The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-22
YEsTERDAY,s nEvE1opMrNrs.

Yesterdays DEVELOPMENTS.
April I'll, 1898, will probably be
recorded In history as the begin-
ming OF the war between spain and
the United States. General Wood
ford's curt dismissal from Madrid
is regarded as "a virtual decIara-
tiOn Of war. Spain's action WINS
followed by an order for the dis.
patch OF Commodore SIMPSONS
great feet of vvar ships to Havana
for the purpose of blocLadinE that
harbOr. These two acts place
Spain and this cOuatry in the at
titude OF beIIigerents without a.
formal declaration of war. The
order for the fleet to proceed from
Key West to Havana was issued
after "A special meeting of the Cab
tnet. 1t was also decided to notify
the European ard othe- nations
that 1T is the intention of this gov
ernment to blockade Havana. 1T
is believed the powers will force
Spain to respect the declaration of
Paris regarding privateering and
the ships OF DeutraIs.
Presider- McKinIey's uItimatum,
which Minister WOodfOrd was in
structed to present to the Spanish
government, has been made pub
lie. 1t was accompanied by a sum-
mary of the resolutions of Cou-
gress, and gave Spain until Satur-
day noon to make a satisfactory
response to the demand of the
United States that she at once
withdraw her land and naval
forces from Cuba and Cuban
waters and reIinquish pOssessfoN
of the island. Spain's answer vvas
prompt and a virtual declaration
of war. Senior GuIIon, minister for
foreign affairs, who had received
a copy of the uItimatum. probably
from Senior Polo, did not wait for
General WOodfOrd to present Ghe
note, but at once handed our MIN
lister his passports, with the nOti-
hcatiOn shat diplomatic relations
between the United States and
Spain had been severed. General
WOOdfOrd immediately sent word
to the cOnsuIs throughout the Pc
ninsula that he had been dis
missed, trrned the affairs of the
legation over to the British em-
bassy and left Madrid for the
French frontier.
There is great activity In the
War and Navy Departments, but
much secrecy as to plans for the
capture of Cuba and the destruc-
tiOn OF the Spanish fleet If it ven-
lures across the Atlantic. Prep
aratIOns for putting the country
ON Il war footing have been per-
fected. Arrangements have been
made for issuing call for 1OO,-
900 volunteers. Indiana's quota
will be 3,442. About $4,000 of the
volunteers will be concentrated at
guIf ports within ten days, ready
for embarIzati tion to Cuba. The
navy purchased another ship and
several yachts. Orders were is
gums, and the preIiminaries of the
Havana blockade were completed.
AN = mGElnS OA tnE SpanlSn OaD-
met Premier Sagasta told the
Queen Regent "the first cannon
shot is almost audibIe." In n semi
official note IL was stated that the
Spanish fleet had gone to meet the
American EquadrOns. There is
much excitement in Spain aud hur-
ried prspara tions for war. Eighty
thousand reserves have been
called out.
The Senate passed the bill to
temporarily increase the military
establishment of the United States
in time of wars the sundry civil
bill, which carries appropriations
for cORst defense, and "a Joint res
OIution giving the President au-
thOrity 10 prevent the expectation
of coal and war material. The
House also passed the last-named
measure.
Captain General BEanco hns is
sued n manifesto which says; "If
the United states want the Island
of Cuba, let them come and take
ft. lie appeals to all Cubnns to de-
feRd their homes, and closes with
IA call "TO arms, my feiIow-coun-
trymen! To arms!"
The fleet was still at Key West
late last night. Preparations have
been made for departure, and it is
thought the movement towards
Havana Will begin this morning.
-
Special TO the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. April 21-Not shot Ia
been fred. but war exists between Spail
and the United States BY act OF Spain dip
lomatlc relations were abruptly terminate