The San Francisco Call and Post from San Francisco, California • Page 1

VOLUME 147. CONGRESS HAS GIVEN NOTICE TO THE WORLD WASHINGTON, D. April The following bill declaring that war exists between the United States of America and the kingdom of Spain was passed by Congress to-day and signed by the President: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled "First That war be and the same is hereby declared to exist, and that war has existed since the 21st of April, A. D. 1898, including said day, between the United States of America and the kingdom of Spain.

"Second That the President of the United States be and he is hereby directed and empowered to use the entire land and naval forces of the United States, and to call into actual service of the United States the militia of the several States to such an extent as may be necessary to carry this act into effect." PRESIDENT SIGNS THE WAR MEASURE Naval Men Get Ready For the Greatest Sea Fight of Modern Times. Call Office, Riggs House, Washington, April 25. With a gold pen in a polished ebony holder, President McKinley at 6:18 o'clock this evening signed the resolutions passed by Congress declaring a state of war to exist betwen the United States and the kingdom of Spain. There were but two witnesses to this interesting ceremony, Attorney-General Griggs and the faithful Sergeant Loeffler, who has acted as private doorkeeper to every President since Lincoln first entered the White House. The resolutions were based upon the President's message transmitted to Congress at noon and after prompt passage by the House were considered in executive session by the Sanate.

Several amendments were proposed, but ail were defeated by decisive votes, the sentiment of the great majority of Senators being that no time should be lost in perfecting the record on which this couitry must stand in the eyes of the civilized world. It was just ten minutes past 5 o'clock when Deputies Buchanan and Davis of the Senate and House executive started for the White House with the resolution engrossed cm parchment. When they reached the executive mansion the President had retired to his private rooms for a little rest, and they waited forty minutes in the anteroom. As soon as the President reappeared in his office a telephone message brought Attorney-General Giiggs, who cast the critical eye of a lawyer over the document and pronounced ft regular in form and substance. The President then took the pen both Speaker Reed and Vice-President Hobart had used, and which was furnished by Representative Allen Smith, and War Declared THE MESSAGE CALLING THE DECLARATION WASHINGTON, April The President to-day sent to Congress the following message recommending a declaration of war against Spain: To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America: 1 transmit to the Congress for its consideration and appropriate action, copies r.f correspondence recently had with the representative of Spain In the United with the United States Minister at Madrid, and through the latter, with the Government of Spain, showing tho action taken under the joint resolution approved April 20, for the rocognition of the independence of the people of Cuba, demanding that the Government of Spain relinquish Its authority and government in the island of Cuba, and to withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters, and directing the President of the United States to use the land and naval forces of the United States to carry these resolutions Into eff'-ct.

Upon communicating to the Spanish Minister in Washington demand which, it became the duty of the executive to address to the Government of Spain In obedience to said resolution, the said Minister asked for his passports and withdrew. The United States Minister at Madrid was in turn notified by the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs that the withdrawal of the Spanish ntative from the United States had terminated diplomatic relations between the two countries, and that all official communications between the re- Bpectlve representatives ceased therewith. I recommend to your especial the note directed to the United States Minister Madrid by the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs on the whereby the foregoing notification was conveyed. It will be perceived that toe Bpanish Government, having cognizance of the joint resolution of the Congress of the United Estates, and In view of things which the President is thereby required and authorised to do, responds by treating the demands of this Government as measures of hostility, following with that instant and complete severance of relations by its action which, by usage of nations, accompanies an existent state of war between sovereign powers. The position of Spain being thus made known, and the demands of the United States being denied, with a complete rupture In the intercourse with Spnln.

I have been constrained in the exercise of the power and authority conferred upon me by the joint resolution aforesaid to proclaim, under date of April 22. IS9S. a blockade of certain ports of the north coast of Cuba, lying between Cardenas and Bahia Honda, and of the port of Clenfuegos on the south coast of Cuba; and further, in exercise of my constitutional powers, and using the. authority conferred upon me by the act of Congress approved April 22, 1898, to Issue my proclamation dated April 23, IS9B, calling for volunteers in order to carry into effect the said resolution of April 20, 1898. Copies of these proclamations are hereunto appended.

In view of the measures so taken, and with a view to the adoption sucfa other measures as may be necessary to enable me to carry out the expressed will of the Congress of the United States in the premises, I now recommend to your honorable body the adoption of a joint resolution declaring that a Htate of war exists between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain and I urge speedy action thereon to the end that the definition of the international status of the United States as a belligerent power may be made known, and the assertion of all its rights and the maintenance of all ita duties in the conduct of a public war may be assured. WILLIAM McKINLEY. Executive Mansion, Washington, April 25, ISOB. sixty seconds later The Call bulletin service had flashed the news to San Francisco that the resolutions had been signed by the Chief Executive. Now that all technicalities under the strictest construction of interna- The San Francisco Call tional law have been complied with and it has been advertised to the world that we are at war with Spain, the Navy Department is anxious to give the order that will mean the Continued on Second Page.

