Evening journal., 1898-04-27
WASHINGTON NEWS.
Foreign Nations Will Maintain
Strict Neutrality.
BUENA VENTURA MAY Be RELEASED.
Commodore Bradford WIN Be Kept In
the Equipment Division-Captain Ma
han Ordered to Duty-National
Guard Anxious For Work.

In Washington are rapidly settling down
10 those Of actual war. Notices came
TO the state department from the four
Xquarters of the globe yesterday showing
y that the nations, as a rule, are prepared
10 assume an attitude of strict neu-
trality as between the United States
and spain in the present struggle In
Z most cases they were in answer to the
identical note sent out Monday by the
state department to all United States
embassies and Legations instructing
them to inform the governments to
which they We're accredited that war
has existed since April p. Great Brit
lain always has taken an advanced stand
in the principles Of neutrality, so that
& at was with great interest that the news
was received here Of the terms of the
neutrality proclamation issued In Lon
don. On the whole, the officials are
81 disposed to take the view that strict
adherence by Great Britain to these
rules will be rather more advantageous
TO the United States than to Spain, par
ticularly as we are now operating in
the naval sense close to our own base
of supplies and in all probability soon
will cut Spain off from the two bases
that she now has in the neighborhood of
& Cuba.
The president issued a proclamation
during the day laying down rules as TO
the seizure Of prizes, and the result 1t
is believed, will be the release Of some
of the ships already captured, though 1t
will be for the prize courts to determine
in each case whether the conditions un-
der which the ship was captured are
such as to warrant release.
The impression prevails that the
Buena Ventura, the first on the list of
prizes, will be declared no prize. The
case Of the Panama, whose seizure was
Il reported yesterday, is more complicated
owing to the fact that while otherwise
exempt the ship was reported to have
"a contained supplies for the Spanish army
in Cuba which are contraband. How
z ever it may be said that while the set
tlement of these questions will be left
to the courts, the administration be-
lieyes the greatest liberality should be
shown in the application of the laws
where a vessel is not contraband or at
tempting to run the blockade. That Is
shown in the liberal terms Of the proc
larnation itself by which the prize courts
must be guided. 1t is noted also that
the administration has not been de-
TERED by any criticism In congress from
q again formally pledging itself to the
II
8 Watering and abide by the declaration
Of Paris Of 1856
So far as is known. all the United
states consuls have made their way
safely out of Spain. Consul Fay, at
Seville. has reported to the department
from Lisbon: Consul Bowen, at BARGE
Iona. from Paris. and Consul Scarrol.
at Cadiz. and Consul Barteiman, at
Malaga. from Gibraltar The depart
ment has assured. itself that the others
are safe.
Secretary Sherman retired finally yes
terday from the position Of secretary of
state, and his successor was confirmed
in the person Of Judge Day. John Bas-
sett Moore undoubtedly will be confirm
ed today in Judge Days place. The
latter is expected to return to Washing
ton in about two days time.
The army reorganization bill became
a law yesterday, and the war depart
nent officials have begun to devise the
best means of carrying out the purposes
of the act, which will result in an in
crease Of the regular army to more
than 60 1000 men.
In the war department preparations
went on with ceaseless energy for the
organization of the volunteer army. All
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 plans for the full organization Of
the army were also perfected. To pro-
vide officers for the regular army and
volunteers, Secretary Alger ordered the
assignment to duty Of all the cadets at
the West Point Military academy who
would in the ordinary course Of events
have graduated in June.
The greatest anxiety was shown at
the navy department for news from the
blockading squadron. Notwithstanding
the frequent reports that came from the
tSvo unofficial sources Of engagements
between the feet and the shore batter
les no word of confirmation came OFF,
cially. The three prizes reported yes
terday to have been seized by the fleet
were not referred TO in the official dis
patches. but the press reports Of the
seizures We're received with the greatest
satisfaction by the officers Of the de-
partment, who in some cases did not
hesitate to declare their envy of their
more fortunate brother officers with the
fleet. In fact il is becoming very hard
for Secretary Long to retain in the
service of the department the officers
who are absolutely required in view Of
their earnest desire TO go to the front
A few days ago for instance, Commo-
dore Bradford, chief of the equipment
bureau. rendered his resignation of thai
place and asked TO be given a warship
After considering the matter for day
or two. the secretary was obliged to re-
fuse the request because Of his inability
10 find a man to fill Commodore Brad.
ford's position.
Among the orders issued yesterda!
was one directing Captain A. T. Mahan
the author and world renowned author
itv on naval tactics, to report for dut.
Mt the aavy department Captain Ma
han is a retired officer and win be as
signed to position on the strateg!
board. Probably he will replace Ad
miraI Walker, for whom the presiden
and Secretary Long cherish the high
est regard on account Of his profession
al ability and who is to be assigned L
duty of the highest Importance in tn
immediate future.
Upon the recommendation OF Captain
Lemly judge advocate general Secre
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