Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-30
hey found themselves. But all is fair in


states was narrowly averted at Colon, on
the lsthmus of Panama. The Spanish con-
SUI at that place threatened to seize an
american vessel which was charged with
having furnished arms to Cuban Insurgents.
But the American consul there gave clear
ance paers 10 the craft. In that port at
me time Were the United States ship YAM
tic and the Spanish man-of-war Pizarro.
Inc commander Of the Pizarro informed
capt White of the Yantic that he would
make the vessel prize as soon as she
would resist In due time both warships
ran out of the harbor, the American com
mander beating to quarters and clearing
Ior action. A fight would undoubtedly
nave occurred, but the vessel in dispute
had a start and. showing a clean pair Of
heeis, ran away from the slow Pizsrro
ana made good her escape
When He Will he Sustained.
commander who protects the interests
OF his country, within limits of common
sense. may be confident of being sustained
In 1854 Admiral Baldwin was sent in pur
suit Of the Alabama. While at Cane Town
he got wind Of an English vessel that had
Deen sent out to furnish coal to the con-
teoerate steamer. The vessel was in n
naroor among some islands OF the west
Atncan coast, which had been claimed
as BRUSH territory. It was q question
wwnetner ne could lawfully seize her there,
put ne did 30 anyway. Her majesty's gov.
eminent made a great row. hnt Re,dw,r
Wa upheld. 1t appeared that the action Of
tne governor Of Cape Colony in declaring
been ,s ando british possessions had not yet
osen inoorsed by the home authorities, ana
on mat ground his action was held to be
CONSISTENT with international law. In such
ma boldness counts for much When
tack Gni as rs threw stones at the blue
JaSA9.s OF the Baltimore on shore, Eight
ing BOD Evans went on board the Chill
ian nagshtp and said that III II Occurred
again ne would fire on the city of Valpa-
Faiso. 1t did not occur again.
naval commander must know q oooo
oe1l ABOUT international law. Though his
poncy ordinarily is one of the strictest
t n,eu.ranty. he may be called on at any
TO protect citizens of the United States az
al times with all the force of his commend
BUT american citizens in a foreign country
must get themselves and their property
the reason why Capt. Picking could NOT
insure safety to merchant vessels belong
ing 10 MS countrymen in the harbor At
and him ne ,. commander may land marines
anu piue jackets to protect a United States
Sonsuiate or legation. This would not be
zone In civilized Europe ordinarily where
soou ponce are at hand. but it has fire.
Amaric. oeen necessary in South and Central
Ctn.a ca. IN mat part of the world United
STATES ships of war have often granted
asylum to political refugees from mofives
1 II, humanity. Revolutions in those coun-
tries are frequently lawless and aIwsvs
sanguinary, and, when one political Marty
gets the upper hand, the usual nian par ;s ~
side. va '"e o'her
Great Britain's Policy.
The policy of Great Britain is .,u,,.
much more positive and aggressive than
ours. She backs up her naval commanoer,
IN Whatever they may do always indors-
ing their actions publicly, even Though m.
iA.ter may be secretly disapproved at the
nuihirahty. The captain of an English
snip OF war always feels that he has the
en'Te power OF his country behind him.
mus ne Is able to act with much greater
decision and effect. But even the rom.
me nanaer OF United States war vessel ia
comnoiss .S monarch on q small scale. He
TN, ts the government by his acts, upIess
.ney are Immediately disa vowed. al in The
Sase OF Stanton's recognition of the re,-o
t for anx at Rio; The nation must pay
though not possessing in law a power ~
NE ana death over his subordinates he
can actually execute any of them. The
snder sde sss forgotten f Of Capt Alex
who hanged Midshipman snencer S ~on -
me secretary of War, on q charge Of mn.
mny TnSugh tried by court-martial for
"uroer, ne was acquitted ~
On shipboard the commander ,r,..
ts sh the role or monarch. What he cav.
10 Jaw: AT the same time he IL che -
sha. inistering punishment. for the reason
0f fho
commanders own masters ~ he hi " .ne
apuse to complain of. For the cantain ss
SSe enr Dy the regulations to forward to the
document which the meanest bl,,a iacLa,
may choose to hand him for such trans
mission. He may mark ii Not snnroved
Oh, put ne has got to send It. and it may
cause his own court-martial and even Dis.
missai from the service in case the com
plant Is of sufficiently serious nature ana
Is sustained. But IL the Commander ts a
ed enough for officers and men vitbont 81
ceeding the authority which the Regulations
give him. 'o'i'
His Omcial Record.
In the navy every officer. high or low. il
always under masters eye. To get away
from IL Is impossible. save by leaving the
service. The authority is memorable. never
forgetting and never forgiving. In the rec
ORD books OF the department at Washington
each officer has page on which is inscrib-
60 everything bad that he has been found
out In since he entered the Naval Academy
ana up to date. Nothing is ever rubbed out
from that page; 1t stands always ready TO
accuse him OF past msdeeds IL there is oc-
casfon to examine into his professional his
tory. If he ventures to owe a debt the de-
partment will compel him to pay IL. And a
naval officer has exceptional Opportunities
tor running into debt too. Any one will
trust him-even urge him to buy on
crcdit-because the money is alyays To he
got readily enough
One would imagine the position of a ma.
val commander to be q very ENJOYABLE one
1t Is hardly such. for many reasons. To
begin with. 1t is exceedingly dinicult for
the captain Of a ship to maintain agreeable
relations socially with his officers and to
Keep up strict discipline at the same time
II he were seen to indulge in q Laughing
familiarity with one of the Heutenants
that single act would loosen discipline all
over the vessel. From that time on the
midshipman would be more at ease with
the executive ofYlcer. the petty officers
would be a trife more familiar in address
ing the younger Meutenants, and the blue
Jackets would pay a slightly less respectful
attention to the orders of the petty Officers.
Everything on board a man-of-war must
preserve an air of the coolest
formality, else before you know It there
will be trouble. which can only be settled
by putting a score Of the men In irons and
dropping all social courtesies between the
captains cabin and the ward room
RENE BACHE
Talk About Turf Affairs.