New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-11-19
WHOLE NUMBER 2O32.

armed SHIPS. In preference to smooth bores,
ia an anomaly IT not grave error
vessel OF war should be constructed to
resist shot and shell at the shortest dis
tance. and they argue that riAed piece is
inferior to smooth bore at very short
range. say 800 or 1000 yards. Generally the
smooth bore is Just as effective at distances.
from 1000 to 1900 yards; or, as an old naval
officer who commanded a monitor durino
the war expressed it: When | have rot
the work to do within 1000 yards | don't
want any ritled ordnance
The question as to the seagoing qualities
of the monitors being nel.t referred to, it
was stated by one of the most prominent
officers of the navy that they can 60 to sea
with perfect safety; but they should always
have another vessel with them, for the
reason that the compass on a monitor. on
account of the great mass OF surrounding
iron, works sluggishly and naccurately, and
another vessel ls almost indispensable for
them to steer by, especially at night: other
wise, they are perfectly safe at sea.
Aey West is to be made the grand depoS
of supplies for the north Atlantic fleet, and
full paymaster Ambrose j. Clark, has
been ordered to duty there with an assist
ant paymaster.
Information has been received from Mad
rid which shows that the Spanish govern.
ment IS earnest in its professions of friend
ship tor the United States and expresses
anxiety to do everything in its power not
only to preserve, but to strengthen the
peaceful relations now existing between the
two countries. Apart from commercial re-
latIOns. SDaIn desires the moral support of
the United States in its effort to perma-
nently establish a republican government
in that country. and hence the report re-
ceived here gains credit that orders have
been issued by the Spanish admiralty 70 the
,ioh ofi,p IN thn
to preserve the utmost caution in their
movements toward vessels carrying the
United States flag, and TO do no act that
would have the effect of adding 10 the
pending excitement in the United States
growing ont of the late unhappy occurrences
at Santiago de Cuba
The capture of the Nirginus recalls in otli-
cial and other circles the tact that during the
session of 1870 the Senate called upon the
President to furnish all information in pos
session of the government showing whether
during hOstlllties IN Cuba any Americans
had been executed without proper trial, or
any American vessel being seized upon in
the high seas, or if the property of any
Amer lean citizens had been contiscated or
embargoed etc.
The Presidents reply embraces 250
printed pages OF correspondence aud state
ments, showing, among other things, that
thc Mary Lowell and the Aspnwall were
not only seized by Spanish cruisers, but
turned over II the Cuban prize court of ad-
Indication. The Champion also had been
seized and detained at Santiago de Cuba, a
place where the protection afforded to the
lives and interests of American citizens
was very inadequate.
These Incidents, remarked General
Sickles to the Spanish Minister OF State,
had caused most painful impression, and
that he had been directed by our govern
ment to ask for an explanation of tie ap-
| paSently Intentional indisposition TO accede
to the just and reasonable demands of the
United States.
! The Lloyd Aspinall was bound on a legal
| voyage from Port auPrince to Havana,
| bearing important dispatches from the
| minister of the United Stats at IIayti to
his government; and also dispatches from
| the officer in command of one of the vessels
| Of war of the United States in command of
| the West India squadron. She was ar
rested by the firing of gun from q Spanish
! man of-waH and then boarded and carried
| to Neuyitas.
Secretary Fish. in letter to the Spanish
minister at Washington, called his attention
to decree then lately issued by the Cap
| tain-G General of Cuba, contemplating inter
ference with the commerce of the United
States, and asserting tEat the freedom of
! the ocean can no where, and under no cir
| cumstances, be yielded by the United States
the high seas contiguous to the island OF
| Cuba being the direct pathway OF large
part Of the purely domestic trade of the
United States.
If Spain, he said, be at war with Cuba,
| the United States Will submit to those
| rights which public law comedies to bellil-
orents. Such injuries were characterized
| by the Secretary of State as wanton inu-
| ries, aSd the United States could not allow
| such acts to pass unquestlOned without full
| reparation. After much correspondence
aud delay Of three or four months, the
Lloyd Aspinwall was set at liberty and
proper compensation subsequently made.
1t appears from the documents that the
governor of Santiago do Cuoa, quoting the
words of the General commanding the de
partment of the East, said, in an official
communication, that by the national laws
every foreigner setting foot in Spanish ter
ritory in an attitude OF war. and who If
taken with arms in his hands, is liable to
the penalty of death without process. Con
| seuucntly, Sreakmin and Wyeth suffered
| punishment without the asccrrainment OF
| their nationality.
Captain Patterson, commanding the
United States steamer Richmond reports
10 the Navy Department that he arrived al
Valparaiso on the fourth of October after
seventy days passage from Rio Janeiro
| Very severe weather was encountered II
the Straits of Magellep, during which The
ships rudder was damaged. Several sail:
were blown away.
On immense Meeting in New Iork-Reso
Iuii0ns Adopted.
NEW YORK, November l3.-During th,
| Cuban meeting last night there was much
enthusiasm displayed and repeated cries o
"Wai, war; The meeting resolved as
| follows:
That the people of the United States look
to the great soldier who now presides over
oCr government to take prompt ant
decisive action consistent with the dig
nifty and past precedent of our govern
nent. That we adopt the language OF
Thomas jefferson in 1893, when he, as
| Secretary OF State, wrote to the Spanish
representative in regard to outrages com
nIitted by the Creek Indians in the then
Spanish territory of Florida upon American
citizens, which conclude: ''lf we can no
otherwise prevail on the Creeks to discon
tinue their depredations We will attack
them in force. If Spain chooses to consider
our defense against savage butchery as a
case Of war TO her, we must meet her also
in war. with regret, but without fear
Recruiting GOing on Briskly.
Recruiting for the navy is going on brIskly
| here