The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-22
WAR HAS BEGUN.
Concluded from First Page.)

adopted by Spain as one placing upon that
country the responsibility for the breach of
friendly relations. Mr.. Woodfords telegram
resulted in the calling Of a special Cabinet
meeting to arrange an outline of a plan Of
campaign in order to determine how to exc
cute the plan of campaign already pre-
pared by the strategic boards Of the army
and Navy Departments. The immediate re-
suit 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 pos
sible to say, for the obvious reason that
the time has now come when the inter-
ests of the government require that the
movements of ships and troops should be
guarded with the greatest care from undue
publicity. in order to prevent the enemy
from taking advantage Of the information
The North Atlantic squadron, under Can't.
SIMPSONS command, makes, a splendid ar
ray of fine vessels, comprising battle ships
such as the Iowa and Indiana, monitors like
the Puritan, Terror and Amphitrite, arm
ored cruisers like the New York, flagship:
protected cruisers, such as the Cincinnati,
Marblehead and Montgomery; gunboats like
the Vicksburg, Wilmington and Annapolis,
regular torpedo boats like the Ericsson,
Cushing, Winslow and the like, and 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
competent to blockade all the ports in Cuba,
or at least all of 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 war. This state
ment is to be taken with the understand
no
to Cuban waters of the Spanish feet. In
such case, however, the probable policy
would be to abandon the blockade and en-
deavor to force the Spanish fleet to battle.
Minister Woodford's action during the
day, as reported to the State Department
in late telegram. indicated that he was
following a carefully prepared programme.
A significant feature OF his message was
the statement that the Spanish govern
ment notified him that it regarded its with
drawal of Minister Polo Yesterday as fer
minating negotiations, showing that it was
not disposed to accept the expressed inten-
ton of cur government to continue Mr..
Woodford as a medium OF communication
until Saturday noon. Mr.. woodford also
announced that he had instructed Consul
General Bowen. at Barcelona, to cause all
the American consus in Spain to immedi-
ately withdraw from the country. He
further stated that he had informed the
Spanish government. after asking for his
passports, that he had placed the American
legation in Madrid and American interests
in Spain generally in the hands of the Brit
ish embassy. The ambassador, Right Hon.
Sir Henry Drummond Wolff, is not at pres
ent in Madrid. so American interests will
be confided to the British charge Sir
George F. Bonham, Bart. To all intents and
purposes this relieves the State Department
from further negotiations as to Cuba, save
those relating to privateering, neutrality
observances and the like. It was found
necessary to frame a notice to the powers
of the intention of our government TO es-
tablish blockade of Havana, notifica-
ti0n required by international law.
The Navy Department to-day. aside from
giving the orders to the squadron. con-
tinued the worlx of adding 20 the navy and
purchased another ship at Norfolk, as an
auxiliary craft. and some small yachts.
TIE news OF the actual beginning Of war
was received with gravity at the depart