Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 66, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1898 — PORTS ARE CLOSED [ARTICLE]

PORTS ARE CLOSED

First Step of War a Blockade of Havana and Other Cities. ■ r Text of the Proclamation of tha President Announcing Thia Important Fact No Time to Be Lost by the United ■ States in Forcing the Issue with Spain. Proclamation Calling for Volunteers Delayed—Request May Be for 400,000 in AIL President McKinley Will Bu«ar»«t *0 Congress That It Pan a Declaration of War. Washington, April 23.—The following proclamation, announcing a blockade of Cuban porta, was Issued Friday: "By the President at the United States: A Proclamation. Whereas, by a joint resolution passed by the congress and approved April 20, 1898, and communicated to the government of Spain, It was demanded that Baid government at onoe relinquish its authority and government in the Island of Cuba, and withdraw Its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters; and the president of the United States was directed and empowered to use the entire land and naval forces of the United States, a/id to call Into the actual service of th* United States the militia of the several states to such extent as might be necessary to carry said resolution Into effect; and "Whereas, in carrying Into effeot said ■eeolutlon, the president of the United States deems It necessary to set on foot and maintain a blockade of the north coast of Cuba, Including all ports of said coast between Cardenas and Bahia Honda, and the port of Clenfuegos, on the south coast of Cuba; Declares Blockade. "Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, president of the United States, In orCtiVto enforce the said resolution, do hereby declare and proclaim that the United Statea Of America have Instituted, and will maintain of the north coast of Cuba, Including ports on said coast, between Cardenas and Bahia Honda, and the port ol Clenfuegos on the south coast of Cuba, aforesaid, in pursuance of the laws of the United States and the law of nations applicable to such cases. Au efficient force will be pasted so as to prevent the entrance and exit of vessels from the ports aforesaid. Any neutral vessel approaching said ports, or attempting to leave the same. Without notice or knowledge of the establishment of such blockade, will be duly warned by the oommander of the blockading forces, who will indorse on her register the fact, and the date, of such warning, Where such indorsement was made: and 11 the same vessels shall again attempt to enter any blockaded port, she will be captured and sent to the nearest convenient port for such proceedings against her and her oargo as prize, as may be deemed advisable. "Neutral vessels lying In any of said pbrts at the time of the establishment of euch blockade will be allowed 30 days to issue therefrom. "In witness whereof, I have her-eunto set tny hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. "Done at the city of Washington, this f2d day of April, A. D. 1898, and of the Independence of the United States, the One Hundred and Twenty-second. "(Signed) WILLIAM M’KINLEY. "By the President "JOHN SHERMAN. Secretary of State.” the limitation of the blockade in Cuba to a certain part of tha island was not officially explained, but one plausible reason advanced for tha governtuent’s action was that by refraining from establishing a blockade over the eastern portion of the island understood to be practically in the control of the insurgents the way has been left Open for them to freely receive all needed supplies and munitions of war. Wants War Declared. The V* ashington Post says that the president will to-day send a message to congress suggesting that a declaration of war be passed. The message was in Course of preparation at the state department Friday afternoon. This action was hastened by the seizure of the Spanish merchantman off the Florida const and the desire to prevent any possible complication. The right of the Seizure of the Buena Ventura, however, is not questioned by the administration, Blnce Spain herself accepted our ultimatum as a declaration of war. To Faroe the Issne. Washington, April 23.—The cabinet meeting Friday lasted from eleven to one o’clock. The discussion of the proposed proclamation to the world that this government will establish and effectively maintain a blockade of the port of Havana occupied considerable time. The cabinet discussed a number of important matters bearing upon the situation, but the members were unusualiy reticent in regard to them. The president and his advisers consider the war us now on, and no time will be loot in forcing the issue. May Oo.lt for 400.000. That the president will cnll for 400,000 volunteers is now regarded as certain. This does not mean that the entire force will be enlisted at once, but the first call for 100,000 will be supplemented sb needs arise until a total of 400,000 men havq been drawn from (he walks of civil life to the ranks of war. The army will be 200,000 strong within ten days after the president issues his proclamation, which has been temporarily delayed on account of a defect believed to exist in the volunteer bill passed Friday. The call for volunteers will be withheld until the attorney-gen-eral has rendered a decision upon a certain clause of the bill adopted by congress, or until congress has passed a joint resolution correcting certain defects in the measure. The annoying delay and the vexatious complications of the laws relating to the power of the nsarident to ask for voiuntoers are

Muring some irritation among the leading army officers, who believe that the army should at once be prepared foi instant action with the navy. Gen. Miles has urged that at the first call at least 100,000 troops should be enrolled, but other high officers have advised that the number should be 160,000, and others contend for even more. The arguments advanced are that if a large body of men is to be sent intc Cuba an equally large organization should be held in reserve and In readiness to support it or fill vacancies paused by casualties and sickness. It will be poor policy, it Is asserted by these officers, to send nearly all the army Into Cuba and leave on the gull eoast a comparatively small detachment, and for this reason many of the strategists have been urging the president to make his first call for not lest than 200,000.