The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-03-15

Waiting for Further Details from
Captain Crossman.
HUNTING UP THE PRBCBDBNTs.
The Case VIII Probably Come Down to a
Question of veracity Between the Span
ish and American CAPITA - as to the Al
Ifanca,a nistanca from, O.,

Question of veracity Between the Span
ish and American CAPITA. as to the Al.
lianca's Distance from SliS.e.
WASHINGTON, March 15.--The depart
ment of state is moving with deliberation
in making up its case against the Spanish
government based on the firing by Span
ish cruiser at the American steamship Al
lianca, holding that in matters of such
moment it is absolutely essential our gov
ernment should be in possession of the ex-
act facts, so as TO avoid the humiliation of
retraction through making a demand that
could not be sustained by the evidence. So
far no reply has been received at the de
partment in response to the request made
upon Captain Crossman, of the Allianca
for further particulars of the incident. In
the meantime the officials are industri-
ously looking up precedents for their
guidance, and Mr. Uhl, who is still acting
as secretary of state during the continued
illness of Secretary Gresham, is In fire.
quent consultation with his superior at
his rooms in his hotel
One of the precedents which has been
unearthed and brought to the attention of
the acting secretary as having q direct
bearing upon the Alliance incident was
found in the proceedings of the Alabama
claims commission. In one of the de-
cisions announced by Judge French the
court held that there was no authority for
the stoppage or detention of ANAL steamer
which is pursuing her usual route even if
that route lay at places within the three
mile shore limit, and so within the mari
time jurisdiction of the power seeking to
stop the ship. If this is held to be sound
doctrine then of course the Spanish gov
ernment will make reparation for the ac-
tion of it's cruiser, even should 1t appear
that the Alliance was within three miles
of Cape Maysi as the Spanish minister
here believes.
On the other hand, if this decision is not
of effect then what is known as the head
land theory of jurisdiction viii play an
important part in the adjustment of the
matter. According to the contention Of
Great Britain in the Fortune bay fisheries
case, in which the United States has ac-
quiesced, the line of marine jurisdiction is
drawn three miles from line running
across from headland to headland, in the
case of bay or adepression in the general
coast line. The Spanish authorities evil
IDENTIFY take the position at this time, in
the absence of exact advices, that the Al
lianca was within such line, and so
within their Jurisdiction, although the
ship may have been actually more than
three miles from the nearest shore.
Probably based on the Alabama decision
above referred to, rumor was in circula
tion yesterday to the effect that the state
department had sent "A sinister warning to
the Spanish government to the effect that
declaration of war would follow "A repeti-
tition of the Alliance affair. Acting Sec
retary Uhl said that he had no further in
formation to give to the press than he had
already given out, and taking their cue
from him the officials of the state depart
lnent absolutely declined to say anything
about the Alliance.
From the fact that no intimation Of any
such precipitate action in the absence of a
knowledge of the facts had been commu-
nicated to the Spanish minister here,
! which would certainly be the case if the
usual diplomatic amenities were observed
even if such message had been sent to
tho Spanish government directly through
United States Minister Taylor, at Madrid
the story failed to find much credence.