The topic of the week, affording excitement from day to day has been the division between the United States and Spain. The telegrams, which hed grown more and more ominous, culminated yesterday in an announcement of the commencement - of hostilities, but where or when is not yet known, No notification of the declaration has #0 far renched this Government, but the American squadron (which now humbers seven vessels) is preparing to leave. They have all, with the exception of the Batiimore, been painted grey, and she is going to change her colour without delay. She brought on large supplies from Honolulu, whither they had been sent in the Mohican. Rumours were current here of i numerous desertions, but I learn that these were greatly exaggerated, and all the shi are not only well found but completely manned. It is probable that the squadron will for the present only retire to Mirs Bay and there await the arrival of the steamer ithe American Consul, from Sfantis.
Esmeralda, which is bring liams, Hongkong, 23rd April MANILA, with their perfidious machinations, with acts of treachery, with their outrages against the law of nations and international conventions.
"The struggle will be short and decisive. The God of Victories will give us one as brilliant and complete as the righteousness and justice of our cause demand. Spain, which counts upon the sympathies of all the nations, will emerge triumphantly from this new test, humiliating and blasting the adventurers from those States that, without cohesion and without a history, offer to humanity only infamous traditions and the ungrateful spectacle of Chambers in which appear united insolence and defamation, cowardice and cynicism.
"(A squadron manned by foreigners, possessing neither instruction nor di line, is preparing to come to this archipehgo with the ruffianly intention of robbin; us of all that means life, honour, an liberty. Pretending to be' inspired' by a courage of which they are incapable, the North American seamen undertake ax an enterprise capable of realisation the substitution of Protestantism for the Catholic religion you profess, to treat you as tribes refractory to civilisation, to take possession of your riches as if they were unacquainted with the rights of property, and to kidnap those persons whom they consider useful to man their ships or to be exploited in agricultural or industrial labour.
"Vain designs Ridiculous boastings "Your indomitable bravery will suffice to frustrate the attempt to carry them into realisation. You will not allow the faith you profess to he made a mock of, impious hands to be placed on the temple of the true God, the images yor adore to be thrown down by unbelief. shall not profane the to they shall not gratify their lustful passions at the cost of your wires and daughters' honour or appropriate the property that your industry has accumulated as x provision for your old age. No, they shall not perpetrate any of the crimes inspired by their wickedness and covetousness, because your valour and patriotism will suffice to hand abase the people that, emiming civilised and cultivated, have ext.
ted the natives of North America ad of bringing to them the life of eivi-Tisation and of progress.
"Philipinos, prepare for the struggle and, united under the glorious Spani"h flag, which is ever covered with laurels, let 1 fight with the conviction that victory will crown our efforts, and to the calls of our enemies let us oppose with the decision of the Christian and the patriot the cry of "Viva Espana Manila, 23rd April, 1898, "Your General "Bastnio Avcustix Davia."
We learn from the Hongkong Daily Press that all the American residents at Mauile had gone on board British sailing ships, with the exception of one tunily named Johnson, Mes. Johnson being too ill to be moved. "It was believed that the rebels would muke a descent on Manila as soon as the American flag was seen, but no fears of sack were entertained, ax the rebale aim at being recognised as civilised belligerents. The Governor-General had put out the following extraordinary proclamation Another proclamation of the same date declares that any one offering assistance directly to the enemy shall be summarily tried by Court Martial as a traitor and be punished with death, and that those who Propose, the submission of "any place besieged by the enemy or spread reports calculated to discourage the defenders shall also be dealt with as traitors and punished with death or penal servitude for life.
A third proclamation declares martial Jaw and requires all able-bodied Spaniards to enrol themselves for military service.
There are other proclamations addressed "Between Spain and the United States to the Volunteers and to the inhabitants of of North America hostilities have broken Manila. out.
The moment has arrived to prove to the world that we possess the spirit to conquer those who, pretending to be loyal friends, take advantage of our misfortunes and abuse our hospitality, using means which Change's Wornp-ramon Broop Mrxrorr. "The most searching Blood Cleanser that nce and medical skill have brought to i." Sufferers from Scrofula, Scurvy, emo, Bal and Blood Diseases, civilised nations count unworthy and dis-{ Pimples, and Sores of any kind are eolicited reputable. to give it a trial to test its value. Thousands "The North American people, constitute of wonderful cures have been effected by it. ed of all the sods I excrescences, have So of everywhere at 2s. 9d. per bottle. Beware exhausted our patience and provoked war - wortleebless imitations and substitutes,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.