New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-21
SPANISH GUNBOATS And CUBAN BELLE
GERENEY

emily be ready to sail from thls pOrtj anu, as
their release from the jurisdiction and control
under which they have been held by our au-
thOrities for ten weeks past involves certain
questions of deep interest and Importance the
public will doubtless watch the action OF the
Government in the matter az closely as the
Government itself lately watched the move
ments of the gunboats
There are thirty of these vessels altogether,
fifteen of which have been built here and fifteen
at Mystic Conn; but those at the latter place,
after having been got nearly ready for service,
have been ordered to New-York to be COM
pleted and there is no doubt that it is intend
ed that the whole fleet shall SAIL or attempt to
sail, from this harbor. In the accounts of
them given by our reporters, full details OF
their characteristics have been furnished to the
public, and no one will doubt that they must
prove of immense advantage to the Spaniards
in the suppression Of the Cuban insurrection,
being fitted for river as well as coast service
and capable of rapid movement as well as Wig
orous assault. 1t is the opinion of those con-
yersant with the matter that these gunboats
will speedily make it impossible for the Cuban
insurgents TO carry on their operations effect
vely or with prospect of success. The Span
ish Government detailed some of its best naval
officers to watch their construction throughout,
and these officers have been on duty here ana at
Mystic ever since the work was begun.
In the beginning of August last while the
building of these boats was in progress, they
were suddenly seized 10y order of our Govern
ment-the Peruvian Minister having maGo
complaint that they were intended for service
against Peru, toward which Spain still main
tains an attitude of hostility. This charge was
disproved by reference TO the style OF the
vessels but it was then urged on behalf OF
Peru that, if they did not go there themselves
they would subservo the same object by rellev-
ing larger Spanish war-ships now in service
in Cuban waters. The Spanish Minister. how
ever induced our Government to permit the
resumption of work on the gunboats; and 1t
has been pushed with tho greatest energy dur
ing the last ten weeks. A few days more Will
see them all completed, and ready to take their
departure from New York. Already ono OF
them, prepared for experimental purposes, has
been making trial-trips on the Hudson, testing
the engines, and practcing with the guns which
are to form their armament. Ever since our
Government permitted tho resumption of work
upon them, after its temporary stoppage IN
August, the gunboats have been kept under
the closest surveillance by our naval authori-
ties. Admiral Godon has obeyed his instruc-
tons to watch vigilantly then progress, and to
prevent any attempt on their part. if any were
made, to leave NewYOrk without the express
permission of ,the Government at Washington.
Now what will be the upshot of this compli-
Gated business
The steps our Government has already taken
indicate its unwillingness TO release these gum
boats for the Spanish service in Cuba; while
the news we have from Madrid. as wei! ~
from Havana. indicates the determination OF
the Spanish Government to secure possession
of the vessels for which it has already paid,
and the building Of which has been permitted
in our ship-yards. When the gunboats are
finished and ready to sail, the Spanish Minister
at Washington will undoubtedly request the
removal of anything like an embargo upon
their departure. If this be refused, we may
anticipate that the Spanish request will be fol-
lowed by a Spanish demand. If this be de-
clined, are we to anticipate something in the
Spanish line more formidable than q demand
Already the gunboat question has been brought
to the attention of Minister Sickles by the Re-
this moment q letter from Madrid lin the OFF,
cial accuracy of which we have every reason
to believe) which contains the information that
at an interview on the 5th ult. between Gen.
Sckles and Becerra Secretary of Foreign
Affairs al Interim, the latter got into such
state of excitement about the embargo OF the
gunboats that the interview ended in per-
sonal rupture. The language of the Spanish
press on the subject has been extremely bitter.
Our Government is accused of violating, or in
tending to violate, the Neutrality laws, and the
action it has already taken is spoken Of as in
tolerably presumptuous. Even the semi official
Epoca (Madrid) is reused to an extraordinary
degree of Spanish fervor by our conduct. But
a short time ago, after telling how the Spanish
gunboats had been enlarged at New-York,
it went on thus
1--WE suppose that the Government and representa-
tive at Washington will by this time have made tho
proper remonstrances TO have this unjust embargo
raised but H. unfortunately which VIC do not believe,
our reclamation should prove unsuccessful It is neces
sary that remembering what we were, we shall place
ourselves in energetic altitude. and give those who
treat us in this unfair understand that this
course is continued will J0ht them for to such
state Of things prefer an open war, In which we
shall not want allies, and In which we will give our
enemies trouble by shelering tho pryateers that will
prey on their commerce"
This language is almost as wild as that
which was recently uttered by the CroniSta of
this city, when it undertook to show us how
easy matter it would DO for the Spanish
army and navy to bring this country to terms.
But, though we do not pay much attention to
Spanish extravaganza of this sort, the fact
remains that there is point of difficulty be-
tween the American Government and that of
Spain which will very soon demand settlement