The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-26
YESTERDAYS DEVELOPMENTS.

President Mckinley sent a mes
sage to Congress recommending a
declaration of war, announcing
that diplomatic relations with
Spain had been severed, that a
blockade of Cuban ports had been
proclaimed, and that call for
volunteers had been issued. Ac-
cOmpanying the message was the
final correspondence between the
United States and the Spanish gov
ernment. Congress acted on the
Presidents recommends ton with
out delay. In less than two min
utes the House passed a Joint res-
Olution declaring that war now
exists, and has existed since and
incIuaing the 21st day of April.
The resolution also directs the
President to employ the entire
land and naval forces of the coun-
try to prosecute the war. The
Senate, which acted with more de-
liberation, adopted the same resO-
luton. 1t was then taken to the
White House and signed by the
President at 6;1S y. IN. The Sem
organization bill and the naval
appropriation bill. The Hull bill
was amended and a conference
will be necessary.
Secretary of War AIger has
asked the States for their quotas
of troops under the Presidents
call for 125,OOO volunteers. The
telegram received by Governor
Mount, of Indiana, notifies him he
is expected to furnish four regi-
ments of infantry and two light
batteries. On receipt of the call
the Governor issued a procIama-
ttOn calling ON the entire Indiana
National Guard to at once report
to Brigadier General Mckee, at the
state fair grounds, near Indianap-
oils.
Great Britain and Italy have pro-
claimed neutrality laws. The
Spanish torpedo boat Audaz was
forced to leave Queenstown, and
the ships OF the United States
Asiatic squadrcn were ordered out
of HOng-kOng harbor. Our vessels
of refuge or cOaling place, and it
is probable one of the Philippine
islands Will be seized at once.
John Sherman, secretary of state,
has rendered his resignation, and
VIII be succeeded by Judge Day,
assistant secretary. Mr.. Days sue
cessOr will be John ID. Moore, pro-
fessor of international law at CO.
lumbia University. Theodore
Roosevelt, assistant secretary OF
war, has also resigned. He is anx-
ious to take the field against
Spain, and will be made Iieuten-
ant colonel of a regiment of cow
boys now being organized.
One of the correspondence on
board the dispatch boat DauntIess
says the torpedo boat Foote was
the first American vessel fired ON
by the Spaniards. The FOote was
taking sOundings I'm the harbOr of
Matanzas, when battery fred
three shots at close range. None
took effect. Sunday night the tor
pedO boat Porter landed a scout
Ing DAFty ACsAT nANBMA dnO VaIu~
able information was secured.
MORO Castle has been silent since
it's first outbreak. Its guns have
not spoken again, but it has
thrown "A searchlight ON the Amer
ican vessels at night. No ships
are allowed to leave the harbOr
without search. The blockade so
far has been effective.
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee and Captain
Sigsbee have been challenged to
fight duels by Lieut.. Ramon de
Carranza, late naval attache at the
Spanish Legation In Washington.
The fire-eRting Don is waiting ON
Canadian soil to meet the Ameri-
cans i'm mortal combat or brand
them as towards. His grievance
is the charge by Lee and Sigsbee
that Spanish officers blew up the
battle ship Maine. 1t is not known
whether the Don is SO eager to
fight that he Will go to Cuba and
meet men ON the battlefield.
The Spanish fleet, according to a
dispatch to the London Mail, is
still at St. Vincent, Cape Verde
islands. Another report sayssPOr-
tugaI has ordered the ships to