The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-04-30
IT WAS A DAY-OF
STARTLING RUMORS
But All of Them Were Happily
Untrue.
SPAlN'S FLEET PUT TO SEA
Their Departure From st. Vincent VIA
the Principal Event.
PORTUGAL DECLARES NEUTRALITY
No Official News Received From Dewy
Who Is On His Way
No Official News Received From DewY
Who Is On His Way
TO DO BATTLE WITH SPANS FLEET
Growls of European Powers That They viii
Prevent Blockading of Philippines Is
Given Little Attention Firm
Stand Against Interference.

Washington, April 29.-This was a day of
alarming rumors, running all the way from
the blowing up of big monitor to the
detection and punishment of traitors, but
fortunately, all of them turned out to be
without foundation. Actual events of inn
portance were few in number.
The news of the day of most interest was
the departure from the Cape de Verde
islands of the Spanish fleet. Their stay at
st. Vincent has been a source of anxiety
on the part of the officials here because
1t seemed to indicate the sympathy of Por-
tugal for Spain, which might lead her to
wink at a violation of neutrality laws in
favor of Spain. Late in the afternoon
cablegram came to the state department
from Cape de Verde bearing no signature,
announcing that four battleships and three
torpedo boats had started north, and some
of the transports for Cuba, and that the
northern fleet returned shortly having
been in collision. Because there was no
signature attached, the officials did not
know what Importance to attach to this
message, as these are not times to accept
what appears to be information without
close scrutiny
Captain Sampson sent a telegram rela-
tive to the firing at the Matanzas fortifica-
tions, but it was disappointingly lacking in
detail, but the few words contained in the
dispatch went to confirm the official view
that the affair was nothing more than a
naval reconnaissance
No News From Dewey
No news came today from Admiral
Dewey's squadron now on it's way to the
Philippines to do battle with the Spanish
fleet. One officer pointed out today that If
Admiral Dewey succeeded in defeating the
Spanish fleet the Spanish officials who con-
troll the cable connecting the island with
the rest of the world in all probability may
suppress the news or distort the facts into
Spanish victory. FPresuming that the ad-
miral is bound directly for Manila the cal
culations made at the navy department
show he will arrive about o'clock Satur-
day morning, Manila time, which Is about
twelve hours earlier than our own. The
pressure continues unabated in the war
department, owing to the changes in the
plans announced as to mobilization of the
volunteer troops and very much against its
will and judgment the department is maxi
ing some concessions in this matter.
The announcement that the ship State
of Texas laden with supplies for the recon-
centradoes, is destined for Sagua, has led
to the surmise that it is probably this port
instead of Mantanzas which has been se-
lected for the landing place of the first de-
tachment of the United States troops.
Harmless Growls of the Powers
Regarding the harmless growls that ap-
pear in the European papers and threats to
intervene to prevent the United States
forces from blockading the Philippines, 1t
may be stated that this was fully expected.
During the civil war there were a great
many threats on the part of European ma
tions to disregard our blockades and threats
of interference, all of which came to
naught from the firm attitude assumed by
the secretary of state. In the present case
the conditions of the Cuban blockade are
much more liberal towards the powers than
ever imposed before. In anticipation of
the action of the German commercial in
terests, in combining to secure exemption
from search for their mail steamers, it is
pointed out that the president in his proc
lamation declaring the existence of war
explicitly announced that the voyages of
mail steamers are not to be interfered with
except on the clearest grounds of suspicion
of violation of law in respect to contra
band or blockade.
Vicount De Santo-Thyrso, the Portu-
guese minister, looked over the Associated
Press cable dispatch from Lisbon, giving
the substance of the neutrality decree ga
zetted there today and said 1t was evidently
accurate and covered the entire subject
He had not, however, up to late hour
today, received an official notification Of the
decree.
.Onlp Short Stay
The viscount says that article 8, which
permits belligerents to make short stop
at Portuguese ports. probably will be better
understood by saying that belligerents
Continued on Third Page5
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