Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-04-28

WASHINGTON, April 23.-There were
two further important steps in Wash
ington towards actual hostilities, not
to mention the overt act involved in
the seizure of the Spanish vessel Buena
Ventura off Key West. The first was
the issue by the president of his proc
lamatiOn announcing to the world
blockade of a number of Cuban ports,
and the second was the signing by
him of the bill providing for the util-
ization of the volunteer forces
in war. Following up the for
malities beginning with the
blockade proclamation, the state
department yesterday afternoon ad-
dressed an identical note to all of the
representatives of foreign nations &C
credited to Washington, notifying
them of the policy to be pursued by
this government in the matter of
privateering and neutrality. This was
followed by the sending of cable mes
sages to all American embassies and
legations abroad, ontaining the same
information in a little more Succinct
form for presentation to the govern
ments to which they are accredited.
The iimi tation of the blockade in
Cuba to a certain part of the island
was not officially explained yesterday,
but one plausible reason advanced for
the governments action was that by
refraining from establishing a block
ade over the eastern portion of the
island understood to be practically in
the control of the insurgents, the way
has been left open for them to free ely
receive all needed supplies and NUM-
tiOnS of war.
Reasons for Declaring War.
WASHINGTON, April 2S.-The state
department is now considering the adj
visibility of requesting congress to
declare war. While there is no abso-
lutte necessity for the Immediate decla-
ration there are several reasons why
the adoption of such a course would
prove advantageous to us. Strong
pressure is being brought to bear
upon the state department to in
duce 1T to make proper recon-
mendation to congress to serve as
basis of action. 1t is held that until
a formal declaration is issued we cam
not set in motion the neutrality laws
of foreign countries and in fact would
be practically in the position that
Spain occupied toward Cuba-denying
that war existed in spite of the actual
fact.
Spanish Ships Purposely Disabled.
GALVESTON, Tex. April 23.-The
British steamer Asloun. Capt P. FL.
Garnett, arrived yesterday from Las
Palmas. Grande Canary. one of the
Canary island group. He arrived at
Las Palmas March 81, two days after
the Spanish fiotilla left that port. He
was reliably informed that the
machinery of the several tor
pedo boats and torpedo boat
destroyers was purposely disabled
in pursuance of plot by
the engineers. They did not rel
ish the trip across the ocean in
torpedo boats, and, finding the Span
ish government determined to make
them go. as a last resort crippled the
machinery.
Nashville Captures Spanish Ship.
Key WEST, Fla. April 23.-The
United States fleet was about IL miles
off Sand Key light yesterday morning
when the Spanish merchantmen Buena
Ventura was sighted. bound north
The gunboat Nashville ran her down
and put shot across her bows The
Spaniard ignored the shot, but another,
closer to her bows, brought her to. A
prize crew under Ensign T. p. Ma