The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-25


formally declaring war against Spain
will be introduced in the congress of
the United States tomorrow. The de-
cision to do so has been reached after
mature deliberation. All the argu-
ments, pro and con, were discussed this
afternoon at the White House, at a
conference in which President McKin-
| ley, Attorney General Griggs, Assist
ant Secretary Day and Senator's Davis
hand Hale participated, and on its break
ling up announcement was made that
congress tomorrow would be asked to
declare what it is held already exists.
This was the most important Wash
ington development on the first war
Sunday.
The president will send a message to
congress tomorrow, to be delivered I'M
mediately after its converting, setting
forth the facts in the case. and ask
ing congress to formally declare war, in
order that there may be no misunder-
standing on the part Of other nations.
REPLY TO ULTIMATUM.
The most important point in the mes
sage from a news point of view Will
be the announcement that Spain has
This reply has not been given to the
public, and it was supposed that none
had been received.
The document is a formal acknowl-
edgment by Spain, and as an accept
ance by that country of the ultimatum
as a virtual declaration of war. Con-
gresS will, therefore, be asked to rec
ognize this condition of affairs, and to
declare it to the world, using SPANS
concession A reason for il
WAR RESOLUTIONS.
The war resolution has been pre-
pared and it is understood that the
two committees having charge Of the
foreign affairs for the two houses of
congress will be prepared to report on
it very shortly-probably Immediately
after the reading of the message. An
effort will then be made TO have the
rest taken up and passed forthwith,
and it is not now believed that there
will be any formidable opposition to
this course in either house. Otherwise
the news of the day here related al
most entirely to the execution of plans
hitherto expected.
TRANSPORTATION.
Assistant Secretary Day is busily en-
gagged in making the general prepara-
ton for the transportation OF the
troops overland and also to Cuba, for
which a large number of vessels viii
be chartered. In the quartermaster'
office nearly the whole clerical force
was on hand.
The details are far from complete.
but the quartermaster general believes
everything will be in readiness by the
time the troops are ready TO move. 1t
may be that the railroad arrangements
for the transfer Of troops overland Will
be left TO the immediate charge of the
quartermasters of the various army de-
partments, who are fully acquainted
with the facilities at hand for doing
this work. Some understanding with
the railroads on the basis of uniform
rates OF travel will be arranged, if pos
sible, so that the soldiers may be sent
by the shortest possible route with the
least charge to the government. Cues
lions of equipment of the troops with
uniforms and tents also are to be set
tied, although many of the state or
CARNATIONS are prepared in this re- !
Spect. The department has number
of branches in which tents, uniforms, /,
etc, are manufactured, but it will be
compelled to rely on the service of out /
side firms to meet the present de-
mands.
HANDY EQUIPMENT.
General Miles was at his office in the /
war department some time in confer /
ence with his staff officers. Anticipat- /
ing active service in the field, the gem
eral has had manufactured several /
hundred sabretaches or officers dis /
patch cases, which are in use among
the European armies. They are manu- /
featured of leather, are about nine /
inches square, and can be attached TO ,
the belt around the. officers waist. With .
them is a fairly good sized isingless .
map case, by which an officer may al {
ways have at hand an outline Of the /
he is traversing. Spain natu-
rally will try in every way to mislead .
the United States.
Most of the vessels of the Asiatic
squadron-which, according to the AS
sociated Press dispatches. is to sail (
with sealed orders, according to the
latest published advices-were rendez
voused at Hong Kong. The squadron
is under command of Commodore
George Dewey, "a wel!-l1nown and trust
ed naval officer, and is made up of
seven vessels, excluding the Golfers
recently purchased by the department.
The Olympia, a protected cruiser, is the
flagship, with speed of over q knots,
while the other ships are the protected
cruiser Baltimore, of 20 knots; the pro-
tected cruiser Raleigh, of 10 knots; the
protected cruiser Boston, 10 knots; the
gunboat Concord, of nearly II knots;
the gunboat Petrol, of nearly Y knots,
and the iron ship Monocacy, of IL
knots.
vrnD ANTI N7tvu DrTDEATrC