Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-07-13
THE ALABAMA.
The Rescued Wen in the French Pilot
Boaf--Oapt. WinslOw Demands His
RrisOncrs.

Prisoners.
tparis June 2s) Correspondence Of London News,
tW % Secession.l ~
Mr.. Lancaster, the owner of-the yachG
Deerhound, is not alone honored by tnc
vituperation of the commander of the kear-
sarge. Several French pilot boats followed
his gallant example and lowered arounu
the combatants during the fght on Suhuay
week, and, like him, eXerted themselves 10
rescue several of the drowning crew OF tine
Alabama. Capt. Winslowy seems to think
that the French pilots, like the gaiiant
English yachtman, were bound TO act as
bloodhounds, and assist him in securing
the drowning men he considers as ''prison-
ers.' That conduct, it may be presumed,
he would have considered honorable" a
fact which proves, as have before noticed,
that different meanings are attached to the
word sshonor'' in the United. States and in
the rest of the civilized world. He has adj
dressed to M. Bonfils, the Confederate agent
at Cherbourg, a letter, claiming as his
prisoners those of the officers and crew OF
the Alabama whom the pilot boats picked
up. Captain Winslow is, seemingly, not
aware that, according to the usages OF CIV
ilized warfare, and the laws OF France,
prisoner of war who escapes ana touches
French soil is free, and that foreign snip
of war cannot keep prisoners of war on
hoard so long as she remains in French wa
ters. / subjoin his letter, and append M.
Bonfls' reply: .,.,e., p. 81,
u. S. S. S. KEARsARGE,
CuERnouRG, June 81, 1s64.S
To Monsieur BoaflS'
MONSIEUR Certain pilot boats which |
allowed, through humanity, to save several
prisoners after the sinking of the Alabama,
have taken them to Cherbourg. The oili-
GERS and men are, nevertheless, suDJect 10
the obligations imposed by the laws OF war;
they should surrender on board the Kear-
sarge. In the event of their attempting to
release themselves from the obligation,
through the means that have been employ
ed, should a similar case arise they have no
mercy to expect. j am. &C.
JOHN A. WINsLow, Captain.
To CAPTAIN John a. Winslow:
SIR:-I have received your letter dated
June 81. The object of your claim is who'll
lv beyond nv control and | would point
out that your demand should have been ad-
dressed, not to me, but to the French Gov
ernment, under whose shelter the unfortu-
nate men YOU refer to have taken refuge.
| am not aware of any law of war which
prohibits a soldier making his escape from
the field of battle after a reverse, even after
he has been captured, and can not see why
a sailor should be debarred of the privilege
OF swimming away from his enemy.
| must decline acting as your intermedi-
ary with certain persons, whose names you
do not even mention, and whom, neverthe-
less, you consider to be your prisoners.
Neither can understand how the authori-
ties of the United States can claim to detain
prisoners within the territory of the French
empire. am, &c, BoNFILs'
1t remains to be seen whether the Ameri-
can envoy here will venture to repeat the
preposterous claim of the commander OF the
Kearsarge to NJ. Drouyn de Lhuys. Should
he be so i'll advised as to do so he will in all
probability receive lesson on international
law he little expects. In England, how
ever. the case is different. l have no doubt
that Lord Russell will be prepared to re-
ceive with due humility any claim Mr.
Adams may prefer. The trucking to Ger
many in the case of Denmark is, at all
events, calculated to encourage the United
States agents in the insolent pretensions
put forth i'm Captain Winslow's letter.
The captain of the Kearsarge also favors
the Opinion Nationdle with an account of
the fight. 1t contains little that is new.
He asserts that he could not believe that
the Alabama was seriously damaged when
she hauled down her flag, and that If it had
been known that she had surrendered the
firing into her would have been discon-
tinued. He also mentions that had he sup
posed the 'owner of the Deerhound meant
to behave in so dishonorable manner he
Captain w } would Immediately have sunk
her." 1t were pity not to give this gal
liant sailor credit for his good intentions.
What a pity he did not carry them out against
The French pilot boats-he would have been
sure of an appropriate welcome on his ar
rival at Cherbourg.