River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-04-28
CUBAN PORTS CLOSED.
Blockade Of Havana and Other Cit
les Now in Effect.
Text of President McEtnIey's Proc
Iamation of the Fnct-BIockade
Limited to Only Part of
the Island.

Washington, April 23.-The following
proclamation, announcing a blockade
of Cuban ports, was issued Friday:
by the President of the United States:
A Proclamation. Whereas, by a joint reso-
luton passed by the congress and approved
April 20, 1898. and communicated TO the gov
eminent of Spain, II was demanded that
said government at once relnquish its su-
thority and government in the island OF
Cuba, and withdraw its land and naval
forces from Cuba and Cuban waters; and
the president of the United States was d.
rected and empowered TO use the entire
land and naval forces of the United States,
and to cali into the actual service of the
United States the militia Of the several
states TO such extent as might be necessary
to carry said resolution into effect; and
Whereas. In carrying into effect said
resolution, the president of the United
States deems 1t necessary to set on foot
and maintain a blockade of the north coast
of Cuba. including all ports of said coast
between Cardenas and Bahia Honda, and
he port of Cienfuegos, on the south coast
Of Cuba;
Declares blockade.
Now, therefore, I, William Mckinley,
president of the United States, In order to
enforce the said resolution. do hereby de-
clare and proclaim that the United States
of America have instituted and will main
tain blockade of the north coast of Cuba,
including ports on said coast. between Car
denas and Bahia Honda, and the port of
Clenfuegos on the south coast OF Cuba
aforesaid. in pursuance of the laws of the
United States and the law of nations np-
plicable TO such cases. An efficient force
will be posted so as to prevent the entrance
and exit of vessels from the ports afore-
said. Any neutral vessel approaching
said ports, or attempting to leave the same,
wit n al H.
lishment of such blockade, will be duly
warned by the commander of the blockad-
ing forces, who will indorse on hersregister
the fact, and the date, of such warning
where such Endorsement was made; and If
the same vessel shall again attempt to en-
ter any blockaded port, she will be captured
and sent to the nearest convenient port for
such proceedings against her and her car
go a s prize as many be deemed advisable
Neutral vessels lying IN any of said
ports at the time of the establishment OF
such blockade Will be allowed 50 days TO is
sue therefrom.
IN witness whereof. have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal of the United
States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this
22d day of April, a. d. 1898, ard of the in
dependence of the United States, the one
Hundred and Twenty-second.
"(SIeneD WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
by the President
JOHN SHERMAN. Secretary of State"
The limitation of the blockade in
Cuba 10 a certain part of the island was
not officially explained, but one plausi-
bic reason advanced for the govern
ment's action was that by refraining
from establishing blockade over the
eastern portion of the island under
stood to be practically in the control of
the insurgents the way has been left
open for them TO freely receive all
needed supplies and munitions of war.