Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-04-25
Events at the Capitol Are
Moving Rapidly.
A Formal Declaration of War Will Be
Made Today.
War Preparations Being Vigorously Forward
ed by the Government.


the United States, tomorrow. The de-
cision to do so has been reached after
mature celebration in order to safe
guard the interests of the United
States. All the arguments pro and con
We're discussed this afternoon at the
White House at a conference in which
President Mckinley. Attorney General
Griggs. Assistant Secretary Day and
Senators Davis and Hale participated.
made that Congress, tomorrow would
be asked to declare what it is held al
ready exists. This was the most i'm
portant Washington development of
the first war Sunday
The President will send a message to
Congress. tomorrow. to be delivered
Immediately after its converting. set
ting forth the facts in the case and
asking Congress to. formally declare
war in order that there may be no mis-
understanding on the part of other ma
tons. The most important point in the
will be the announcement that Spain
has made formal reply to our ultima
tum. This reply has not been given
to the public and it was supposed that
none had been received. The document
is formal acknowledgment by Spain
and also acceptance by that country of
the ultimatum as a virtual declaration
of war. Congress will therefore be
asked to recognize this condition of af-
fairs and to declare it to the world US
ing Spains concession as a reason for
it.
The war resolution has been prepared
and it is understood that the two COM
mittees having charge the foreign al
fairs of the two Houses of Congress
VIII be prepared to report upon it very
speedily-probably Immediately after
the reading of the measure. An effort
Will then be made to have the resolu-
ton 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 dav has related al
most entirely to the execution of the
plans hitherto announced
For the President and LIS cabinet
circle, Sunday passed quietly and UNI
eventually. Secretary Alger escorted
his daughter to the White House dur
ipc
pany with the President attended
Divine services at the Metropolitan
Methodist church, Secretary Alger go
ing to Presbyterian church. Secre-
tary and Mrs. Gage also drove to the
White House and accompanied the
President and Miss Alger to the Met
ropoltan. Mrs. Mckinley has not yet
returned from her trip to New York
City. Adjutant General Corbin and
Secretary Alger conferred in the after
noon respecting arrangements for call
ing on the Governors of the states and
territories for the quota of troops they
are to furnish under the Presidents
proclamation asking for 900 men,
The number of men in each branch of
the service, viz: Infantry. cavalry, ant-
artillery remains to be settled besides
many other matters of detail
In the state, war and navy depart
ments, many of the officials were at
their desks directing the executiin of
policies heretofore determined upon.
Nither Secretary Alger nor Secretary
Long was on hand, but Assistant Sec
rotary Meiklejohn and Assistant Sec
rotary Roosevelt were on duty for sew
eral hours. Mr.. Meiklejohn has al
ready received. a long number of appli-
cations from newspapers to permit
their representatives to accompany the
army, but as stated in the circular is
sued, yesterday. the number to be ac-
corded the privilege will be limited.
The assistant secretary is busily en-
gagged in supervising the general pre-
parations for the transportation Of
troops overland and also to Cuba for
which large number of vessels will be
chartered. In the quartermasters' of
flee nearly the whole clerical force was
on hand. The details are far from com
plete but Quartermaster Ludington be-
1ieves everything will be in readiness
by the time the troops are ready to
move. 1t may be that the railroad ar
rangements for the transfer of the
mediate charge of the quartermasters
of the various army departments who
are fully acquainted with the facilities
at hand for doing this work Some
understanding with the railroads or
the basis of uniform rates of travel
will be arranged if possible so that the
soldiers may be sent by the shortes
possible route with the least charge t,
Of
ment of the troops with the uniform:
ana tents also are to be settled, al
though many of the state organiZa
lions are prepared in this respect TIL,
department has a number of branche
IN which tents, uniforms, etc. ar,
manufactured. but it will be compelled
TO call on the service of outside firm
TO meet the present demands
Gen. Miles was at his office in tn,
war department for some time in con
ference with his staff officers Antici
patlng service in the field the genera
has had manufactured several hundre,
sapre-taches. or officers dispatch case
which are in use among the Europea,
armies. These are manufactured n
leather, are about nine inches sonar
and can be attached to the belt aroun,
the officers waist. With them is :