The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-04-28
WAR.

The war cloud which has been low
ering between the two nations has at
last burst, and war between the Unit
ed States and Spain is an accomplish
ed fact. Long ere these lines are penn
ed the first gun has been fired, and
the sea squadrons of the opposing ma
lions have met in deadly conflict
Events hurried on from the fifteenth
of this month, though not quite so
rapidly as an evening contemporary
heated imagination would have had
the public believe. On the evening
of the 10Th the joint resolutions of
the Senate and House, demanding the
government of Spain to relinquish its
authority and government of Cuba,
and authorizing the President to usa4
the entire land and naval forces Of.
the United States ands the militia OF
the various states to garry the reso-
buttons 'intet effect, were passed. Ear
ly next morning, April goth, the Pres
ident sent the resolutions accompa-
MED by his ultimatum to the Spanish
ambassador, who telegraphed the doc
ument to Spain and asked for his pass
ports. He was over the border into
Canada by midday of April 21st. Min
lister Woodford was given his pass
ports the same day by the Spanish
Minister of Foreign Affairs and de-
parted for Paris. Diplomatic relations
had ceased, and the only alternative
was the arbitrament to arms.
This, in a nutshell, is the situation.
Spain's main feet is reported to have
left Europe and to be Fastening across
the Atlantic to Porto Rico. The Amr-
rican fleet has been ordered to block
ade Havana and has started for that
purpose. A quick dash at Havana
may result in greater success than
many anticipate. The Spaniards
there are really between two fires.
The news that the United States and
Spain are at war will be quickly
known by the Cubans. and as the
Spanish will have to concentrate their
forces about Havana, the patriotic for
ces will push their way to the very
suburb of that city. The Cuban pat
riots will no longer be in the position
of insurgents, the joint resolutions
are virtual recognition of their
rights as belligerents, and the Cuban
government, according to Judge For
aker. will be officially dealt with by
the representatives of the United
States.
Of course there is the torpedo fotil-
la at Porto Rico. This can be called
up to the assistance of Havana at
once, and undoubtedly will be in the
vicinity of that harbor as soon as the
United States feet, or very shortly
after. The question of the relative
value of torpedo boats against large
cruisers, efficiently handled, will then
be settled, and it will very probably
be found that the torpedo boat has
been somewhat overrated.
The war will center around Cuba.
There may be operations against
some of the Atlantic cities, but the
Pacific, unless someone else takes a
hand in the fray, will see little or
nothing of the struggles: Spain can
not afford to take a ship away from
the Philippines, with revolt raging
from island to island. There are two
Spanish men-of-war in the Carolines,
but they could do nothing and
there is one near New Guinea. These
vessels, moreover, are of Anticipated
pattern. +,
The issue is not doubtful. Spain
cannot long raise the sinews for car
rying on war. She will have to sue
for peace, Cuba will be free and the
prestige of the United States as a
nation will be quadrupled.