Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-22
PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.

Spain is a fact, though not yet officially
declared so by Congress.
Arrangements have been completed
at the United States War Department
under Secretary Alger's direction, fol
calling out 100, 900 men of the National
Guard for cooperation with the regular
army 10 the operations in Cuba. The
number of men required from each
State will be in the proportion that the
population of the State bears to that Of
the whole country. Virginia's quota
will be 2,230.
The work of forming an army at
Chickamauga began in earnest yester-
day. All Wednesday night large
force of laborers there were kept busy
building extra side tracks and chutes
for the unloading of the cavalry horses,
wagons and artillery. By night nearly
l 800 of the 5000 cavalry and artillery
men who have been ordered to Chicka.
maugua were encamped there. By to-
night, it is expected that large pro-
portion of the troops now on their way
will have arrived Major General
Brooke put Major Dillenbach in com
mand of the artillery at Chickamauga,
while Col s. S. Sumner, of the Sixth
cavalry, took command of the cavalry.
Many of the regiments of regulars or
dered South have reached the other
points of mobilization, Mobile and New
Orleans. Others will get to these places
to-day and tomorrow.
The Senate yesterday passed the bill
for the organization CT the volunteer
army.
An amendment reduces the rank
of staff officers, the highest rank of those
of the staff of the commander being
lieutenant-colonel. A proviso term-
mates the appointments and assign
ments to staff service when the officers
so assigned shall be relieved.
The United States squadron at Key
West has been ordered to blockade
Havana. The New York Herald pub
fishes the following Washington dis
patch: Capt. Simpsons instructions
contemplate the institution of block
ade Of the ports Of the entire island OF
Cuba. There will be no bonn bardment
of the Notifications; there will be no at
tempt to enter any Of the harbors: but
should Spanish veasels attack the
American ships, the latter will destroy
or capture them, if possible"
This government has notified Eu-
ropean ports that it will blockade Cuba
aud has laid an embargo on coal.
Havana newspapers ridicule the idea
of a blockade of Cuban ports. Meas
ures taken by the Spanish government,
combined with large sums OF money
subscribed by Spaniards in Mexico,
, are said TO have greatly reduced the
danger of scarcity of food in the city.
Naval experts at Washington say
that leaving out of consideration the
question of the relative strength of per.
sonnet the Spanish force is at least
equal and probably much superior in
some respects to Commodore Schley's
fleet.
Friendly relations between Spain and
the United States having been broken
off yesterday, Minister Stewart L.
Woodford left Madrid at p. m. on his
way to France. The custody of the
American legation was formally turned
over to the British minister. A crowd
at the railroad station, led by the civil
governor of Madrid, cheered for Spain,
but there was no hostile demonstration.
The French ambassador and the
Austrian minister, in Washington, yes
terday notified the U. S. State Depart
ment that Spanish interests have been
placed in their charge.
The Spanish cruisers, which, together
with torpedo boats and destroyers,
went out from st. Vincent on Wednes-
day, are again in port. The vessels are
prepared to leave at moments notice,
their fires being banked. The command.
er of the fleet, it is stated, is awaiting
the arrival of additional cruisers, which
are expected hourly. The trip of yes
terdsy was only short one for practice.
France is disposed to allow Spain to
prosecute the most effective warfare
within her power.
The Brazilian warship Nictheroy
which was bought by the United States,
has sailed from RIO de Janerio.
Gen. Campos, the former Captain
General of Cuba, made patriotic
speech in Madrid yesterday, in which
be declared that Cuba would never
lose her Spanish sovereignty.