The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-28
BlVg Department Doesn't Believe
Spa9larts VIII Fight
NEUTRALITY OF NATIONS,
ArmY In Cuba Not Apt 10 Be in
Full Swing Before Fall.

washington, April ss,-'rhc war situation
Is saDs,antially thlss
Tho N,ccEadlng squadron remains pas
si,s lcforc Havana. with no present pur-
t,se of honNArding. or OF drawing the
rrs 20 ,hc shore batteries.
rae s,yatoeto purpose Of effective block
ais 81 thc cuban capital Is heing accom-
r hea To the sntlye satisfaction OF the
boriucs here.
There is 40 indication that a part az the
r.,t WIu be withdrawn for the purpose
aaar3ing additional protection to North
AuaUtlc ports,
As go The reports OF the imminenco Of a
naval hatlo on the phllpptne Islands, the
naval authorities here seriously doubt
whether The spanish feet will make
stand sealust the American ships. Their
reason ioy this bclief Is that the Spanish
U,t3 ,s very inferior In number and .aual-
Uy 90 thc Apssrloan force under Admiral
p,wty
Ts, department. therefore is satisfied
tbat th, spanish fleet will not so 90 do bat
uy ga the hish seas with Admiral Dewey.
bo, WM Nmain In port 70 secure the pro-
tocton OF the batteries of Manila, aud con-
sequouuy ga engagement Is not expected
for ahou, Two days. There Is no certain
~ that there win b. an engagement at all
iu tho immediate future, the main purpose
a. thc American expedition oeing to seize
ori ho,G some suitable Spanish territory in
ts, Philippines as a base OF operations Ia
Asiatic waters. II Is possible that this
can b done without attacking the Spanish
iect al an by seizlng a suitable port on
come adjacent island without tortihca-
tons, the sympathles OF whose Inhabitants
60. with the insurgents.
SO vora had come 10 the department up
g. tho close of office hours OF the arrival
ot 'he Moutscrrat at CienfUegos. The Of
t.nls are inclined to believe that II she
las soften in to that port she did so be-
teft tho blockade OF Cienfaegoes had be-
g4u
fac very fact that the Madrid officials
tavc rather ostentatiously declared that
ta spanish fleet has sailed to bomhard the
e.oos on tho North American coast is TAX
~ as oertsin indication at the navy de
tar'meut of the utter improbability OF such
movement II this were contemplated the
spanish officials would be the very last
PERSONS to make their purpose public
some vexation was felt at the injury sus-
taiocd hy the Gushing. Luckily the depart
men, will he able to replace her very
SHORTLY, for President Malster OF the Col
umb-an lron Works. called at the navy
o.pariment this afternoon 20 announce
'at the torpedo boat Mckee, twenty
Ano'ter, would be ready for trial to-mor-
iow, She viii be sent at once 10 Norfoll;
10 have the finishing touches added and
'en win Join the squadron.
lu the war department there Is a grow
ms belief that the army operating in Cuba
". not De in fun swing before next fan,
Nasn the rainy season has ended That
20. however. has not prevented the Of
l.s whose duty it Is to set the troops to-
.r from pushing their work with the
f'etest energy.
mus within twelve hours after the Hull
became a law. the department was able
'' aegin TO send out circulars prescribing
methods TO be followed in recruiting
10 reeuiar army up to it's fun war
s"easth Of si,ooo men. The enormous
1nt OF work involved In thus increas-
'he army. regular and volunteer, has
20 Gen. Miles 10 abandon his southern
' Tor The present
e officials Of the department were
"h' lined to-day with all sorts OF pro-
ana appeals against their action IN
Nlag the assignments OF troops among
volunteer forces and many changes
be looked for.
-e state department posted q notice 10.
stating il mad been officially advised %
issuance OF neutrality orders by italy
Nttherlands Switzerland. Norway and
slen Russia apd Colombia. To these
"a lo added Great Britain. that coun-
having issued a neutrality proclama-
although the state department has
yen been officially advised Of the fact
is supDosed also that the Official no.
oi frances neutrality will be reoeiv-
tomorrow, as press dispatches am
tiee that proclamation was agreed
az Yesterdays cabinet council az
10 60 tonight. however. the
zen an bassador, a. Camb0n had not
yea iy notice OF such proclamation.
ANlr France. four out Of the six
''ea' - ers Of Europe have declared