Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1898-04-28
THE STAFF OF WAR.

!" law, ehouSh hoI cIOHnClally uG-
clared so by Congress.
The stirring events of yesterday
were succeeded to day with rapidity
by others of equal Importance, cul-
minating in the afternoon in orders
for the departure Of the North At
lantic Squadron for Havana. This
practically is an act Of war, so that
the war between this country and
Spain may fairly bo said to date
to-day, April q, 1898.
Two minutes after the opening of
tho State Department this morning
word came from Minister Woodfortl
that the Spanish government having
anticipated and prevented his intcn-
ton to present tho residents ulti
matum, he had asked fcr his pass
ports. The administration, III pub
lie statement, announced that it re-
garded tho action of tho Spanish
government as rendering unnecessary
further diplomatic action on the part
of the United States, and further
stated that it regarded the course
adopted by Spain as one placing
upon the country the responsibility
for a brcech of friendly relations.
Mr.. Woodford's telegram resulted
in The calling of special Cabinet
meeting, to arrange and outline a
plan Of campaign, or rather to deter
mine how to begin The execution of
the plan of campaign already pre-
pared by the strategic board of the
army and navy departments. The
immediate result was the order for
the North Atlantic squadron to begin
the blockade of IIavanna. How
much further than this the Cabinet
progressed in its deliberations it is
not possible to say, for the obvious
reason tnat the time has now come
when the interests of the government
require that the movements Of ships
and troops should be guarded with
the greatest care from undue pub
llcity, in order to prevent the enemy
from taking advantage of the infor-
nation.
The North Atlantic squadron,
under Capt. Sampson, makes a splcn-
did array Of fine vessels, comprising
battlcships such as the Iowa and In
diana; monitors, like the Puritan,
Tcrror and Amphithritc; armorcd
cruisers, like the New York, flagship ;
protected cruisers, such rs the Gin
cinnati, Marblchcad and Montgom-
cry; gunboats, like the Vicksburg,
Wilmington and Annapolis; regular
torpedo boats, as the Ericsson, Cush-
ing, Winslow and the like, not to
speak of the large number of fast
yachts and other vessels that have
been added to the fleet by purchase.
This force is quite conpctcn. to
blockade all the ports in Cuba, or at
least all the ports connecting by rail
with Havana, and so likely to be
used TO supply that place, ia the event
of g siege, with food and munitions
/ OF var. This statement is to be
] taken with the understanding that it
dor>'not contemplate the coming to
cuban waters of the Spanish fleet.
ip such case the probable policy
& 1u!d be to abandon the blockade
cndcavor to force the Spanish
S to battle.
lister Woodford's action during
Say, as reported to the State De-
cnt in Il late telegram, indicated
81 lie was following carefully pre-
SI FE8Fi program. A significant feature
is message was the statement
the Spanish government notified
that ii regarded the withdrawal
lnistcr Polo yesterday as tcrmi-
flg the diplomatic negotiations,
wing that it was not disposed to
fpt the expressed intention of our
prnmcnt to continue Minister
3odford as medium Of commune
on until Saturday noon. Mr..
lodford also announced that he
instructed Consul General Bowen
Barcelona to cause all American
5us in Spain to Immediately with
w from the country. lie further
ed that he had informed the
nlsh government, after asking for
passports, that he had placed the
6rlcan legation in Madrid, and
crIcan interests in Spain gene
W, in the hands Of the British cm-
$y. The ambassador, Right Hon.
Henry Drummond Wolff, is now
present in Madrid, so American
a tests will he confidcd to the
dsh charge, Sir George G. l..
}lham, HarOnct,