The herald., 1898-04-22
STATE OF WAR EXISTS.
.nvUGH FORMAL DECLARATION
is LACKING
BREAKING OFF OF RELATIONS
Places the Credit or Blame of the
Initiative on the Government
Of Spain
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, April Elm the opin
ion OF the State Department state of war
now exists between Spain and the United
States Moreover. this in its view has been
! brought about by the action of the Spanish
| government, which, in notifying Minister
Woodford that it had broken diplomatic
/ relations thereby took the initiative 1t is
presumed that by this time the various
Consuls in Spain who have so far withou.
exception stuckloyally at their posts, are
now making their way as rapidly as pos
sible across the frontier into France.
While Spain is not a party to the Paris
agreement prohibiting privateering, 1t is
rot doubted that in view of the announced
decision of our government to refrain from
the issue of letters of marque, the Spanish
government will adopt a similar course.
At any rate it can be safely asserted that
the powers of Europe are all deeply in
terested in maintaining their commerce
free from annoyances of privateering, and
will insist that the practice shall not be
adopted by the Spanish in this case.
Diplomatically, it is probably true that
the ultimatum of the United States has
ernment, for the copy delivered yesterday
to the Spanish minister at Washington
can scarcely be regarded, in a technical
sense, as formal communication, but
rather as piece of information commu-
ricated through courtesy. 1t is not per-
oeived, however, that any substantial ad
vantage has been gained by the Spanish
government in preventing the formal de-
livery of the ultimatum through Mr.. Wood
ford, although it may be that they have
technically escaped what they regarded as
an attempted insult to the Spanish nation.
Assistant Secretary Day was closeted
for some time in conference with Second
Assistant Secretary Adee, and it is be-
lieved that there is in progress of prepara-
ton q notice to United States ministers
and ambassadors abroad, notifying them
of the attitude of the United States gov
ernment in the pending crisis.
1t seems to be the common understand
ing, that in view of the action of the Spar
ish government, there is now no reason
for delay on the part of our government
in acting upon the joint resolution direct
ing Intervention, for the refusal OF the
Spanish government to receive the COM
munication, knowing its character, is to
be construed only as refusal OF its con-
ditions. Movements of our army and navy,
therefore, will follow, and it will not be
necessary to wait until Saturday noon. 1t
is still absolutely unknown to anyone, out
side the administration circles here, ana
even in that case only to a few, how the
campaign will be directed, and any attempt
to outline publicly it's details is bitterly
resented by the army and navy officers
charged with the preparation of the strate-
gic plans of the two departments.
News came to the department that
tended to confirm the newspaper reports
that the formidable Spanish naval force
at st. Vincent, Cape de Verde islands, had
sailed last night for an unknown destina-
ton. Naval experts say that, leaving ont
of consideration the relative strength of
the personnel, the Spanish force is at least
equal. and probably much superior in
some respects, to Commodore Schley $
fleet. 1t is not believed by any of the naval
officers that the Spanish fleet will under
take to cross the Atlantic and attack Com
modore Schley on his own base but 1t
would seem equally impracticable for the
commodore to take his flying squadron
across the Atlantic to the Spaniards, un-
less he is reinforced.
The Spanish newspapers give us sur
rrise in the shape of threat of naval
visitation, and although nothing positive is
known as to the destination of the Span
ish squadron, it is stated that it has start
ed on it's return to Spain, 1900 miles dis
tant from Cape Verde, thus indicating
purpose to await an engagement in their
own waters. 1t is likely that in this event
the first port made will be the Canary ISL
ands, distant about $50 miles from st. Vim
cent and a Spanish possession, partially
fortified and fair base. 1t is not believed
that the Spanish naval commander will be
foolish enough to run the risk of taking
his torpedo boat fiotilla across the At
lantic.
Naval officials refuse most positively to
say whether they intend to force an issue
by sending supplies to the reconcentrados
in Cuba on merchant ship conveyed by
man-of-war 1t is known that this plan
has been under consideration, but a sug
sestion has been made that the Spaniards
might avoid the issue entirely by per-
hitting the merchant ships to land the
stores without molestation, and then right
afterward seize the stores for their own
use.
Particular reticence is observed regard
ing the movements of the battleship Ore
gon and the gunboat Marietta, now on
their way around the Horn to join the
war fleet in the Gulf of Mexico The Ore
gon sailed from Callao on the 9th inst,
since which time nothing has been heard
Of her. 1t is believed she has passed Val
paraiso and is now nearing Montevideo,
Uruguay. \ formidable Spanish torpedo
boat is believed to be somewhere in that
vicinity, awaiting the arrival of the big
battleship, and some fear is expressed that
She may creep upon her unawares, ami
consequently considerable relief will be
felt when the arrival of the Oregon at
some South American port is reported. 1t
is probable that when the Oregon reaches
Rio de Janeiro or Bahia she may be joined
by the Brazilian cruiser Nictheroy, recent
ly purchased for the United States navy,
and the two vessels will come to the United
States together.