Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 66, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1898 — TO DECLARE WAR. [ARTICLE]

TO DECLARE WAR.

Formal Action Will Be Taken by Conirreaa at Once. Washington, April 25. —A resolution formally declaring war against Spain will be introduced in the congress of the United States to-day. The decision to do so has been reached after mature deliberation, in order to safeguard the Interests of the United States. All the arguments pro and con were discussed Sunday, afternoon at the white house at a conference in which President McKinley, Attorney-General Griggs, Assistant Secretary Day and Senators Davis and Hale participated, and on its breaking up announcement wm made that congress to-day would be asked to declare what it is held already exists. The war resolution has been prepared, and it is understood that the two committees having in charge the foreign affairs of the two houses of congress will be prepared to report upon it very speedily—probably immediately after the reading of the message. An effort will then be made to have the resolution taken up and passed forthwith, and it is not now believed that there will be any formidable opposition to this course in either house. Kffect of War Declaration. The coming declaration of war will be of importance in more than one way, for it immediately abrogates the treaty with Spain in all its particulars and it renders It treason for any citizen of the United States to carry on communica-. tion with the Spanish forces. Partnerships between Americans and Spaniards will be at once broken, and all

property belonging to Spain now in the United States may be confiscated as an act of war. This will apply to mules, provisions, coal, arms, ammunition, and anything else purchased in the name of or intended for the use of the Spanish government. At the same time the declaration of war will have an immediate effect upon the attitude of foreign nations. They must at orfce proclaim their neutrality, and if they fail to do so after a reasonable time their ships also will be subject to capture. By means of the declaration of war the United States will at once force Portugal to prohibit Spain from using the Cape Verde islands as a base of operations against the United States, and the probable result will be that the flotilla there will be obliged to leave within 24 hours after the Portuguese government has been notified of the declaration of war. This will bring matters to a crisis and the Spanish fleet must either sail for Cuba or double on its tracks and return to the Canaries. Fleet to Go to Philippines. In anticipation of the declaration of war the American fleet at Hong-Kong has been ordered to leave that port and start for the Philippines. Immediately after congress acts dispatches will be sent to Hong-Kong ordering the fleet to seize the Philippine islands without delay and capture or destroy all Spanish ships there. The resolution of intervention passed by congress did not justify a hostile movement against the faraway Philippine islands, nor did It justify either the seizure or blockade of Puerto Rico. Both of these naval movements will be entered upon as part of the general war against Spain. It is said at the navy department that all of the naval militia which will be used in the deep sea patrol vessels already have been ordered to them. Those remaining will be utilized in manning the signal stations along the coast and the vessels of the close shore auxiliary fleet. The Spanish Fleet. It was said at the navy department Sunday that no additional Information had been received of the movement of the Spanish fleets rendezvoused at Cadiz and at the Cape de Verde islands. Every step taken by these fleets is promptly reported to the department by the agents abroad. One officer explained Sunday that it was very necessary to receive with the greatest caution reports of the movements of the Spanish ships, as Spain naturally will try in every way to mislead the United States. Aid from the In*ur*ents, Secretary Sherman said Sunday that it was his expectation that for the present and the immediate future the insurgent army would do the greater part of the fighting in Cuba. He added the statement that there was no intention of taking the militiamen and new recruits into Cuba until thoroughly inured to the hardships of actual military life and that probably the regulars also would be held in this country until later in the season. The secretary expressed the opinion that Admiral Sampson’s fleet would take the first opportunity to form a junction with Gomez’s army and that there would thenceforth be perfect cooperation between those two organizations in conducting the war against the common enemy.* “The insurgents are the best men for this service at present,” said the secretary, “and they can be trusted to do zealous work when well armed and well clothed.” He said it was his understanding that this government would furnish the arms and munitions of war to fit out several regiments of the insurgents in good shape and to put the entire Cuban army in good fighting trim.