The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-26
WAR MhR WITH SPAIN HAS BEGUN
PRESIDENT DEClDEs To GALL FOR
100000 VOLUNTEERS.
Regular Army Beicg Rapidly Moved to the
South Spain Docs Not Wait for Ul,i-
matum The Powers Informed OF
Il o Intend ions Of ihoUnitcd States
,grs.s as to Ncutrals.

Washington, April 21.--War be-
tween the United States and Spain
is fact, though not yet officially
declared SO by Congress.
The stirring events of yesterday
were succeeded today with rapidity
by others of equal importance cul-
minating in the afternoon in orders
for the departure of the North At
lantio squadron from Havana, This
practically is an act of war, 80 that
war between this country and Spain
may fairly be said to date from to-
day, April 81, 1903. Two minutes
after the opening Of the State de-
partment this morning word came
from Minister Woodford that the
Spanish Government having antici-
pated and prevented his intention to
present the Presidents ultimatum,
he had asked for his passports. The
Administration, in public state
ment, announced that it regarded
the action of tho Spanish Govern
ment as rendering unnecessary fur
ther diplomatic action on the part Of
the United States, and fnrther stated
that it regarded the course adopted
by Spain as one placing upon that
country the responsibility for the
breach of friendly relations. Mr..
Woodford's telegram resulted in the
calling of q special Cabinet meeting
to arrange and outline q plan of
campaign or rather to determine how
to begin the execution of tho plan of
campaign already prepared by the
strategic board of the army aud navy
departments. The Immediate result
was the order for tho North Atlantic
squadron to begin the blockade of
Havana. How much further than
this the Cabinet progressed in its de-
liberations it is not possible to say,
for the obvious reason that the time
has now come when the interests of
the Government require that tho
movement of ships and troops should
be guarded with the greatest care
from undue publicity in order to
prevent the enemy from taking ad,
vantage of the information.
THE NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON,
under Capt. Sampson, makes splen.
did array of fine vessels, comprising
battle ships such rs the Iowa and In
diana, monitors like the Puritan,
Terror and Amphitrite; armored
cruisers like the New York, flag ship;
protected cruisers, such as the Gin.
cinnati, Marblehead and Montgom.
cry; gunboats like the Vicksburg,
Wilmington and Annapolis; regular
torpedo boats, as the Ericsson, Cush-
ing, Winslow and the like, not to
speak of tho large number Of fast
yachts and other vessols that have
been added to the fleet by purchase.
This force is quite competent to
blockade all tho ports in Cuba, or at
least all of the ports connecting by
rail with Havana, and so likely to be
used to supply that place IN the
event of siege with food and NUM-
tions of war This statement is to
be taken with the understanding
that it does not contemplate the COM
ing to Cuban waters of the Spanish
fleet. In such case the probable pol
icy would be to abandon the block
ade and endeavor to force the Span
ish fleet to battle. ..... ...s
HOW wooDFoRD LEFT MADRID. .,
Minister Woodford's action DUR
ing the day rs reported to the State
department in q late telegram indi-
Gated that he was following a care
fully prepared programme. A sig
nificant feature Of his message was
the statement that tho Spanish Gov
crnment notified him that it regard