SAN FRANCISCO, TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 1898. SPAIN'S FLEET COMING, MANILA TO BE ATTACKED, MARINES LAND IN CUBA ST. VINCENT, Cape Verde Islands, April 25. -The Spanish battleship Pelayo and the two swift cruisers which were expected to-day and for which the formidable fleet now in this harbor has been waiting have not arrived. As I have cabled the Herald- Call from time to time, the four first class cruisers, the three torpedo-boatsand the three torpedo-boat destroyers here have rtcoaicd each morning and kept their fires banked waiting for the Pelayo and the other ships.

They were to start at once on their westward voyage. All is changed this evening. There is a report, which I was assured by one in authority is not without foundation, that the Pelayo and two crack cruisers of the Spanish navy, accompanied by three torpedo-boats MANILA WILL BE ATTACKED BY SATURDAY HONGKONG, April 26. i A. Before this dispatch appears in type Commodore Dewey's squadron of seven fine warships will have sailed from Mirs Bay to attack Manila.

Consul Williams will arrive here early to-day and will be taken to Mirs Bay in a specially chartered steamer. The fleet will sail immediately after his arrival. An attack on Manila will probably have been made by next Saturday- Commodore Dewey regards Mr. Williams' work in Manila so highly that he will not start till Mr. Williams is ready to accompany him, but "it is believed there will be no delay on this score.

The Spaniards have one good cruiser at Manila, the Reina Christina of 3500 tons, four effective gunboats of less than 1200 tons and half a dozen smaller craft of no fighting value. Manila has a few. modern guns mounted, but will be powerless against such a force as that of the American fleet. NEW YORK, April The Herald's Washington correspondent telegraphs: Navy Department officials expect that within three days a decisive battle will have been fought between the American and Spanish naval forces operating in the waters of the Philippines. Commodore Dewey's squadron steaming at the rate of ten knots BATTLESHIP DRAWS THE FIRE OF THE GUNS OF MATANZAS, HAVANA, Cuba, 6 p.

April 24 (via Kingston, Jamaica, April The day passed quietly, with no change in the position of the blockading ships. A battleship and a torpedo boat before Matanzas intimated to neutral vessels to put to sea. They captured a small Spanish schooner. Later in the day events were forced by another battleship which steamed close in reconnoitering. Morill Fort opened fire on her, and she retired without returning fire.

Demonstrations were made against Cardenas an one vessel against the former and three against the latter. and four tor pedo boat destroyers, have gone across the Atlantic. I was also assured by the same authority that the officials of the Madrid Government will endeavor to make good the statement attributed to them Copyrighted, 1898. by James Gordon Bennett. an hour ought to reach Manila by to-morrow afternoon and it is expected by Secretary Long and other department officials that the vessels will be in action immediately after their arrival unless the Spanish men-of-war should prefer to remain inside mined harbors.

Of primary importance, the offi- Continued on Second Page. some time ago which was to the effect that Spain would soon strike a blow that would open America's eyes to the fact that she is still one of the powers of Europe and capable of defending her rights. I was also informed BOLD AMERICAN MARINES LANDED ON CUBAN SOIL On board Herald-CaU dispatch boat Somers N. Smith, with blockading ileet off Havana, April 25. Yesterday we lay quite close in, in a little cove twenty miles west of Havana, and news reached us that food has already reached famine prices in Havana the war commenced.

For three years in Cuba supp.its for the population have had to be procured from the United States. Now this source is closed and the price of fresh meat-is stated to be $2 a pound in Havana. What must be the condition of the reconcentrados under this state of afiairs may be imagined. The officers of the Fern, who know something of the situation there, say Havana has been eating mule flesh for at least a week. Copyrighted, IS9B.

by James Gordon Bennett. ONBOARD Call-Herald dispatch boat Sommers N. Smith, with blockading squadron off Havana, April 25. There is still no bombardment of Havana. The peaceful blockade continues, and deeds of heroism are being performed by the American navy.

Here is one The torpedo boat Porter is as fleet as an express train, has a dare-devil crew and an intrepid commander. Lieutenant John C. Fremont is the commander's name. He is a son of the famous Path- PRICE FIVE CENTS. that the squadron now in port would sail tomorrow morning to join the Pelayoand her fleet.

I was unable to confirm this, but from indications it is evident that the fleet will not remain long in this harbor. Four cruisers were to day filled with coal. Not only were the bunkers filled, but every available place in the ships was utilized. This is shown by the fact that about 7000 tons was placed aboard the four cruisers. I made every effort to ascertain authoritatively the names of vessels with the Pelayo.but was unable to do so in time to cable to-night.

It was officially reported that the Pelayo sailed from Cadiz on April 17, and on April 20 she was reenforced by the armored Continued on Second Page. finder, and a "chip of the old block." Under the darkness of last night Lieutenant Fremont with the Porter made a landing on the north coast of Cuba with a small force in search of information. He did not meet any Spanish troops, but was ready to fight them if he had met them, and ho.