Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-04-26
Text of the Proclamation of the
President Announcing This
Important Fact
No Time to Be Lost by the United
States in Forcing the Issue
with Spain.
An Outline of the Plan for Calling for
the Big Force of volun-
teer Soldiers.
Gen. Blanco Declares Cuba to Be In a
State of Wnr-spain VIII Not
Observe Neutrality Laws.

State of War-Sp1in VIII NOT
Observe Neutrality Laws.
Washington, April 23.-The follow
Ing proclamation, announcing block
ade of Cuban ports, was issued Fri
day:
"By the President Of the United States:
A Proclamation. Whereas. by joint reso-
luton passed by the congress and approved
April 20, 1885, and communicated to the gov
eminent of Spain, 1t was demanded that
said government at once relinquish its au-
thority and government In the island Of
Cuba, and withdraw Its land and naval
forces from Cuba and Cuban waters; and
the president of the United States was d.
rected and empowered to use the entire
land and naval forces of the United States.
and to call into the actual service of the
United States the militia of the several
states to such extent as might be necessary
to carry said resolution into effect: and
Whereas. in carrying into effect said
resolution. the president OF the United
States deems 1t necessary to set on foot
and maintain blockade Of the north coast
of Cuba, including all ports of said coast
between Cardenas and Bahia Honda, and
the port of Cienfuegos, on the south coast
Of Cuba;
Declares blockade.
Now, therefore. l, William Mckinley,
president of the United States, in orter TO
enforce the said resolution. do hereby de-
clare and proclaim that the United States
of America have instituted. and will main
tain blockade of the north coast of Cuba.
including ports on said coast, between Car
denas and Bahia Honda, and the port of
Cienfuegos on the south coast Of Cuba,
aforesaid. In pursuance of the laws of the
United States and the law of nations APP
plicable to such cases. An efficient force
will be posted SO as to prevent the entrance
and exit of vessels from the ports afore-
said Any neutral vessel approaching
said ports, or attempting to leave the same.
without notice or knowledge OF the estab-
1ishment of such blockade, Will be duly
warned by the commander of the blockad-
ing forces, who will indorse on her register
the fact and the date. OF such warning,
where such Endorsement was made: and II
the same vessels shall again attempt to en-,
Ter any blockaded port, she will be captured
and sent to the nearest convenient port for
such proceedings against her and her car
30 as prize. as may be deemed advisable.
Neutral vessels lying in any of said
ports at the time Of the esta blishment Of
such blockade will be allowed 30 days to Is
sue therefrom.
I'm witness whereof, have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal Of the United
States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington. this
a2d day OF April, A. D. 1898, and Of the In
dependence OF the United States, the One
Hundred and Twenty-second.
"(Signed) WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
r'By the President.
John SHERMAN. Secretary Of State"
The limitation of the blockade in
Cuba to certain part OF the island was
not officially explained, but one plausi-
BILE reason advanced for the govern
ment's action was that by refraining
from establishing blockade over the
eastern portion of the island under
stood to be practically in the control of
the insurgents the way has been left
open for them to freely receive all
needed supplies and munitions of war.
Wants War Declared.
The Washington Post says that the
president will to-day send a message to
congress suggesting that declaration
Of war be passed. The message was in
course Of preparation at the state de-
partment Friday afternoon. This &C.
ton was fastened by the seizure of the
Spanish merchantmen off the Florida
coast and the desire to prevent any pos
sible complication. The right of the
seizure Of the Buena Ventura, however
Is not questioned by the administration
since Spain herself accepted our ulti.
matum as q declaration of war.
To Force the Issue.
Washington, April 23.-The cabinet
meeting Friday lasted from eleven to
one o'clock. The discussion of the
proposed proclamation to the world
that this government will establish and
effectively maintain blockade of the
port OF Havana occupied considerable
time.
The cabinet discussed number of
important matters bearing upon the
situation, but the members were un.
usually reticent in regard to them. The
president and his advisers consider the
war as now on, and no time will be lost
in forcing the issue.
Proclamation Postponed.
In the war department. Friday al.
energies were bent towards the issue Of
the call for volunteers. The proclama
iion was delayed In issue until to-day
owing to the fact that it had been pre-
pared in advance of the adoption OF Ger
tain amendments to the bill. Up to the
close Of Office hours no official announce
nnent had come of the capture of the
Spanish merchantmen near Key West
Plan for Call of Volunteers.
Washington, April 23.-Secretary AL.
ger Friday took to the white house, TO,
the presidents signature, the proclama
ton prepared at the war department
for 1O0,O 900 men to serve as volunteers
for one year. In many respects the cal
follows the outlines of the first mad,
by President Lincoln, of April Is, 1881
when he asked for $4,000 men. Neces
earily there are number of change
because of the different purpose TO-
which volunteers are asked. II tn
presidents are followed Secretary Al
ger, promptly upon the signing and ia
suanoe OF the proclamation, will re
guest the executives OF each Of the sew
Sfal states to cause to be immediatel,
detached from the militia the quot,
they may be called on to furnish. Tn,
governors will communicate the time q
which suoh militia Will be expected q
he rendezvous, where they will be ME
by officers of the United States, to mus
$ ter Thorn into the service Of the gov
Srnment. Following this the secretar.
pf war will designate officers for tn
muster service and they Will report q