dangerous II the Oregon should be
attacked by it, and there are the chances
of surprise or night attack, especially II
the officers should come up the coast with
out stopping, and, therefore, not knowing
thai war had been declared.
Washington, april al Diplomatic re-
lations between the United States and
Spain are at an end 1t is expected that
from now on events will move with amaz-
ing rapidty up to the climax OF actual
war Judge Day, Assistant Secretary Of
State. early this morning received cable.
gram from Minister Woodford at Madrid,
Stating that he had been handed his pass
ports, and had been notified that official
relations between the United States and
Spain were ended
His cablegram said that he had been
given the passports before he had had an
opportunity 10 present the ultimntum
transmitted to him for submission to the
Spanish government, the delivery OF the
uitimalum to Minister Polo having been
accepted by the Spanish Government as IL
formal announcement on our part.
judge Day at once hurried to the White
House, where he found President Mckin
ley about to enter IL carriage to take NJ s.
Mckinley to the railroad station, where he
in endSd to soc her off on II short "trip to
New York.
Tho news that diplomatic relations be.
tween the United States md Spain were
formally at an end was SO important that
the President babe hasty goodbye to
his wife on tho White House portico and
repaired Immediately to the upstairs part
Of the house, where he and Judge Day
held conference, the result Of which was
the despatch OF Secretary Porter TO the
Capitol to communicate, tho news to tho
Senate Committee On Foreign Relations.
THE sPANIARDs FORM OF REPLY.
Washington, April 2l.-Spain's answer
to President Mckinlcy's ullimatum may
take the form of shot and shell.
Her formidable fleet, which has been
mo5ilizing at the Cape Verde Islands for
some days past, sailed today from that
point for an unknown destination.
American men-of.war arc on the look
out for them, and also in readiness for
the word to move on Cuban ports. The
first shot remains to be flrod as necs S.
sary prelude,in the mind of the President,
to IL formal declaration of war. But when
he signed tho act of Congress calling for
forciblo intervention and despatched an
ultimatun to Spuin he knew full well
that war must follow.
Pending Spains move, as shown by the
departure of her fleet today from ST. Vim
cent. the policy of the Administration
will be to execute its purpose of formally
blockading Cuba and Porto Rico.
The first movement toward tho block
AIDE may begin before nightfall.
The plan for the distribution of Ameri-
can men.of-war along the Cuban coast
and Juan, Porto Rico, has been com.
municated to Captain W. Y. sampson,
communicating chief Of the North Atlantic
Squadron and Commodore w. II. Schley,
COMMUNICATIVE chief of the Flying Squad
ron.
Dccllnation by Spain to comply with