The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-03-15
THE ALLIANCE CASE.
Her Captain Swears He Was Be-
yond the Three Mile Limit.
HUNTING UP THE PREoEpBNTs

The Case VIII Probably Come Down to a
Question of veracity Between the Span
ish and American Captains as to the Al
IIapea's Distance from Shore.
WASHINGTON, March 15.-The depart
ment of state is moving with elaboration
in making up its case against the Spanish
government based on the firing by II Span
ish cruiser at the American steamship AL
lianca, holding that In matters of such
moment 1t Is absolutely essential our gov
eminent should be in possession of the ex-
act facts, so as to avoid the humiliation Of
retraction through making demand that
could not be sustained by the evidence.
Today a sworn affidavit was received from
Captain Crossman reiterating his declar-
alton that he was far beyond the three
mile limit when fired upon.
In the meantime the officials are lndustri
ously looking up presidents 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 shas been
unearthed and brought to the attention Of
the acting secretary as having 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 mall steamer
which is pursuing her usual route, even IL
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. II this Is hold to be sound
doctrine then of course the Spanish gov
eminent will make reparation for the ac-
ton Of its 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, II this decision is not
Of effect then what is known as tho head
land theory Of jurisdiction will 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 ao-
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, a rumor was in circula.
ton 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 repeti-
tition of the Alliance affair. Acting Sec
Rotary 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 sic state depart
ment absolutely declined to say anything
about the Alliance.
From the fact that no intimation of any
such precipitate action in the absence of
knowledge of the facts had been commu-
nicated to the Spanish minister here
which would certainly be the case II the
usual diplomatic amenities were observed
even IL such message had been sent &c
the Spanish government directly through
United States Minister Taylor, at Madrids
the story failed to find much credence.