The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-04-23
VAR ISACERTAINTY.
Stirring Events Succeed One An
other with Startling Rapidly.
SQUADRON ORDERED TO HAVANA.
The Administration Regards the Action of
the Spanish Government as Rendering
Further Diplomatic Action Unnec-
essary-Cabinet Meeting Called.

though not yet officially declared SO by
congress.
The stirring events of Wednesday
were succeeded yesterday with rap
idity by others of equal Importance,
eliminating in the afternoon in orders
for the departure of the North Atlantic
squadron for Havana This practi-
cally is an act of war, so hat war
between this country and Spain may
fairly be said to date from yesterday,
April 81, 1898.
Two minutes after the opening of
the state department yesterday morn
ing came word from Minister Wood
ford that the Spanish government, hay
ing anticipated and prevented his in
tention to present the presidents ulti-
matum, 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 further stated that it re-
garded the course adopted by Spain as
one placing upon that country the re-
spOnsibility for the breach of friendly
relations.
Mr.. Woodford's telegram resulted in
the calling of Il special cabinet meet
ing to arrange an outline of Il plan Of
campaign. or rather to determine how
to begin the execution of the plan of
campaign already prepared by the
strategic boards of the army and navv
departments. The immediate result
was the order for the North Atlantic
squadron to begin the blockade of la
Vana harbor.
how much further than this the cab
met progressed in its deliberations
could not be learned for tne obvious
reason that the time has now come
when the interests o. thc government
require that the movements of ships
ami troops should be guarded with the
greatest care from undue publicity in
order to prevent the enemy from talk
ing advantage OF information.
he North Atlantic squadron under
Capt. SIMPSONS command makes a
spiendid array of fine vessels, COM
prIsing battlCships such rs the Iowa
and Indiana; monitors like the Puri-
tan and Terror; armOred cruisers like
the New FORK. flagship; protected
cruisers such as the Cincinnati. Mar
blchead and Montgomery; gunboats
like the Vicksburg. Wilmington
and Annapolis. and regular tor
pedO boats such as the Ericsson.
Cushing. NinSlow and the like. not to
speak of the large number of fast
yachts and ether vessels that have been
added to the Feet 10y purchase. This
force is quite competent to blockade all
the ports in CHba. or at least all of the
ports connected by rail with Havana.
and Sd likely To be used to supply hat
place in the event of siege with food
and munitions of war.
his statement is to be taken with
the understanding that it does not con
template the coming to Cuban waters
OF the Spanish fleet. In such case.
however, the probable policy would be
to abandon the blockade and endeavor
to force the Spanish feet to battle.
Minister Woodford's action during
the day, as reported to the state de-
partment in a late telegram. indicates
that he was following a carefully-pre-
pared programme.
y significant feature of his message
WAS the statement that the Spanish
government notified him that it re-
garded the withdrawal Of Minister
Polo as terminating diplomatic negotia-
tiuns, showing that it vas not disposed
to accept the expressed intention of
our government to continue Mr.. Wood
ford as a medium of communication
until Saturday moor Mr.. Woodford
also announced that he had instructed
Consul-Gcneral Bower at Barcelona to
cauSe all the American cousuls in Spain
to immediately withdraw from the
country.
Il further stated that he had in
formed The Spanish government. after
aS.ing for his passports, that ne had
placed the American legation in Mad
rid and American interests in Spain
generally in the hands of the British
embassy.
me ambassador. Rt. Hon. Sir Henry
Drummond Wolf. is not at present in
Madrid. SO American interests Will be
confined to the British charge. Sir
George q. +. Berham. bart.
~ al AAbNHA9 HiA' BNt t'nNS th4S lS-
liCvcs the state department from fur
Their negotiations as 20 Cuba. save those
relating to privateering, neutrality Oh
scrvance and the like.
? y Il found necessary to frame a
p,,.ue to the Powers of the intention
OF orr government to establish Il block
ade OF tiIvana, a notification required
bv international law.
he navy department yesterday,
a. dc from giving the orders to the
squadron. continued the work of add
ing to the navy. and purchased another
ship at Norfolk as an auxiliary craft
and II small yachts.
The news OF the actual beginning OF
war was received with great enthusi-
assn at the war department. and there
were many speculations as to the desti-
nation of the Spanish squadron. One
suggestion is that it is heading to cut
of the fine battleship Oregon, now
on its way from the Pacific
coast around to join Capt. Simpsons
command. There is also some fear
that the Oregon may be taken at an