The New York herald., 1869-12-01
THE SPANISH MOSQUITO FLEET.


THE SPANISH MOSQUITO FLEET.
No New Developments Yestcrday-The Adj
minIstrution Silent ON the Application Of tho
Cuban Envoy-The Papers for the Motion
to Release the Vessels Not Yet Heady-Tho
Tactics Of the Defence. ~
In the matter OF the Spanish mosquito fleet. BY
which name the thirty gunboats contracted for by
Messrs. Delamater Il Co. have now generally be-
come known, nothing new transplred yesterday.
Marshal Harlow tenacousy, as IN duty bound, holds
on to his possession OF them. His deputy, Mr.. A. H.
Winsow visits and examines the boats twice a day
to see that nothing is being done towards Q
candestine removal Of the vessels "in limbO.v
Another deputy marshal (Mr. Crowley Is contln-
ually at his post, in command Of the armed tug
Martin Kaibneisch, and the OF this tug and the
watchmen are under his order. or the latter there
are six employed in all, whose duty 1t Is to make
the round among the boats, from No. to No. so,
from two to three times a-day Twenty OF them are
moored at the foot OF Thirteenth street and ten ut
the foot OF Seventeenth street. in the North river.
Ihe Martin Kalbneisch keeps up constantly full
head OF steam and Is patr0lling IN the river
with watchful care. 1t Is probable, at least.
that 1t is the intention OF Marshal Harlow to
discharge the Martin Kabnesch in few days
to make u requisition for naval gunbOat
to do duty q watch over the mosquito feet IL is
not believed, however that there Is any danger at
present that these boats might get away contrary 10
the wishes OF the government or without the permis-
sion OF the United States Court nor 1t believed tnat
any person concerned IN the boats does at present
entertain any idea harbor any intention thus TO
interfere with the course Of law and speed the ves
ses away IN spite OF the United states authorltles
but still, to be prepared Tor ali emergencies,
arrangements have been perfected through che
Navy Department to have q sufficient naval force,
and even some revenue cutters, ready at monlent's
notice to stop these boats from leaving port before
.aey aIs Iy rn9 S ot d1 h
progressed yesterday as usual.
The statement In yesterdays HERALD to the effect
that the application OF Senor Morales Lenus to
libel the gunbOats on the ground tnat they are
intended 10 make war upon the people OF CUBA
regular Tuesdays meeting was generally assumed
to been correct Yet up to the close of busi-s
had received no lntimation from Washington rs 10
the decision arrived at by the administration on this
highly Interesting and IN International aspect. very
office this information was anxiously expected,
but II was considered :, as probable probable, that
have been il win. be communicated through
the regular and Official channel through the mails,
no serious delay being 0ccasoned by TINS course.
the time for hearing the motion for the release Of
the gunbOatS being set for Thursday at three z. M
leaving fully time enough for elaborate precise
instructions 10 reach Judge Plerrepout from Wash
ngton more than twentyrOur hours earier enabling
him to act according to the views Of the adnistra
| ton.
It will be recolected that the notice o, motion for
the release of the boats was signed by Mr.. Edwin w.
| 1t was arranged between him ana the District
| Attorney that copies Of the papers, aliida.
| be furnished the latter before the hearing
| Of the motion commenced. These. papers.
WoaS Ss %
that according 10 the rules OF war aud Of interna
tional law expounded and observed by all civilized
nations in their intercourse with each oner the re-
lations OF Spain with Peru are those OF peace ana
OF war; and this it VIII be sought to establish by
copious references 60 the diplomatic correspondence
between the American State Department and the
representatives Of SPAN Peru ofcial oecara-
both these governments through their recog
nzed diplomatic organs, and facts history since
the cessation OF actual hoStitles between the two
countries. And second, 1t Is intended to produce
the statements OF shIpbullders, experienced
mariners and OF men well versed IN naval arcnitec-
ture, naval warfare aud the perils OF the sea, who
acquainted with the details OF construction OF
the thirty boats In the North rIver order show
that vessels OF such peculiar build and Of sucn light
diaught would not be lifted for such long ocean
voyage IS trip around Cape Horn, winch they
would have necessarily to maze were they to he
used in hostile expedition against Peru, on the
west coast OF South America
These papers have not yet been completed. Mr..
Stoughton, 1t was said, was engaged in their prepa-
ration last evening, and II was expected they would
be finished and printed to-day IL quite possible,
however. tnat the application Of Senior Lemus. or
which mention Is made above, may have something
to do with this delay: for, should the administration
decide TO instruct Judge Plerrepont to proceed
against the vessels the ground suggested by the
Cuban Envoy, and under an amended libel, the de-
fence would have TO change ITS tactics entirely iOE
1t Ia well known that the spanish Minister at Wash
ngton, Senior Roberts, had officially stated to Sec
retsry Fish that these gunboats were 10 be
employed against the insurgents on the
been made, the counsel for the claimants
could not deny the fact, and upon this there
could be no Issue. In that case the defence would
turn upon two points. one OF law ana the other Of
fact The one OF law would be in how Tar the third
section OF the Neutrality act Of 1878 anu proper
and legitimate construction Of It's terms would
authorize the seizure OF these boats, while the Ques-
ton OF fact would bring into court the whole history
OF the Cuban revolution It's extent, proportions aud
means, IN order to have 1t DECIDED whether, II the
law be applicable, the Cuban insurrectonlsts do
really constitute such .'colony, people or dis
trlct' as is meant by the law. inns latter
been talked ol and will be considered whenever the
course OF the administration should necessitate it,
though IL has also been tntmated that the represen-
atves OF spain might feel In duty bound put their
veto IN such q defence as 1t Is rather more than
probable that Spain Will think tt slight upon her
honor and dignity as an independent state TO have
her relations with the Inhabitants OF one OF her col
onies Juucialy investigated and passed upon by q
foreign tribunal.
1t is understood that in addition to the regular
attorneys OF the Cuban Junta In this city the ex-
Attorney General Of the United States, Mi. William
NJ Evais, has been prevailed upon to act as counsel
for them whenever these cases shall be called IN
court for judicial investigation.
ANNUAL DINNER or The ALUMNI ASs1cIaTlos 0; RlwN