Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 66, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1898 — A STATE OF WAR. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A STATE OF WAR.

Diplomatic Relations BeI tween United States and Spain End. 4' ■ ' Minister Woodford Not Allowed to Present Ultimatum, But Is Given His Passports. < This Discourteous Action Places the Responsibility for the War Upon Spain. Capt Sampson’s Fleet Said to Have Been Ordered to Blockade the Port of Havana. ■ 'Text of the Ultimatum Which the Spanish Government Refused to , Receive from Gen. Woodford. Washington, April 22.—War between the United States and Spain is a fact, though not yet officially declared bo by congress. The stirring events of Wednesday were succeeded Thursday with rapidity by others of equal importance, culminating in the afternoon in orders for the departure of the North Atlantic squadron for Havana. Thia practically is an act of war, so that the war between this country and Spain may fairly be said to date from Thursday, April 21,1898. Proclamation to Come. A proclamation has been prepaired at the state department announcing the blockade of Cuban ports, and is withheld from promulgation only awaiting news from Capt. Sampson of the arrival of the fleet off Havana harbor. This proclamation will contain the assertion that a state of war exists. The precedent for this action can be found in the action of President Madison in the war of 1812, when he issued a proclamation declaring the existence of war in the absence of legislative declaration to that effect. All diplomatic representatives of the United States abroad have been notified of the intention to issue this proclamation, and will inform the governments to which they are accredited of the fact. The call for 100,000 volunteers, which Is also ready and only waits for conclusive action by congress authorizing Its publication to issue, will also contain the declaration that a state of war exists. These declarations, it is held by competent authorities, sufficiently ©over the legal formalities of the case and render unnecessary any formal declaration of war by congress.

Responsibility Is Spain’s. Two minutes after the opening of the atate department Thursday morning came word from Minister Woodford that the Spanish government, having anticipated and prevented hia Intention to present the president’s ultimatum, he had asked for his passports. The administration in a public statement announced that It regarded the action of the Spanish govCrhiubut as rendering unnecessary further diplomatic action on the part of the United States, and further stated that it regarded the course adopted by fcfpain us one placing upon that country the responsibility for the breach of friendly relations. Mr. Woodford’s telegram resulted in the calling of a special cabinet meeting to arrange an outline of a plan of campaign, or rathcr to determine how to begin the execution of the plan of campaign already prepared by tire strategic boards of the army and navy departments. Blockade of Havana Ordered. The immediate result 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 possible to say, for the obvious reason that the time has now come when the interests of the government require that the movements of ships and troops Bhould be guarded with the greatest care from undue publicity in order to prevent the enemy from taking advantage of information. Capt. Biu»|>iob'i Blr* Ship*.

The North Atlantic squadron under Capt. Sampson’s command makes a splendid array of fine vessels, comprising battleships such as the lowa and Indiana, monitors like the Puritan, Terror, armored 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 ns the Ericsson, Cushing, Winslow and the like, not to speak of the large number of fast ynchts and other vessels that have been added to the fleet by purchase. This force m quite competent to blockade all the ports in Cuba, or at least all of the ports connecting by rail with Havana, ami so likely to be used to supply that place in the event of siege with food and munitions of war. If the Spanish Fleet Comes. This statement is to be taken with the understanding that it does not contemplate the coining to Cuban waters of the Spanish fleet. In such ease, however, the probable policy would be to abandon the blockade and endeavor to force the Spanish fleet to battle. Minister Woedford's Actions. Minister Woodford’s action during the day ns reported to the state department In n late telegram indicated that be w'ns following a carefully prepared programme. A significant feature of his message was the statement that the Spanish government notified him that it regarded its withdrawal of Minister

Polo Wednesday as terminating diplomatic negotiations, showing that it was not disposed to accept the expressed Intention of our 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 consuls in Spain to immediately 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 bands of the British embassy. The ambassador, Bight Hon. Sir H. Fry Drummond Wolff, is not at present in Madrid, so American interests will be confided td fihe British charge, Sir George G. 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 establish a blockade of Havana, a notification required by international law. To Protect the President. The Post says: “’Tmilitary'guard will be placed at the white house in a few days. Thia has been definitely settled, but none of the details of the arrangement are known. Col. Bingham, superintendent of public buildings and grounds, will have charge of the guard and such others as may be placed at the public buildings. A conference was held Thursday between Maj. Moore, superintendent of police, and Chief Wilkie, of the United States secret service, in regard to the civil guard at the white house. The force around the grounds will be largely increased, and many detectives in citizens* clothes will be placed on duty. Every precaution Will be taken to protect the president from any possible danger. Torpedoes and mines are being planted in the Potomac river below Washington. They are being put there as a safeguard in oaee of an emergency, and the exact locations of the mines are being kept secret. The majority of the work is being done at night, and is being pushed forward with an eye to the possible contingency of a hostile fleet attempting to shell the capital.” The Ultimatum. Washington, April 22.—-The following statement of the text of the ultimatum to Spain was issued Thursday: “On Wednesday, April 20, 1898, about 11 o’clock a. m. the department of state served

notice of the purposes of this government by delivering to Minister Polo a copy of an instruction to Minister Woodford, and also a copy of the resolutions passed by the congress of the United States on the 19th instant. After the report of this notice the Spanish minister forwarded to the state department a request for his passports, which were furnished to him on Wednesday afternoon. Oopy of the Instruction to Weodford is herewith appended. ’The United States minister at Madrid was, at the same time, instructed to make a like communication to the government of Spain. Thursday morning the department received from Gen. Woodford a telegram, copy of whioh is hereunto attached, showing that the Spanish government had broken off diplomatic relations with this government. This course renders unnecessary any further diplomatic action on the pari of the United States.” Note to Woodford. “April 20,1898. Woodford, Minister, Madrid.—Tou have been furnished with the text of a Joint resolution voted by the congress of the United States on the 19th instantapproved to-day —in relation to the pacification of the Island bf Cuba. In obedtenoe to that act, the president directs you to immediately communicate to the government of Spain said resolution with the formal demand of the government of the United States that the government of Spain at onoe relinquish its authority and government tn the island of Cuba and withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters. In taking this step, the United States hereby disclaims any disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or control over said island except for the pacification thereof and asserts Its determination when that is accomplished to leave the government and control of the island to its people under such free and independent government as they may establish. "If by the hour of noon, on Saturday next, the 23d day of April Instant, there be not communicated to this government by that of Spain a full and satisfactory response to this demand and resolution whereby the ends of peace in Cuba shall be assured, the president will proceed without further notice to use the power and authority enjoined and conferred upon hfm by the said Joint resolution to such extent as may be necessary to carry the same Into effect. “(Signed) SHERMAN.” Woodford's Dispatch. “Madrid, April 21, 1898 -Sherman, Washington.—Early -this (Thursday) morning, Immediately after the receipt of your open telegram and before I had communicated same to Spanish government, Spanish minister for foreign affairs notified me that diplomatic relations are broken between the two countries, and that all official communioation between their respective representatives has ceased. I accordingly asked for safe passports. Turn legation over to British embassy and leave for I'arls this afternoon. Have notified consuls, “(Signed) Wt ><>I>FORD.”

MAP SHOWING TEN MILES OF WATER FRONT OF HAVANA HARBOR AND ALL THE GUNS THAT DEFEND IT, WITH THEIR CALIBERS.