Los Angeles Herald from Los Angeles, California • Page 1

550g1e TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR. NO. 208. WAR FORMALLY DECLARED In Accordance With the Request of the President CONGRESS ACTION Looking to a Vigorous Prosecution of the Coming Conflict Senate Passes the Naval Appropriation Provides for Army Called on for Troops ASSOCIATED PRESS SPECIAL WIRE. Washington, April 5.

today formally declared war to exist between the United States and Spain; the senate passed the naval appropriation bill, carrying- large amounts of money for the improvement of our sea fighting army of the federal service; the Hull army reorganization bill was passed by the senate and now goes to conference; Secretary Sherman resigned as chief of the state department, to be succeeded by Assistant Secretary Day and the latter by John B. Moore, of New York, an acknowledged authority on international law, and the war department called on the several states for their quota to the volunteer army of the United States. These make up the important events of the day. THE CABINET CHANGE It was not announced when Secretary Sherman's resignation would take effect, the secretary having yielded his original idea of leaving at once, and it is presumed that he will remain until Judge Day qualifies as his successor. The selection of Mr.

Moore, who is now professor of international law at Columbia university, New York, who succeeded the latter, was warmly welcomed by all of the state department employees. Appointed originally from Delaware in the state department by Mr. Bayard, when the latter was secretary, Mr. Moore, by sheer merit and ability, worked his way up to the place of second assistant secretary. And in that capacity he served under several administrations without political changes.

He resigned his place in the state department to accept the chair of international law at Columbia university about three years ago, and it is believed that this present appointment is only temporary, owing to his indisposition to permanently sever his connection with Columbia. Mr. Moore is an authority on certain branches of international law, and his selection will do much to strengthen the state department in the present emergency. THE PRIZE QUESTION The officials of the department, with the assistance of the attorney general, have been preparing a proclamation, which will be issued within a day or two, this time treating of and defending the conditions and time when seizures of vessels of a hostile nation may be made, lt is believed that the protests and suggestions coming from foreign embassies and legations have led the department to define once for all its position in this matter. A PRIZE COMMISSIONER A prize commissioner was appointed this afternoon in the person of Commander John A.

Wynne, a retired naval officer. He will be stationed at Key West, where he now resides, and it wiil be his duty, in conjunction with two other members to be selected as a part of the commission, to make appraisements of the value of prizes, and to assist the prize courts in their work. ROOSEVELT RETIRES It has been understood for some time past that Assistant Secretary Roosevelt of the navy department would soon retire, in order to enter the military service in the Cuban campaign. This story can now be confirmed positively, although the time set for Mr. Roosevelt's departure from the department is not definitely fixed.

The president today named Mr. Roosevelt as lieutenant colonel of one of the regiments of mounted riflemen to be raised in the Rocky mountains under Colonel Wood, whom Mr. Roosevelt has urged for the place. Colonel Wood is now Doctor Wood of the army. He won a medal for distinguished gallantry while commanding a detachment of regular troops during the exceedingly hard Apache campaigns against Geronimo.

Colonel Wood starts west tomorrow to superintend the recruiting, many offers having already come to Mr. Roosevelt from individuals and organizations among the cowboys. Secretary Long wishes Mr. Roosevelt to remain in his present position as long as possible, so it may be two or three weeks before he will join his command. The president and both secretaries have regretted Mr.

Roosevelt's leaving his present position, but they feel that in a regiment of this character he can do good service and should be allowed to go, though if possible they wish him to remain until the regiment is organized and ready to take part in the invasion of Cuba. Before that, however, he may have to leave for short periods to superintend the enlistments. NO SUCCESSOR CHOSEN So far the talk of a successor to Mr. Roosevelt as assistant secretary has been mere speculation, and it can be stated positively that up to this time the president has not made a choice of his successor. It may be noted, in view of the recent mention of Admiral Walker in that connection, that as it stands the law requires the office of assistant secretary to be filled by a civilian, so that if the admiral desires to accept that office he would be under the painful necessity of resigning from the navy and losing his place is a retired officer, which he is not likely to Mo.

