_March 27._ Madrid correspondents of Berlin newspapers declared that war with the United States was next to certain. The United States cruisers _San Francisco_ and _New Orleans_ sailed from England for New York, and the active work of mining the harbours of the United States coast was begun. _March 28._ The President sent to Congress, with a message, the report of the _Maine_ court of inquiry, as has been stated in a previous chapter. _March 29._ Resolutions declaring war on Spain, and recognising the independence of Cuba, were introduced in both houses of Congress. With the beginning of April it was to the public generally as if the war had already begun. In every city, town, or hamlet throughout the country the newspapers were scanned eagerly for notes of warlike preparation, and from Washington, sent by those who were in position to know what steps were being taken by the government, came information which dashed the hopes of those who had been praying that peace might not be broken. There had been a conference between the President, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the chairman of the committee on ways and means, regarding the best methods of raising funds for the carrying on of a war. A joint board of the army and navy had met to formulate plans of defence, and a speedy report was made to Secretary Long. Instructions were sent by the State Department to all United States consuls in Cuba to be prepared to leave the island at any moment, and to hold themselves in readiness to proceed to Havana in order to embark for the United States. _April 2._ A gentleman in touch with public affairs wrote from Washington as follows: “To-day’s developments show that there is only the very faintest hope of peace. Unless Spain yields war must come. The administration realises that as fully as do members of Congress. “The orders sent by the State Department to all our consuls in Cuba, especially those in the interior, to hold themselves in readiness to leave their positions and proceed to Havana, show that the department looks upon war as a certainty, and has taken all proper precautions for the safety of its agents. “Such an order, it is unnecessary to say, would not have been issued unless a crisis was imminent, and the State Department, as well as other branches of the government, has now become convinced that peace cannot much longer be maintained, and that the safety of the consular agents is a first consideration. “General Lee has also been advised that he should be ready to leave as soon as notified, and that the American newspaper correspondents now in Havana must prepare themselves to receive the notification of instant departure.