Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-04-28
WAR DOGS ARE LOOSED.
Diplomacy Fails and Cannon Will
Settle Cuba's Fate.
The North Atlantic Squadron is Ordered
to Blockade Havana and Other Sea-
ports on the Island-No Formal
Declaration Marks the Open
ing of Hostiiities.

though not yet officially declared so by
congress. The stirring events of We'd
nesday were succeeded yesterday with
rapidity by others of equal Importance,
eliminating in the afternoon in orders
for the departure of the North Atlantic
squadron for Havana. This practically
is an act of war, so that the war be-
tween this country and Spain may be
said to date from April 21, 1898.
Two minutes after the opening of the
state department yesterday came word
from Minister Woodford that, the
Spanish government having antici-
pated and prevented his intention to
present the presidents ultimatum, he
had asked for his passports.
The administration in "A public state
ment announced that it regarded the
action of the Spanish government as
rendering unnecessary further diplo-
matte action on the part of the United
States, and that it regarded the course
adopted by Spain as placing upon that
country the responsibility for the
breach of friendly relations. Mr..
Woodford's telegram resulted in the
calling of a special cabinet meeting to
paign, or rather to determine how to
begin the execution of plan of cam
paign already prepared by the STRAIT
egic boards of the army and navy de-
partments. The immediate result was
the order for the North Atlantic squad
ron to begin the blockade of Havana.
The North Atlantic squadron under
Capt. SIMPSONS command makes a
splendid array of fine vessels, com
prising battleships such as the Iowa
and Indiana; monitors like the Puri-
tan, Terror and Amphitrite; armored
cruisers like the New York, flagship;
protected cruisers such as the Cincin-
natl, Marblehead and Montgomery;
gunboats like the Vicksburg, Whining
ton and Annapolis; regular torpedo
boats such as the Ericsson, Cushing
and Winslow, not to speak of the large
number of fast yachts and other vessels
that have been added to the fleet by
purchase. This force is quite compe-
tent to blockade all the ports in Cuba,
or at least all the ports connected by
rail with Havana and likely to be used
to supply that place in the event of
siege with food and munitions of war
This statement is to be taken with the
understanding that it does not con-
template the coming to Cuban waters
of the Spanish feet. In such case the
probable policy would be to abandon
the blockade and endeavor to force the
Spanish fleet to battle.
Minister Woodford's action during
the day, as reported to the state de-
partment, indicated that he was follow
ing carefully prepared programme.
A significant feature of his message
was the statement that the Spanish
government notified him that it re-
garded its withdrawal of Minister Polo
as terminating diplomationegotiatio
showing that it was not disposed to ac-
cept the intention of our government
to continue Mr.. Woodford as a medium
of communication until Saturday noon.
Mr.. Woodford also announced that he
had instructed Consul General Bowen
at Barcelona to cause all the American
consuls in Spain to Immediately with
draw from the country. He further
stated that he had informed the Span
iSh government after asking for his
passports that he had placed the Amer
lean legation in Madrid and American
interests in Spain generally in the
hands of the British embassy.
1t was found necessary to frame
notice to the powers of the intention
of our government to establish block
ade of Havana, a notification required
by international law.
The navy department., aside from
giving orders to the squadron, contin-
ued the work of adding to the navy
and purchased another ship at Norfolk
as an auxiliary craft and some small
yachts. The news of the actual be-
ginning of war was received with
gravity at the department and there
were many speculations as to the des-
tination of the Spanish squadron. One
suggestion was that it is heading to
cut off the fine battleship Oregon, now
on its way from the Pacific coast, to
Join Capt. SIMPSONS command. There
IS also some fear that the Oregon NAV
be taken at an unfair advantage with
out knowledge of the existence of war
by the Spanish torpedo destroyer now
at Buenos Ayres. Possibly with a view
to avoiding a conflict in the straits of
Magellan, where she would be at dis
advantage, the Oregon has been or
dered to go around Cape Horn.
Relative to the news from Chicago
that the three revenue cutters on the
lakes cannot be availed of for naval
purposes, it is said that the department
had some time ago abandoned the idea
of using these craft, owing to the diff
culties in getting them to the Atlantic
seaboard.
In the war department many orders
few to and fro relative to the concen-
tration of troops in the south, and Sec
retary Alger was several times in con-
sultation with the president, resulting
in the determination to call for 100, 900
volunteers as soon as congress passes
the necessary legislation.
Postmaster General Gary Resigns.
NaShinnrfnn 40 d.. 4