The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-04-23


a fact though not yet officially de-
clared SO by Congress The stirring
events of Wcdn esday were succeeded
yesterday with rapidity by others OF
equal Importance eliminating in the
afternoon in orders for the departure
of the North Atlantic squadron for
| Havana. This practically is an act of
war so that the war between this
country and Spain may fairly be said
to date from April 81, 1s9S. Two min
utes after the opening of the State de-
partment came word from Minister
! Woodford that the Spanish govern
ment having .nticipated aud prevent
ed his intention 20 present the Presi-
dents ultimatum, he had asked for his
! passports. The administration in n
public statement announced that IL
regarded the action of the Spanish
government as rendering unnecessary
further diplomatic action on the part
of the United States and further
stated that IL regarded the course
adopted by Spain as one placing upon
that country the responsibility for the
| brooch of friendly relations. Mr..
] Woodford's telegram resulted in the
calling OF a special cabinet meeting to
arrange an outline OF plan of cam
paign or rather 10 determine how TO
| begin the execution OF the plan Of
campaign already prepared by the
strategic boards of the army and navy
| departments.
The Immediate result was the order
for the North Atlantic squadron to
! begin the blockade of Havana How
much further than this the cabinet
progressed in its deliberations, it is
not possible to say for the obvious
reason that the time has now come
when the Interests of the government
require that the movement Of ships
and troops should be guarded with
the greatest care from undue pub
licity in order 90 prevent the enemy
from taking advantage Of information.
The North Atlantic squadron, under
F! Captain SIMPSONS command make
splendid array of fine vessels, com
prising battleships such as the Iowa
and Indiana, monitors like Puritan
and Terror, armored cruisers like the
New York, flagship, protected cruisers
like the Niclsburg, Wilmington and
| Annapolis, regular torpedo boats such
as the Ericsson, Cushing, Winslow and
the like, and not to speak Of the num-
Der of fast yachts aud other vessels
that have been added TO the fleet by
purchase. This force is quite compe-
tent 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 in the event
of siege with food and munitions of
WE,
This statement Is to be taken with
the understanding that it does not
contemplate the coming to Cuban
waters Of the Spanish feet In such
case, however, the probable policy
would DC to abandon tho blockade
and endeayor to force the Spanish
fleet to battle. Minister Woodfords
action during the day as reported TO
the State department ia a late tele
lgram, indicated that he was follow
ing carefully prepared program. A
significant feature of his message was
, the statement that the Spanish gov
ernment notified him that it regarded
its withdrawal of Minister Polo as ter
mnating diplomatic negotiations,
showing that it was not disposed to
accept the expressed intention
OF our government TO continue
Mr. WOodford as medium OF
communications until Saturday noon.
Air WoOdford also announced that no
had instructed Consul General Bowen,
} at barcelona, 10 cause all the Amer
lean consuls in Spain 10 Immediately
I J.. a a
, further stated that ne had informed
= the Spanish government after asking
for his ports that he had placed
: the American legation in Madrid aud
American interests in Spain generally,
in the hands OF the British embassy.
In the cS)inion of the State depart
mant a state OF war now exists be p
tween Spain and the United States
Moreover this In its view has been
brought about by the action Of the
Spanish government, winch, In noti-
flying Mr., Woodford, that IT had
broken diplomatic relations, thereby
took the initiative. II Is presumed
that by this time the various consuls
IN Spain, who have 50 far without ex
1 ception stuck loyalty at their posts,
are now making their way as rapidly
as possible across the frontier into
France.
p The threat of the Spanish newspa-
n pers 10 give us a surprise in the
shape Of "a naval visitation does rot
cause any particular uneasiness at
the Navy department, and al
J. though nothing positive is known as
II t. she destination of the Spanish
/, squadron, it IS surmised that it has
q started on its return to Spain, 4 600
> miles distant from Cape Verde, thus
indicating a purpose to seek an en-
gagement in their own waters
1t Is probable that in this event the
first port made will be the Canary
90 islands, distant about s2S miles from
ST Vincent, and a Spanish possession
"A partially fortified and fair base.
It is not believed that the spanisl
a naval commander would be foOlisl
enough to run the risk Of taking hi
torpedo boat hotilla across ;he Allan