The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-01
TIE NEW SPANISH ARMADA.

Shipment of tho Armament Of the Embargoed
Spanish GunbOats-The United States Mar
shai PuzzIed-Tho Privatcer Hornet.
An article lately appeared In the HERALD descrip.
tive OF the Spanish gunboats now being made ready
for active work in Cuban waters and reporting their
present condition. 1t stated that notwthstand-
ing the seizure of the mosquito fleet by the United
States authorities, some time SINCE on the alega-
ton OF interested parties that they intended for
service against the republic OF Peru with whom this
country is on the most friendly terms, work was nos
suspended on the boats, but, on the contrary. the
yroato0s onoIyy rron,sosSeu Uy tho boIdors In
getting them completed and ready for sea.
The agents OF the Spanish government must have
acted under the best advice and with full know
ledge Of the temper OF the authorities at Washing
ton. They had abundant proof that the seizure OF
the gunboat flota was ruse and that opposition
would be offered to their departure their murder.
GUS errand when they were ready for sea. orders ,
were sent to the West Point foundry for the casting
OF thirty 100pounder PARROT guns and for the suDs
ply Of 900 Of shot shell, and other fixed
ammunition for the service OF the guns. The order
was filled last week, and on Monday the steamer
Euterpe, Captain Gates, owned by Mallory d
Co. the builders Of the fifteen boats at Mystic.
the guns and ammunition, with which she steamed
to the city, She put on the regular line for HaJ
yana and was assigned by her owners berth at pier
Early yesterday morning gang of men were at
work filing her up large quantity OF hay in bales
being placed over the guns and ammunition to hide
1t from the eyes Of the curious. She advertised
to sail yesterday evening About twelve O'Clock yes
Euterpe was about to leave the port with
the armament Of the Cuban privateers on
board was handed to United States Marshal
Barlow by some person unknown. The Marshal had
previous knowledge OF the affair, and had cutter
watching the Euterpe at Cold Spring and until her
arrival at the wharf In this city; but the very
explicit information contained in the af1idavit
called for active interference ana accordingly Q
and watch the vessel
In the meantime, the Marshal requested the Col
iector OF Customs to refuse a clearance TO the
Euterpe pending the result OF certain inquiries
addressed to the President by telegraph. Gene
raj Grant had not answered the Marshaps
and matters remain in stdtu quo. While there
can be little doubt that the guns end ammunition
cling question for the Marshal whether is his duty
TO seize the Euterpe or not. The shipment OF arms
and ammunition to port OF foreign country with
which the United States are at peace Ia not for
hidden by our laws; but there is abundant evidence
that this armament will be put on board the Span
government has decided that Ii could not consistently
permit the departure OF the gunboats, and now the
away from the port. This question is a puzSler %
the Marshal but 1t Is not likely that anything fuEler
will be done m the matner until the Presid9it is
heard from. The Euterpe, IN the meantime Glnnot
leave. The Cubans in the city were as much rdzzled
yesterday as General Barlow.
The privateer Hornet IL now on the coat OF Cuba
and in a few days Will be duly commissioned in
Cuban port as regular Cuban lnan-c-Tar. ltisweli
understood by the friends OF theyoung republic
that the ship Is well onicered, mared and armed.
and that 1t would be pastime for NJ commander to
run down every boat OF the mosqtto fleet. These
considerations therefore, VIII Wvent the Cuban
leaders here from taking any activ part In the
troversy respecting the right Of u Euterpe TO de-
part on her errand. Pending theettlement OF the
matter questions are rife NJ to wbther there Is "a
leak" In the state Department, which the agents
of the Spanish government haveoeen able to dis
cover that the stoppage or the pnboats was but
temporary measure OF expediery and that they
will be allowed to 20 on their w0t OF destruction.