Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-06-29
BLOCKADE EXTENDED.
The President Issues an Important
Proclamation.
SAN JUAN Is NOW INCLUDED.
Cubss Southern Coast From Cape Frances
to Capo Cruz Also to BE Closed.
Neutral Vessels Are Given
Time to Leave.

Washington, June 29.-The president
has issued proclamation declaring the
blockade Of southern Cuba and San
Juan. Porto Rico. Following ia the proc
iamation:
Whereas, For the reasons set forth In
my proclamation Of April 90 1898, a
blockade of the ports on the northern
coast Of Cuba, from Cardenas to Bahia
Honda, inclusive, and of the port of CT
enfuegos, on the south coast Of Cuba,
was declared to have been instituted,
and
Whereas, 1t has become desirable to
extend the blockade to other Spanish
ports,
Now, therefore, I, William Mckinley,
president of the United States, do here
by declare and proclaim that, in addi-
ton to the blockade of the ports speci-
fed in my proclamation Of April %, 1898,
the United States Of America has insti-
tuted and will maintain an effective
block OF all the ports on the south coast
of Cuba, from Cape Frances to Cape
Cruz, inclusive. and also of the port of
San Juan, in the island Of Porto Rico.
Neutral vessels lying in any Of the
ports to which the blockade Is by the
present proclamation extended will be
allowed 80 days to issue therefrom with
cargo.
In witness whereof l have hereunto
set my hand and caused the seal Of the
United States to be affiXsd.
Done at the city of Washington, this
9th day of June, A. D. 1898, and of the
independence of the United States the
one hundred and twenty second.
WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
Meaning of the Proclamation.
This increases the extent Of the block
ade fully fourfold, it having been con-
fined heretofore to a stretch of a little
more than 100 miles on the north and
the single port of Cienfuegos on the
south coast Of the island. The demands
upon the navy in the way of ships to
patrol the coast, however, will not be
nearly so heavy in proportion to the
territory to be covered as in the case
Of the initial blockade, for the reason
that the new blockaded coast line lies
entirely within the great blight on the
south Cuban coast. in which the water
is generally very shallow and the ports
are few into which vessel Of any draft
could enter. The most important Of
|
and Tunas.
West of Trinidad Is Cienfuegos, which
Is already blockaded effectively. From
that point westward for nearly 140 miles
there Is no point to be blockaded until
Batabano Is reached. This port is dis
tant only about 40 miles from Havana
by rail and is believed to have been the
principal source OF food supplies for the
Spanish capital. For $50 miles west Of
this, clear over to Cape Frances the
western edge Of the blockaded territory,
there are no ports for deep vessels OF
any considerable draft, and even II
there were the country in the interior,
Pinar del Rio, is In the hands Of the in
surgents, and supplies could not be sent
through to Havana. The purpose OF ex-
tending the blockade westward to Cape
Frances was to command the channel
between the west side Of the Isle of
Pines and Care Frances and thus rem
der much easier the task of the block
aiding vessels.
The reports which have reached the
president as to the exact state Of affairs
In Havana are conflicting. In some cases
the town was declared to be on the
verge Of starvation; in others, food sup
plies were said to be still abundant. A.
! 4 matte1 Of fact, the truth probably lies
| between these extremes, and, while sup
plies of a certain character are very
scarce In Havana, there is no lack OF
others,