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678 Outbreak of war with Spain. Spanish minister immediately requested his passports, and left Washing- ton ; and General Woodford, before he had had an opportunity to carry out his instructions, was notified by the Spanish government that the ap- proval of the resolution by the President was considered as a declaration of war, and that diplomatic relations between the two countries had ceased. He at once withdrew. Next day, April 22, 1898, President McKinley proclaimed a blockade of the north coast of Cuba from Cardenas to Bahia Honda, and of the port of Cienfuegos on the south coast ; and on April 25 Congress adopted a formal declaration that war had existed since the 21st. Though neither government had adhered to the Decla- ration of Paris, the United States declared that it would be its policy not to resort to privateering. Spain reserved the right to issue letters of marque, but issued none. Both governments exercised the right of employing auxiliary cruisers, under naval control. The second, third, and fourth rules of the Declaration of Paris were proclaimed by both bellige- rents as principles of international law. American ships lying in Spanish ports on the outbreak of the war were allowed five days in which to depart. Spanish ships in American ports were allowed to load their cargoes and depart within thirty days ; a similar concession was made to neutral vessels lying in Spanish ports which the United States blockaded; and Spanish ships that had sailed for the United States prior to April 21 were permitted to enter, discharge, and depart with the assurance of an unmolested voyage to any port not blockaded. In spite of these liberal measures, it must be admitted that popular sentiment in foreign countries, as exhibited by the press, was strongly adverse to the American intervention. To this rule, however, Great Britain, and perhaps even more so her colonies, formed an exception so agreeable to the United States that the sentiment of fraternity became unusually prevalent and popular in that country. But the disposition to censoriousness, in whatever quarters it existed, was soon modified by the course of the conflict. Some weeks before the outbreak of the war active preparations had been in progress, especially on the part of the United States, for the conflict that seemed to be inevitable. Early in March authority was given by Congress for the raising of two additional regiments of artillery, and on April 16 the regular army was put in motion toward points of concentration from which it would be available for active service, particularly in Cuba. On the rejection by Spain of the American ultimatum the President was empowered by Congress to prohibit the exportation by sea of coal and other materials used in war; and pro- vision was made for the creation of a volunteer army. The President issued a call for 125,000 volunteers for two years. The regular army was reorganised and placed on a war footing, and its numbers were raised from 27,000 to 61,000. American officers were authorised to furnish subsistence to inhabitants of Cuba who were destitute and in