The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-28

extend the blockade to other southern
ports.
Now therefore, I. William Mckinley.
president of the United States do here
by declare and proclaim that in addi-
tion to the blockade of the ports speci-
fed in my proclamation of April %,
1898, the United States of America has
instituted and will maintain an effec-
tive blockade of all of the ports on the
south coast of Cuba from Cape Frances
to Cape Cruz, inclusive and also of the
port of San Juan, in the island of Porto
Rico.
Neutral vessels lying in any of the
ports to which the blockade is by the
present proclamation extended will be
allowed 80 days to issue therefrOm with
cargo.
In witness whereof. etc;
(Signed) VIM. M'KINLEY,
President of the U. S. of America.
By the President,
j. B. MOORE,
Acting Secretary of State.
June %, 1898.
Blockade is Easy.
Washington, June 28.-By proclama-
tiOn issued today the president gave no.
tice of the intention of the government
to assume the formidable task of block
aiding about 500 miles OF Cuban coast
line, in addition to the sections already
blockaded. This increases the extent
of the blockade fully four fold, it having
been confined heretofore to a stretch of
little more than 100 miles on the north
south coast of the island. The demand
on the navy will not be nearly so heavy
in proportion to the territory to be COW
cred, as in the case of the initial block
ade for the reason that the new block
ade coast line lies entirely within the
great blight on the southern Cuban
coast in which the water is generally
very shallow and the ports are few into
which a vessel of any draught could en-
ter. The most important of these ports
are Manzanillo, Trinidad and Tunas.
West of Trinidad is Cienfuegos, which
is already blockaded effectively. From
that point westward for nearly 140 miles
there is no point to be blockaded until
Batabano is reached. This port is dis
tant only 40 miles from Havana by rail
and is believed to have been the pr1ncl-
pal source of food supplies for the Span
ish capital. For $50 miles west of this,
clear over to Cape Frances, the western
edge of the blockaded territory there
are no ports for deep vessels of any con-
sidera BILE draft and even if there were
the country in the interior, Pinar del
Rio, is in the hands of the insurgents
and supplies could not be sent through
to Havana. The purpose of extending
the blockade westward to Cape Frances
was to command the channel between
the west side of the Isle of Pines and
Cape Frances and thus render much
easier the task of the blockading ves-
sells.
The reports which have reached the
president to the exact state of AFFAIRS
in Havana, are conflicting; in some cas-
es the town was declared to be on the
verge of starvation; in others, food sup
plies were said to be still abundant. AS
a matter of fact the truth probably
lies between those extremes and while
supplies of a certain character are very
scarce in Havana, there is no lack of
others. 1t is known for instance that
while flour may be scarce, large guam
titles of beef have reached Havana.
Most of this has come from Mexico and
it has usually been brought over to the
Isle of PilGS End EanS-shipped into
1c,on.tira,aa or, E.ie.,t1. PaceA