The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-22

Washington, April 21-Mr. Wood
ford's telegram resulted in the calling
of a special cabinet meeting to arrange
an outline for a plan of campaign, or
rather to determine how to begin the
execution of the plan of campaign al
ready prepared by the strategic boards
of the army and navy department The
result was the immediate order for the
Atlantic squadron to begin the block
ade of Havana How much further
than this the cabinet progressed in its
deliberations it is not possible to say,
for the obvious reason that the time has
now come when the interests of the
government require that the movements
of the ships and troops should be
guarded with the greatest care from
undue publicity, in order to prevent the
enemy from taking advantage of infor-
nation. The North Atlantic squadron,
under Captain SIMPSONS command, is
splendid array of fine vessels, and
this force is quite competent to block
ade all the 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 munitions of war. This
derstanding that it does not contem-
plate the coming to Cuban waters of
the Spanish fleet. In such case, how
ever, the probable policy would be to
abandon the blackade and force the
Spanish fleet to battle.
@ ADDITIONS TO NAVY.
The navy department today, aside
from giving the orders to the squadron
~ 81 - -
navy, and purchased another ship at
Norfolk as an auxiliary cruiser. and
some small yachts. The news of the
actual beginning of war was received
with gravity at the department, and
there were many speculations as to the
destination of the Spanish squadron.
FEARS FOR THE OREGON.
One suggestion was that it is heading
to cut off the fine battleship Oregon
now on its way from the Pacific coast
round to join Captain SIMPSONS COM
mand. There is also some fear that the
Oregon may be taken at an unfair
advantage, without knowledge of the
existence of war, by the Spanish tor
pedo boat destroyer Temeraire, which
is now lying at BuenoS AyreS. Pos
sibly with a view of avoiding a conflict
in the Straits of Magellan, where she
has been ordered to go around Cape
Horn.
THE REVENUE CUTTERS.
Relative to the news that comes from
Chicago that the three revenue cutters
on the lakes cannot be availed of for
naval purposes, it is said at the navy
department that the department had
some time ago abandoned the idea of
using these craft, owing to the diff
Guilty of putting them out to the Allan
tic seaboard.
1t was, however, denied that any in
ternational obstacle had been encoun-
tered in the shape of notice from the
Canadian government that the passage
of the ships would not be permitted
The little Bancroft, now at Boston,
has been -Jlaced under command of
Captain over, who will meet the ship
at NorfsSk within a few days and take
it to F5y West.
In the war department many orders
flew to and fro, relative to the con-
struction of troops in the south and
consultation with the president result
ing in the determination to call for 1OO.-
900 volunteers as soon as congress pas
ses the necessary legislation.
At about 4:45 o'clock this afternoon
the president had a brief conference
with the attorney general, Secretary
Long and Assistant Secretaries Day
and Adee. kilograms were received
and others presumably sent, but their
purport was not disclosed. At Sis the
president Joined Secretary Long in a
short walk.
THEY SHOULD BE STOPPED.
For several days and especially to-
day, the secretary of the treasury has
received a large number of kilograms
from collectors of customs at ports on
the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, stating
that ships were being laden for Cuban
ports.
Large shipments of mues were be-
ing made from southern ports and beef
and coal from those further north. The
question as to whether these vessels
should be permitted to sail was refer
red to the attorney general and his
opinion was that. pending the passage
of the bill prohibiting all expectations
OF articles of this character, this gov.
eminent should not interfere.