The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-04-16
Within Which to Answer Whether
She Will EYaCuate Cuba.
A Refusal the Signal for Action on Part of
This Government, and That Action
the Vigorous Use of Our Naval
and Land Forces.

WASHINGTON April 10. - The
Washington POSTS" summary of the
situation, to be published in to-mor-
rows issue, includes the following
statement:
Immediately the President is en-
powered to use the army and navy he
will issue an ultimatum to Spain, Civ
ing her tWenty-fOur hours, possibly
forty-eight, within which to answer
whether she win peaeeably withdraw
her troops and flag from Cuba. Her
refusal to evacuate the island-which
is, of course, eXpected-will be the sig
nal for action on the part of this Gov
eminent, and that action will be the
vigorous use of our naval and land
forces. The Post" makes this state
ment upon the highest possible author
ity, the course of action indicated hav-
ing been decided upon at yesterday
Cabinet meeting
Should the resolutions reach the
President, accompanied by the amend
ment recognizing the Republic of Cuba,
the President will sign them, but in a
brief message to Congress he will hold
that the Constitutional prerogative
vested in the President to recognize
other governments cannot be taken
away, and that the amendment is,
therefore, void and imperative"
WAR PREPARATIONS.
WASHINGTON, April 15.-Several
important and decisive steps in the
work of war preparations were taken
was decided to assign the naval re-
serves of New York, New Jersey, Mas
sachusetts, Maryland and Michigan to
the five auxiliary cruisers hereafter to
be known as patrol boats. The ques-
ton of American line steamers was
also wound up to-day, with the deci-
sion to charter all four of them, the
ST Louis, the St Paul, Paris and New
York. The two first mentioned have
already been acquired by the depart
ment, though the form of acquisition
was tentative, the department being
undecided whether it would purchase
these two only or charter all four.
With the announcement that these
magnificent ships had been added to
the auxiliary fleet came the statement
that the department had also pur-
chased the Yorktown of the Old Do
minion line, and the Yumuri of the
he
fleet of converted vessels now includes
the pick of the ocean liners and coast
ing vessels running under the Ameri-
can flag.
But of greater moment than any of
these developments was the reopening
of negotiations for the purchase of two
warships and several torpedo boats
from Chile and Argentina. One of the
gins, just completed at an English
yard. and regarded as one of the most
formidable of her class ahoat. it is
intimated that the international dis
pute between Chile and Argentina was
assuming such satisfactory shape as to
warrant the presumption that theywere
not averse to parting with a portion of
their navies With this possible cause
for trouble in fair way OF removal,
Mr. Flint. who is conducting the nego-
tiations, said that the ablest and most
conservative men in both Chile anu
Argentina are in favor of reducing the
naval establishment and econonlizing
expenditures. 1t has been suggested
that Chile shall sell the O'rhggins and
one torpedo boat, While Argentina
shall dispose of their GarIbaldl or the
San Martin. both fine cruisers AMI TWO
tornedo boats. This would leave the
two nayies in about the same respective
condition. Should Chile and Argentina
decide to sell these vessels, 1t VIII De
nraoticafI-s assured that they would De
added to the naval list OF the Cniteu
States
orders have been issued to the naVal
reserves of Massachusetts, Maryiai'u'
New YORK and New Jersey to neiu
themselves in readiness eor duty on pa
troll shipss but the militia viii NOT ae'-
uany 90 INTO service aboard the ships
until s certain that hostiliues a1e
to ensEe. The patrol ships VIII De as
signed to the Atlantic Coast line anc
form apart of the general plan oil cS'ist
defensk. The scheme. as UNDERSTOOD -
to assign one of the patrol Vessels 10