La Junta tribune., 1898-04-30
war Ome,.iiy begins.

war Omeihhy neBhhss
War between the United States and
Spain oficiaily began Thursday. April u.
When II will end only the God OF Nations
knows. How It will end II simpler
question. The whole world viii nave
learned . lesson from Il and the cause OF
freedom will point to a new star IN inc
armament Of liberty. As our heroes on
land and sea pour to the front. bearing
aloft the glorious flag. yet unHuliieo oS
stained by the avarice Of Commercial IN
terests." they will be blessed with the
prayers of nearly all the American people.
Spain Takes Initiative.
The FIRST ofiiciai act of war was commit
ted by Spain. Minister woodford at Ma
drtd was. without his own request. given
his passports and told to get on Spanish
soil. This. of course. was tantamount to
declaration of war. Our minister was
not even allowed time to deliver the ulti-
matum of this government informing
Spain to evacuate Cuba before noon April
q The spaniards had already received
} copy Of IL from Polo Bernabe. the
Spanish minister at Washington. 1t was
after sending this copy that Mr.. Polo
took leave of Washington, going to To-
ronto. Ont. where he will enjoy British
protection until Tho war is over
= The second Act of War.
The second act of war was done by our
, own government. Inc bpAHiATus udu
purchased 100 mules In this country for
use In Cuba. These were being loaded on
to the Catalina. Spanish ship. at New
Orleans. About o'clock Thursday the
q, Collector Of Customs Mt that port ofhcial-
iy informed the Master of the Catalina
that the mules already aboard his boat
should be at once put ashore. The Collec-
tor at once sought out the Spanish Con-
sui. who protested. but cooled down when
informed that the mules were under SELF
ure OF our government contraband Of
war. The Catalina sailed for Cuba with
out the mulea.
Cosgress Takes Action.
Az soon an It became known that Spain
had told our minister that war existed
congress at once recognized state of
war by passing an act authorizing the
president TO prohibit expectation OF coal
land other contraband of war. This bill
went through both houses In less than
ten minutes after It's Introduction. 1t was
signed few moments before the mule
seiSure At New Orleans. II was regarded
war. The ofIicial declaration IL meant for
the nations to which We have accredited
Representatives.
MOVE to Bioekade Uavana.
Tho next Official step In the war was
taken by the dispatching Of the Key West
squadron to sail for Havana. and block
ade that port. The ships Of this squad
ron set sail from Key West at z:ss Friday
morning. April q. The vessels of this
squadron are: Iowa, New York. Indiana.
Narblehead. Montgomery. Detroit and tor
pedo and dispatch boats. The whole sailed
under command Of Captain Sampson. new
rear admiral OF the United States navy.
Captain Evans ("Fighting Bob'D COM
mands the Iowa. Capt. McCaila COM
. mands the Narblehead.
Captain sampson's white squadron 10
one of the most formidable fleets ever
gathered together in any waters.
I represents the stifest fighting
material that modern naval archi-
lecture and the science of the
new gunnery can construct 1t II COM
posed OF some of the biggest and most ef-
fective of the war ships In the American
navy. and can be surpassed by no nation
/, In the world for the nghting devices with
which II Ii equipped. Without going Into
. detailed description of the ships that
Captain Sampson has under his control
It may be said that they pre all capable
Of doing such destruction a. the mind
reels from when one tries to picture 1t.
Captain Sampson can, by . simple signal
turn loose upon Havana's fortress q storm
Of pro1ectifes calculated to reduce old
Norro's pondefous walls to . heap Of
Afuins Steel projectiies 1000 pounds in
fvsight can be hurled from the 13-inch