Evening journal., 1898-04-28
SPAIN HOLDING OFF.
|rhe Cape Verde Fleet Has
Not Yet Sailed.
DEWEY STARTS FOR PHILIPPINES.
First Naval Battle WIN Probably BE
Fought or Manila-London Mail
Correspondent Predicts an
Easy victory.

&situation is substantially this: The
#plockading squadron remains passive
Npefore Havana, with no present pur-
pose OF bombarding or of drawing the
q Ire of the shore batteries. The strategic
purpose of effective blockade of the
XCuban capital is being accomplished to
he entire satisfaction of the authors-
81 les here. There is no indication that
- part of the fleet will be withdrawn for
Hhe purpose Of affording additional pro-
#ection to north Atlantic ports As to
he report of the imminence aof a naval
&battle off the Philippine islands, the
Nnaval authorities here seriously doubt
whether the Spanish fleet will make
#Ftand against the American ships. Their
reason for this belief is that the Span
sh fleet is very inferior in number and
quality to the American force under
admiral Dewey The department there
Fore Is satisfied that the Spanish fleet
will not go to do battle on the high
.Beas with Admiral Dewey, but Will re-
4nain in port to secure the protection of
N he batteries Of Manila and are not ex-
tpecting an engagement for about two
Niays. Without giving any explanation
or setting this time the department al
Vows 1t to be surmised that the esti-
|niral Dewey's whereabouts. There Is
no certainty that there will be an en-
Hgagement at all in the immediate fu-
ure, the main purpose Of the American
Expedition being to seize and hold some
suitable Spanish territory in the Phil
fppines as a base Of operations in Ash
htic waters. 1t is possible that this can
be done without attacking the Span
ards at all, by selling a suitable port
pm some adjacent island without forti-
&ications. the sympathies of whose in
habitants are toward the insurgents.
No word had come to the department
|lp to the close Of office hours Of the ar
rival of the Montserrat at Cienfuegos.
. 'rhe officials are inclined to believe that
{ she has got In that port she did so
before the blockade of Cienfuegos had
( begun.
The state department posted a notice
4 yesterday stating it had been officially
advised of the Issuance Of neutrality
|prders by Italy, The Netherlands,
Switzerland, Norway and Sweden, Rus
4 sia and Colombia. To these should be
added Great Britain that country hav-
ng Issued a neutrality proclamation,
S although the state department has not
* yet been officially advised Of the fact.
[ is supposed also that the official no
tice of Frances neutrality will be re-
ceived by today. as press dispatches
announce that a proclamation was
agreed upon at Tuesdays cabinet oOun-
ell at Paris. UP to last night, however
the French ambassador, M. Cambon,
had not received any notice Of such
proclamation.
Including France, four out of the six
great powers of Europe have declared
their neutrality-namely, Great Britain,
France. Italy and Russia. There are
more Of the great powers, Germany and
Austria. neither of which has yet act
ed The delay of Austria does not cause
surprise, as Austria's sympathy with
Spain is more pronounced than that OF
any other country of Europe 1t is not
y doubted, however, that Austria will as
sumo a neutral attitude sooner or later.
The delay of Germany Is felt to be due
solely to Germanys consulting her own
commercial interests before shaping the
exact terms of her neutrality procla-
nation. From the first Germany and
Great Britain have opposed the right
OF search as detrimental to British and
German commerce. Thus far Spain has
announced a much more radical doc
trine than the United States in this
the Official Gazette last Monday an
nounced the purpose Of exercising the
right of search of all merchant ships on
the high seas. The presidents procla-
nation of Monday qualified the right OF
search by saying that il rs to be ex-
ercised with strict regard Of the rights
Of neutrals. and the voyages Of mail
steamers are not to be interfered with
except on the clearest ground Of sus-
picion," etc.
1t is understood that this matter OF
right of search is causing the hesita-
tion on the part of Germany and thatii
1t is satisfactorily established that Ger
man merchant ships shall not be SUBJ
ject to harassment Germany Will
adopt the same course as other nations
The action already taken by four OF
the six powers shows there will be nc
concert of interference either between
the great powers or between the three
& powers constituting the dreibund.
The attitude of Portugal is felt TO be
more important just at present thar
that OF any Of the great powers Of Eu.
rope owing to the presence Of the Span.
lsh fleet at the Cape Verde islands, be-
longing to Portugal. Neither the stat,
department nor the Portuguese minis
# lSi ot w WdenihSNout NlSCOunt de SantO-
Thyrso had received word up TO las
night as TO the purpose of Portugal OF
the question of neutrality This caused
& considerable apprehension in oficia
circles here, as il was felt that Portu
gals vicinage to Spain might inclin,
her to withhold neutrality for a time
She owns the Cape Verde group. tn,
81 Azores and the Madeiras, which woult
8 give the Spanish fleet three very i'm
portant bases of operations. Later In tn,
day the press dispatches from LisboI
saying that the cabinet council wouiC
declare neutrality today relieved thi.
apprehension considerably. The effec
of the decree will be to compel tn,
Spanish fleet at Cape Verde to leavl
Immediately. 1t is felt, however, tina
Portugal has dene her neighbor gooC
turn in deferring the proclamation. un
til today. as the Spanish fleet has beer
laying in stores and coal for severa
days past and doubtless will be full,
81 equipped and ready TO sail before thl
neutrality proclamation forces them ou
W Of Portuguese waters.
Spain has counted much on the co
Il A ..