The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-26

Washington, April 21.-War between
the United states and Spain is a fact,
though not yet officially declared so by
congress-.
The stirring events of yesterday were
succeeded today with rapidity by 9TH
ers Of equal Importance, eliminating
in the afternoon in orders for the de-
arturo Of the Atlantic Squadron for
Havana. This practically is an act of
war, SO that the war between this
country and Spain may fairly be said
to date from today, April u, 1898. wv
minutes after the opening Of the state
department this morning, word came
from Minister Woodford that the Span
ish government, having anticipated and
prevented his intention to present the
presidents ~ultimatum, he had asked
for his passports. The administration
in a public statement announced that
it regarded the action of the Spanish
government as rendering unnecessary
further diplomatic action on the part
Of the United States, and further stat
cd that 1t regarded the course adopted
by Spain as one placing upon that
country the responsibility for the
breech of u~nfriendly relations.
Mr.. Woodford's telegram resulted in
the calling of a special abine meet
ing to arrange and outline a plan of
campaign, or rather to determine how
to begin the execution of the plan of
already prepared by the
strategic board of the army and navy
departments. The immediate result
was the order for the North Atlantic
to begin the blockade of Ha-
yana. How much further than this the
cabinet progressed in it's deliberations
1T is not possible to say, for the obvious
reason that the time has now come
when the interests of the government
require that the movement of ships and
troops should be guarded with the
greatest care from undue publicity, in
order to prevent the enemy from TAX
ing advantage of the information.
The North Atlantic squadron, under
Captain Sampson, makes a splendid ar
ray or fine vessels, comprising battle
ships such as the Iowa and the Indi-
ana; monitors like the Puritan, the
Terror and the Amphitrite; armored
cruisers like the New York, flagship;
protected cruisers such as the Cincin-
natl, the Marblehead and the Mont
gomery; gunboats like the Vicksburg,
the Wilmington and the Annapolis:
NAoA wi DOuO oO"lo oo tHC =
the Gushing, the Winslow 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 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 seige
with food and munitions of war. This
statement is to be taken with the I'M
~derstanding that it does nOt contem-
plate the coming to Cuban waters of
the Spanish fleet. In such case, 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-
partment in a late telegram, indicated
that he was following a carefully pre-
pared programme. A significant fea-
ture of his message was the statement
that the Spanish government notified
him that it regarded the withdrawal
of Minister Polo yesterday as termi-
mating the diplomatic negotiations,
showing that it was not disposed to
accept the expressed intention of our
government to continue Mr.. Woodford
asa medium of communication until
Saturday noon. Mr.. Woodford also
announced that he had instructed Con-
sui General Bowen at Barcelona to
cause all American cOnSulS in Spain
to Immediately withdraw from the
country. He further stated that he had
Informed the Spanish government, af-
ter asking for his passports, that he
had placed the American legation in
Madrid and American interests in
Spain generally, in the hands of the
British embassy. The ambassador
Rt. Hon. Sir Henry Drummond Wolff,
is not at present in Madrid, so Ameri-
a interests will be confided to the
British charge d'affaires, Sir George G..
Il. Bonham, Bart.
IL intents and purposes this re-
lieveS the state department from fur
ther negotiations as to Cuba save those
relating to privateering, neutrality OBJ
and the like. Tt was found
necessary to frame a notice to the pow
ers of the intention of our government
to establish a blockade in Havana, a
notification required by international
law.
The navy department.. today aside
from giving the orders to the squadron,
continued the work of adding to the
navy Ny purchasing another ship at
Norfolk as an auxiliary craft and some
small yachts.
The news Of the actual beginning of
war was received with gravity at the
departments and there We're many
speculations as to the destination Of the
Spanish squadron. One suggestion
was that they would try to cut off the
fine battleship Oregon o on its way
from the Pacific coast around to joir
Captain Simpsons command. There
is also some fear that the Oregon may
he taken at an unfair advantage, with,
out knowledge of the existence Of war
by the Spanish torpedo destroyer Tenn
meririe, which is now lying at Bueno'
Ayres. Possibly with a view TO avoid
ing a conflict in the straights of Magel
Ian where she would be at a d~isadvan
tage, the Oregon has been ordered t.
go around Cape Horn.
The little Bancroft, now at Boston
has been placed under command o1
Captain Glover, who will meet the shiI
at Norfolk within a few days and take
it to Key West.
In the war department orders follow