Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-04-22
GRIM WAR!
Continued from page -


garded the course adopted by Spain rs
one placing upon that country the re-
sponsibility for the breach of friendly
relations.
Minister Woodford's telegram result
ed in the calling of special cabinet
meeting to arrange and outline a plan
of campaign, or rather to determine
how to begin the execution of the plan
of campaign already prepared by the
strategic boards of the army and navy
departments. The immediate result
was the order for the North Atlantic
squadron to begin the blockade of Ha
vana.
How much further than this the cab
met progressed in its deliberations ii
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 ships
and troops should be guarded with the
greatest care from undue publicity III
OfutT To prevent lllt tiltillS ll'ii lttA-
ing advantage of the information.
The North Atlantic squadron under
Capt Sampson's command makes a
splendid array of fine vessels. compris-
ing battlcships such as the Iowa aud
Indiana: monitors like the Puritan
Terror and Amphitrite; armorcd cruis-
a.
tccted cruisers such as the Cincinnati.
Marblchcad and Montgomery; gun
boats like the Vicksburg, Wilmington
and Annapolis: regular torpedo boats
such as the Ericsson, Cushing, Win
SLOW and the like: not to speak of the
large number of fast yachts and other
vessels that have been added to the
fleet by purchase.
This force is quite competent to
blockade all the ports in cuba or 1T
least all Of the ports connecting by rail-
with Havana and 50 likely to be used
to supply that place with food and mu
ntions of war. This statement is to 3e
does not contemplate the coming to
Cuban waters of the Spanish fleet. In
such case however, the probable policy
would be To abandon the blockade and
endeavor to force the Spanish fleet to
battle
Minister Woodford's action during
the day, as reported to the state de
partmcnt in . late telegram Indicated
that he was following a carefully pre-
pared programme.
\ significant feature OF his message
was the statement that the Spanish
government notified him that it regard
ed it's withdrawal of Minister Polo. yes
tcrday. as terminating diplomatic ne
eotiations. showing that if not disposed
to accept the expressed intention of our
government to continue Mr.. WoodfurI
as a medium of communication until
Saturday noon.
Mr.. Woodford also announced that 10
had instructed Consul General Bowen
consuls in Spain to Immediately with
draw from the country. He further
stated that he had Informed the Span
ish government after asking for his
passports. that he had placed the
American legation in Madrid and
American interests in Spain generally
to-, 4 t;e.I,
The ambassador. Right Hon. Sir
Henry Drummond Wolff, is not at pres
cnt in Madrid. 50 American interests
viii he confided to III" British charge
Sir George i. Hcnham. 70 All ntcnts
and purposes this relieves the state
department from further negotiations
as to cuba save those relating to llri-
Watering. neutrality obsorvarrc' and
the like. It was found necessary t.
frame a notice 10 the Powers of the I'M
tention of our government to establish
a blockade of Havana, a notification
required by international law.
The navy department. today. asid, from
giving the orders TO the squadron, con
tinucd the work of ad ling 10 the nav!
and purchased another ship at Norfolk ~
an auxiliary and some small yachts fh
news of the actual beginning of war va
received with gravity AT the department
and there were many spcculations as t.
the destination of the Spanish squadron
One suggestion WAS that il is heading t.
cut off the fine hattlrship oregon ROW ol
its way from the Pacific coast around T.
ioin Capt. Simpsons command. There /
also some fear that the OREGON may b
taken at an unfair advantag" withou
knowing Of the existence of war by tn
Spanish torpedo destroyer TcmIUcrir6
which is now lying at Bucnos Ayrcs
Possibly with Il view to avoiding II con
tlict in the straGhts of Magellan. whcl
she would he at a disadvantage. the OR,
gon has been ordered to 90 around Cap
Horn.
1tclativ" 10 the news that comes fro,
Chicago that the three revenue cutters o
the lakes cannot lie awaited of for naVs
purposes, ii is said at the navy depart
ment that the department had somctim
ago abandoned the idea of using th"s
craft. notwithstanding the difficulties