The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-04-29
SUMMARY OF EVENTS
The Powers Prepared to Assume
an Attitude of Strict Neutrality.
PROCLAMATION ON PRIZE SEIZURES.
The Changes In the state Department
The Organization OF the Volunteer
Army-Capt Mahan Ordered
to Report for Duty.

to Report for Duty.
WAsHINGToN, April 27.-Conditions
in Washington are rapidly settling
down to those of actual war. Notices
came to the state department from the
four quarters of the globe yesterday
showing that the nations as a rule are
prepared to assume an attitude of
strict neutrality as between the United
States and Spain in the present strug-
gle. Great Britain has always taken
an advanced stand in the principles of
neutrality, so that it was with great
interest that the news was received
here of the neutrality proclamation
issued in London. On the whole the
officials are disposed to take the view
that the strict adherence by Great
Britain to these rules will be rather
more advantageous to the United
States than to Spain, particularly as
we now are operating in the naval sense
close to our own base of supplies and
in all probability will cut Spain off
from the two bases that she now has
in the neighborhood of Cuba.
The president issued n proclamation
to the seizure of prizes and the result
it is believed will be the release of
some of the ships already captured,
though it will be for the prize court
to determine in each case whether the
conditions under which the ships were
captured are such as to warrant re-
lease. The impression prevails that
the Buena Ventura, the first on
the list of prizes, will be de-
clared no prize. The case of the
Panama, whose seizure was re-
ported yesterday, is more complicated,
owing to the fact that while otherwise
exempt, the ship was reported to have
contained supplies for the Spanish
army in Cuba, which are now contra
band. However, it may be said that,
while the settlement of these ques-
tions will be left to the courts, the adj
ministration believes the greatest lib
crafty should be shown in the appli-
cation of the laws where vessel is
not contraband or attempting to run
the blockade.
Secretary sherman retired finally
yesterday from the position of secre-
tary of state and his successor was
confirmed in the person of Judge Day.
| John Bassett Moore undoubtedly will
be confirmed to-day in Judge Days
place.
The army reorganization bill be-
came a law during the day, and the
war department officials have begun
to devise the best means of carrying
~''' tho nuruoses of the act. which will
| result in an increase OF the regular
army to more than GO, 900 men. In the
war department preparations went on
with ceaseless energy for the organ
ization of the volunteer army. All OF
the officers were detailed who are to
be sent to the various states and terri
tories to muster the guardsmen into
the service of the United States.
The greatest anxiety was shown at
the navy department for news from
the blockading squadron. Notwith-
standing the frequent reports that
come from two unofficial sources of en-
fragments between the fleet and the
shore batteries no word of confirms
ton came officially. The three prizes
reported yesterday to have been seized
by the fleet were not referred TO in the
official dispatches, but the press re
ports of the seizures We're received
with the greatest satisfaction by the
officers of the department, who in somC
cases did not hesitate to declare theil
envy of their more fortunate brother
officers with the fleet.
Among the orders issued yesterday
was one directing Capt. A. p. Mahau
A. 4
thority on naval tactics, to report fo
duty at the navy department. Capt
Mahan is a retired officer, and he viii
be assigned to a position on tn,
strategy board. Probably he will re
place Adm. Walker, for whom tn
president and Secretary Long cherisl
the highest regard on account of hi
professional ability, and who is to b
assigned to duty of the highest impor
tance in the immediate future.