New-York tribune., 1891-05-10
TO INTERCEPT THE TTATA
THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO SEIZE
THE GILLIAN VESSEL.

MORE AND SAN FRANCISCO TO STAhf iN
PURsUIT-PRECEDENTs IN SUPPORT
OF THE RIGHT OF SEIZURE.
IBY TELEeRAru TO THR TkIBUSEn
Washington, May o.-Orders have been sent by
the Navy Department to the commanding ott'cer
of the Charleston to take the Chilian vessel ltata
and instructions of similar import have been scnt
to the Baltimore and the San Francisco. Inc sec
rotary Of the Navy has discussed very thoroughly
with the Attorney General the question OF the
right and duty of the United States in the seizure
of the Itata. When no international treaty ex-
ists, the matter is one Of principle, and the De-
partment has decided that the Itata should be
brought into an American port
The telegraphic instructions sent to Captain
Remey leave good deal TO that officers dlscre-
ton and judgment. He is directed to " take" the
Chilian vessel provided he can do so without
manifest injury to his own ship The Department.
does not anticipate anything like hostilities be-
tween the Charleston and the 1tata, but the lat
ter vessel may be joined by battle-ship of the
incurgents by the time the United States cruiser
overhauls her. The protection which surrounds
the tata will govern the action of Captain Remey.
IT, in his opinion he can forcibly seize the Chill
ian, vessel without destruction to the Charleston
and death 10 her officers and men, the 1tata Will
be brought back to American port.
This discretionary privilege concerns more Adj
miral Brown, who is on the San Francisco, and
Captain Schley, in command of the Baltimore.
Both of these officers have been informed of the
condition of affairs and directed to intercept the
Itata should she elude the Charleston in the
waters farther north. There is very little chance
of the Charleston finding the GILLIAN, but if the
latter attempts to reach port held by the bel
gercnts in Chill, she is likely to be met by either
the Baltimore or the San Francisco, which vcs-
sells, it is understood, have left Valparaiso and
Calao respectively, on this mission. The Depart
ment authorities believe that it would be foolish
proceeding to have any of the United States YES
Ecls attack superior force. The effort is to be
made to take the Itata with as little loss to the
United States as possible. In addition to the
three warships in quest of the Chilan, orders
have also been sent to the Mohican, now at the
Mare Island Navy Yard.
1t does not appear that the Itata has received
the arms carried by the schooner Robert
and Minnie, and the dispatches stated also that
she started northward, which is certainly not the
route from California to Chilli There is a strong
suspicion that she is lurking somewhere in the
neighborhood of San Diego. waiting an opportunity
to get the arms IRON the schooner.
dispatch received at the Navy Department
to-day said that the Charleston had gone out TO
sea TO try her great guns. Commodore Ramsay,
who is Acting Secretary of tie Navy. refused to
say what else the Charleston was TO do.
The varying opinions among officials here as TO
the legal status Of the Itata are gradually merg-
ing into the belief that the vessel can legally be
recaptured on the high seas by any of the United
States naval vessels The pTecedents which are
coming to light seem TO establish this right One
of the roost recent cases occurred during the last
war betwecn Nicaragua and Guatemala. The
steamer Mexico was supplied with arms and men
in an American port, and sailed for Guatemala.
She was pursued by a United States vessel cap
tured in Guatemalan waters, brought TO New
Orleans and accused Of violation of the neutrality
laws Judge Brown. in long opinion, fully sts
tained the right of seizure under such clrcuin-
stances and went even beyond the contention of
the State Department. Again, during the rebell-
ion at Colon, a United States vessel sighted
rebel vessel supposed to have on board the lnsur-
GENT leader who had ordered the burning OF Colon
She was many miles out in the high seas, but the
naval vessel captured her and prCng' wss nes sbse
ouentlv released on the ground that she was
recognized belligerent: but the Court again sus-
taned the right OF seizure under the circuustacS'
During the last Haytan rebellion Minister Pres,
ton was successful in causing the detehuon ol
four vessels fitted out for hostile operations. ..
So it is said, there Is ample preceuenl iol So ~
nq the Itata on the high seas; for, ASIDE from the
nn5oction whether or not she has violated the
neutrality laws it is clear that she has violated
several United States laws. She sailed Withouu
oIooroncc she kidnapped United States Deputy
Marshal, and she has no national standing. More
over. the Government of Chilli the only Goyern-
ment there known 10 the United states uoKern-
ment. has rquested her seizure so that, waving
iii Questions of international law, there is no
nation to make formal complaint if the vessel Is
taken.