Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-04-27

| bOIS VI the Globe Yesterday
| showing That the Nations of the
Earth Will Keep Hands Off and
Allow Spain and United States
| to Fight it Out-A Proclamation
| Regarded the Seizure of Prizes.
Some of the Spanish Ships AL
ready Taken May be Released.
| Secretary Sherman Has Finally
Retired Army and Navy Plans
and Activity.
Washington, D. c., April 26.-Con-
ditions in Washington are rapidly set
Ting down to those of actual war.
! Notices came to the State Depart
ment from the four quarters of the
globe to-day showing that the nations,
as a rule, are prepared to assume an
attitude of strict neutrality as between
the United States and Spain in the
present struggle.
In most cases they were in answer
to the Identical note sent out yesterday
by the State Department to all United
| States embassies and legations instruct
ing them to inform the governments
to which they were accredited that war
has existed since April 81
| Great Britain always has taken an
advance stand in the principles of neu-
trality SO that it was with great inter-
est that the news was received here
of the terms of neutrality proclama-
ton issued in London.
On the whole the officials are dis
| posed to take the view that a strict
| adherence by Great Britain to these
| rules will be rather more advanta-
| geous to the United States than to
Spain, particularly as we are now ope-
rating in the naval sense close to our
own base of supplies and in all prob
ability soon will cut Spain off from the
two bases that she now has in the
|
The President issued a proclamation
during the day laying down rules to
the seizure of prizes and the result it
is believed will be the release of some
of the ships already captured, although
| it will be for the prize courts to de-
Jermine in each case whether the con-
ditions which the ship was captured
are such to warrant release.
THE IMPRESSION PREVAILS
that the Buena Ventura, the first on the
list of prizes, will be declared no
| prize. The case of the Panama. whose
seizure was reported to-day, is more
complicated owing to the fact that
while otherwise exempt the ship was
| reported to have contained supplies
for the Spanish army in Cuba which
are contraband. However, it may be
said that while the settlement of the
questions will be left to the courts. the
administration believes the greatest
liberality should be shown in the an
plication of the laws where a vessel is
not contraband or attempting to run
| the blockade. That is shown in the
| liberal terms of the proclamation it
| self, by which the prize courts must
| be guided. 1t is noted also that the
| administration has not been deferred
! by any criticism in Congress from
| again formally pledging itself to the
nations of the world to refrain from
| privateering and abide by the declara-
| ton of Paris of 1856.
So far as is known, all the United
States consuls have made their way
safely out of Spain.
Secretary Sherman retired finally to-
day from the position of Secretary Of
State and his successor was confirmed
in the person of Judge Day John Bas-
sett Moore undoubtedly will be con-
| firmed tomorrow in Judge Days place.
The latter is expected to return to
| Washington in about two days time
THE ARMY REORGANIZATION
bill became law during the day, and
| the War Department officials have be-
| gan to devise the best means of carry
ing out the purposes of the act which
| will result in an increase of the regu-
| lar army to more than 10000 men.
In the War Department preparations
| went on with ceaseless energy for the
| organization of the volunteer army
| All officers were detailed who were to
| be sent to the various States and Ter
ritories to muster the guardsmen into
F.! the service of the United States
The plans for the full organization
| of the army were also perfected To
| provide officers for the regular army
and volunteers, Secretary Alger or
| dered the assignment to duty of all
/ the cadets at the West Point military
| academy who would In the ordinary
course of events have graduated in
4 June.
| The greatest anxiety was shown at
the Navy Department for news from
/ the blockading squadron. Notwith-
standing the frequent reports that came
| from two unofficial sources. of engage
| monte hptwean the fleet and fhn chnro