The herald., 1898-04-20

food to enable him to harass the Span
lards from the rear, which will material,
assist In bringing them to terms. My owl
individual idea is that it will probably ta.s
two months to bring about the result
which will compel the Spaniards to evacu
ate and enable the island to be occupied b.
the United States without molestation.
mo, the United States government will
not issue any letters of marque and re
prisal, or countenance privateering, but II
the Spanish government chooses to entel
upon this line of warfare, she will have te
deal with the nations of Europe. with
whose commerce she seeks to interfere"
The Resolution
The Cuban resolution passed by congress
arrived at the White House at lis o'clock
a little over an hour having been consumed
in the formalities Of securing the sigma
lures of Speaker Reed and Vice President
Hobart to the resolution in open session
and it's delivery at the White House by
Representative Hager Of Iowa, chairman
of the committee on enrolled bills, ana
Representative Overstreet of Indiana. 1T
was expected that the resolution would
be signed Immediately after 1t had reached
the president, and this was President Nc
Kinley's inclination, but for certain state
reasons it was deemed advisable that the
resolution and the ultimatum to Spain
should be signed simultaneously.
War Preparations
The steady progress Of military and
naval preparations indicate the conviction
on the part of the administration that
peaceful solution of the difficulties Is not
probable. AS to the course of events in the
immediate future, the only prediction that
can be made is one based on precedents.
According to these, Minister Woodford will
notify the Spanish government of the
action of the government of the United
States and should the Spanish answer be
unsatisfactory, as is expected, the next
step would be for him to ask for his pass
ports and leave Madrid. That would be
followed instantly by the withdrawal from
Washington of Sonor Polo, the Spanish
minister At this point it can be said
that the state department officials are con-
ndent that the Spanish government will so
bhape every phase of the negotiations as
10 oblige us to take the initiative at every
point.
AILeT IHe WlIHuTaWai Oi tiiS ALiHiStCiSt
md assuming that Spain does not back
town, will follow actual war, but whether
br not the first overt act would be preceded
BY formal declaration Of war, which
would insure the immediate neutraliza-
hon of the powers, or whether the North
atlantic squadron will make it's appear
Lnce off Havana as beginning, cannot
ret be predicted.
The First Call
In this connection it may be stated that
he army and navy experts are beginning |
10 take less hopeful view of an early and |
nuick campaign than they entertained a |
hort time ago.
Months are now mentioned instead of |
weeks as the probable length Of hostilities, |
Ind one eminent naval officer, who had ex-
berience in the late war, processes be-
aef that unless outside pressure is brought /
b bear, war may easily drag along for |
year under existing circumstances. APP
)arently the powers have abandoned hope |
% influence the course Of our government. |
Matters were quiet at all the legations to-
lay, and no instructions were received by
my of the ambassadors in the line of |
Mediation.
A Long Campaign
The authoritative statement was made at
he war department today that on the first
all for troops only the national guard |
would be given an opportunity to volunteer |
lor service in war. AS far as practicable, |
he state organizations entering tho ~ ai...,-
ner service will remain intact, the gov
rnors of the various states being per-
in 1851 fO designate |
Agimental officers, which will include |
nose of the grades of second lieutenants |
b colonels. The president will reserve
b himself the right to appoint the staff and |
ield officers.
1t was stated today that the first call |
br troops would be for $4,000 men, which,
/ is believed will exhaust the entire |
wailable strength of the national guard
It this time, after deducting those who are
tick or otherwise incapacitated for imme-
late service The total strength OF the
uard as reported to the war department
} 113, ,764 men.
Cold -Blooded Avarice
A great deal of indignation has been ex-
Eessed by naval officers over the cold
hooded attempt of persons owning YES
bis or acting as their agents, to extort
rom the government sums of money large
\ in excess of the value of their craft The
Ame complaint Is also made as to many
lnds of military and naval supplies.
The navy department has arranged to
lace some light armor on the four ves-
bis acquired from the Morgan line, the
lrairie, Yosemite, Yankee and Dixie. The
larnegie company has undertaken to roll
Immediately light steel plate one and
hlf inches thick. Two layers Of this
late will be placed around the boiler and
hgine rooms of the boats, making 25O tons
/ armor in each case. This will be suffi-
lent at least to repel the fire of machine
Inns and perhaps to keep out the muir
krous six-pounder shells.
The Coal Question
The navy department has received sat
factory information that the coal loaded
/ Newport News upon the British tramp
keamer Hampstead, it not as was sup
psed, intended for the Spanish naval
raft at the Cape Verde islands, but is tor
line of merchant steamers, SO that APP
rehension from that score has been re-
loved. The department is still reaching
ut for vessels suitable for colliers and
sveral cable messages were sent today to
Is agency in Europe, looking to the pur-
hase of some OF these vessels. Applica
bns are pouring into the war and navy
apartments for the immediate protection
/ supposedly exposed points on the At
intic and gulf seaboards.
Taore, Of 4 ++oclr