PRINCIPAL DEFENSES OF HAVANA HARBOR, MORRO CASTLE AND CABANAS FORTRESS THE HERALD LOCATION OF SPAIN'S FLOTILLA NOT IN DOUBT IF PORTUGAL'S PRIME MINISTER TELLS THE TRUTH Much Concern Felt for the Safety of the Paris and for Landing Troops on Cuban Real Battle May Be Fought Off Manila WASHINGTON, April to The Herald.) In answer to the state department Portugal's prime minister cabled today that the Spanish fleet at Cape Verde would be given forty-eight hours in which to leave that neutral port. It is therefore assumed that the Spanish flotilla is still at the Cape Verde islands, otherwise the disingenuousness of Portugal's minister might be described by a strong word. Now that congress has formally declared War, there can be no further excuse for Portugal's course in the matter. The Spanish ministry assumed that the sending of the ultimatum was a declaration of war, but Portugal has been standing off on a formal declaration by this country, incidentally giving the Spanish fleet the valuable five days' time in which to complete her repairs. Had Portugal been as prompt as Great Britain the Spanish fleet would have been on the high seas now, not nearly as competent to fight as she is.

The navy department is greatly concerned relative to the safety of the Paris and of the Oregon, and the whereabouts of the Spanish flotilla, which may or may not be at the Cape Verde islands. The battleship Oregon, which presumably, has just reached the Atlantic ocean through the Straits of Magellan, was Instructed at her last stopping place on the Pacific side to coal at Punta Rosa, a Chilean penal colony in the Magellan straits Her commander wai told to take on enough coal to carry him to Bio de Janeiro. If he follows this plan he will stand well out to sea and avoid Montevideo, where the Spanish torpedo gunboat, the Temerario, is stationed. If he did not take on coal enough he will unquestionably touch at Montevideo. The state department has also notified all the consuls at South American and Central American ports to keep a watchful eye on the coal that may have to be purchased for our ships.

The department fears some explosives may be placed among it by Spanish agents. Officially the navy department expresses complete confidence in the safe arrival of the Paris, on the theory that "no news is good news," though the fact that the Spanish torpedo boat Audaz left Queenstown twenty hours later than the Faris is a source of anxiety. Despite the swiftness of the Paris, this torpedo boat could overhaul her in midocean. While the navy department believes that the Spanish fleet is still at the Cape Verde islands, there is no absolute certainty that some of the larger vessels did not leave there, and an assault on some portion of the eastern coast is not bsyond the realm of possibilities. The scout duty by the Columbia and Minneapolis and all the available auxiliary cruisers and ocean-going tugs will continue.

Preparations for the first landing of American soldiers on Cuban soil by either next Saturday or Monday were practically completed today. The Panther, containing one thousand marines, who will constitute the vanguard, was ordered to sail from Hampton Boads at daybreak tomorrow, convoyed by the Montgomery. The war department today purchased five thousand machetes, fifty miles of barbed wire, electric dynamos, electric wire, a quantity of railroad track and some light narrow gauge locomotives and cars. The war department has not crystallized its plans beyond the first landing of the marines, but in army circles it is said that the marines will be followed at once by at least five thousand regulars and later by fifteen thousand. The administration has been assured by General Nunez of Gomez's staff, that within a Week after the Americans established a base of supplies on the Cuban shore, Gomez will descend upon Havana with an army of fifty thousand.

