The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1888-04-05
THE SITUATION At TANGIER.

Tho War Ship Enterprise Lying Mt An.
chor Within Cable Communication of
the Navy Department.
WASHINGTON, April 4.-Quite 8 furry
he's been created among the State Depart
ment officials by the cable dispatch from
Tangier, stating in an interview
cabled to the Madrid Epoca that
Secretary Bayard had stated that Cap
tain McCalla, of the Enterprise, had
orders under no possible contingency
to use his guns. The dispatch to the Span
ish journal appears either to have been n
gross misstatement or wil:ul perversion Of
the Secretary's utterances on the subject.
Assistant Secretary Rives says:
Every intelligent person should know
that the State Department issues no orders
to naval officers. In this case, so far as
,munication, direct or indirect between the
Department and Captain McCella or any
other naval officer. His vessel had sailed
for the station of the Mediterranean
squadron before the trouble in Morocco as
sumed its present aspect, and no word has
been sent him or received from him"
A prominent naval officer attached to
the Bureau of Navigation said to World
correspondent:
''The Secretary of State has not in any
way interfered with the Navy Department
from whole cloth. There seems to be a
very general misunderstanding on the
present status Of affairs in Morocco, which
little explanation may clear up. In the
first place, the enterprise was bound for
Villa Farnche, the station OF the Mediter-
ranean squadron, when the difficulty be-
tween Consul-General Lewis and the Moors
assumed menacin3 proportions. When the
vessel reached Gibralter, it is supposed
oil,
ing him, sent there by Admiral Green COM
mander of the squadron. to proceed to
Tangier. Consul-General Lewis having
cabled the Admiral. Following out these
orders, McCalla sailed across the straits, 4
distance of about twentymies, and cast
anchor off the city. He then cabled the
Navy Department announcing his arrival
and stating that after investigating the sit
uation OF affairs he would report in writing.
1t is supposed that the report is now on its
way 10 the Department and may be re-
ceived in almost any mail. Consul-General
Lewis has also prepared report and has ad-
vised the State Department thatit is already
overdue here.
This then, is the present status of af-
fairs. As for any special instructions issued
to Captain Mccalla for his guidance in this
difficulty, none have been given him, I'M
less by Admiral Green, under whose i'm
mediate auth0rlty he has been since the
Enterprise touched the Gibraltar. An
officer in command Of United States man.
of-war, however, does, OF course, obey the
rules and regulations Of the service, and oh
serves the usages of civilized nations, which
constitute a sort of general inter-
national Law. Captain NcCalla has
no orders not TO fire On Tangier,
but he will not do so unless it
should: become necessary. He is now lying
at anchor within cable communication OF the
Navy Department, and can easily inform us
of any unexpected change If, however. a
hostile demonstration of force should be
made against him by the Moor-if, for in
stance, they should so step too far in this
sport they seem 10 be having with our little
vessel and fire upon her-McCalla would
not only fire back. hat he would knock'the
dirty little town into cooked hat in even
less time than it takes to tell it.
"The impression that the United States
has formulated its policy in this case and
that final orders have been issued in accor-
dance with it is Il false one, We arc, as it
were, within speaking distance of both consul
and maE-of-war and are row waiting for full
reports from both. NOinstructions have been
issued, and none will be Until further state
ments have been received unless 4 special
exigency should arise"