Thus the Spanish troops, which are understood to bs concentrated in Havana, will have the American navy menacing them from the sea, while their native enemies are pouring shot from te light artillery from the rear. Before an attack is mads, however, all the women and children will be given an opportunity to withdraw to places of safety. LOS ANGELES, TUESDAY MORNING, APRIL 26, J398 ON TO HAVANA A JUNCTION WITH GOMEZ Would Greatly Facilitate the vance in Cuba ADVISERS OE STRATEGIC BOARDS Strongly Urge a Southward Extension of the Blockade The Capture of Two Small Southern Towns is Easy, and Would Afford Valuable Bases of Operation. ASSOCIATED PRESS SPECIAL WIRE. Washington, April strategic boards of the army and navy are being urged to supplement the pacific blockade by the taking of one port on the north coast of Cuba and one on the south coast for the purpose of establishing a junction with General Gomez's insurgent troops at Sancti Spiritus, and with General Garcia's insurgent forces in Santiago de Cuba- Secretary Albertini, of the Cuban legation, said today that movements of this character would be extremely valuable in opening up connection with forces.

It is felt that small forts could be taken practically without opposition, and that Cienfuegos on the south coast and Sagua la Grande on the north coast are probably best fitted in point of location and lack of coast defenses as the bases of supplies. Cienfuegos, on the south coast, is the point most accessible to the commands of both Gomez and Garcia, while Sagua is within easy reach of Gomez. By having two bases, one on the north and one on the south, the danger of interruption in the communication from one to the other would be avoided, and it is thought through communication between the two could be effected. It is said that Cienfuegos and Sagua could not offer the resistance that Matanzas and other large ports are able to present. The large Cuban ports have fairly good batteries, and it would take a considerable naval force, and the delays incident to giving the non-combatants time for departure, before they could be captured.

On the other hand, smaller ports could make little more than a formal defense, if, indeed, they did not surrender at the outset, knowing that opposition was useless. Recent conferences between the Cuban military officers here and General Miles leave little doubt that the war department will equip the Cuban forces in every way practicable with the heavy demand for arms and ammunition made by the calling into active service of the full force of the army and 125,000 volunteers. CUTTING OF CABLES Nothing is known at the war department of the reported cutting of the cable connecting Cuba with Key West by the Mangrove ten miles out at sea. There is a great deal of doubt as the accuracy of the report and it is believed that the most that has been done in that direction has been the tapping of the cable for strategic The United States is a party to a convention which binds all the signatories, most of the marine powers of the world, to refrain from interference with cables in the event of war. Piercy Belmont, while chairman of the house committee on foreign relations, labored to this end years and finally succeeded in having the United States sign an agreement.

A naval officer of high rank when questioned on the subject today remarked that almost all agreements are suspended by war when they injure the interest of one the combatants. The cable connecting with Madrid would be a most powerful assistance to the Spanish cause just now and would work equal injury to us, wherefore, said the officer, a prudent naval commander doubtless would cut the cable first and let the diplomats talk about it afterwards. EVIDENTLY IN USE HAVANA, April 24 (delayed in transmission) via Key West, April the government of the United States will not allow Madrid and New York telegrams to come to Havana for the press, the Spanish censor here will not allow correspondents to telegraph to the New York press. The above message is from the correspondent of the Associated Press at Havana, and is the first word received direct by cable from Havana since the dispatches of the Associated Press of Saturday announcing the arrival of the United States squadron off Havana and the establishment of the Cuban blockade. WORK AT HAVANA NEW YORK, April Ward line steamer Vigilencia, from Mexico and Matanzas, Cuba, arrived at quarantine tonight.

The Vigilencia reached Matanzas from Tampico on the morning of the 21st. The greatest excitement prevailed on shore, and troops and artillerymen were drilling. Tha steamer meanwhile took on board 12,000 bags of sugar and other cargo. Captain Mcintosh went on shore to attend to the clearance of the steamer. He found the people greatly excited.

The Spanish officers were planting mines in the harbor and every person was made to put the harbor in a defensive position. There was one gunboat in tjie harbor busily engaged in overseeing the laying of mines and torpedoes. Twelve Pages PRICE FIVE CENTS.