The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-14
In Stating Her Position in the
Affair of the Alliancia.
If oFrEHsE. WILL APOLOGIES.
American Captain Probably in Cuban
Water When Fired Upon.
The State Department seems To C,on-
slider the Matter Not Irnperfant
\ Spanish Cruiser With More Than
ioo Men Probably Lost.

Washington City. March sS - senior
Muraga. the Spanish minister. visited taa
state departments .today for the purpose
of stating the position or Spain froa tha
information now at hand on the firing OF
Spanish guaboat on The American mail
steamer Alfiancfa- The miaisier teio-
graphei for full particulars to the gov-
ernor general OF Cuba. and in reply re-
ceiyea dispatch that the cruiser which
presumably figured In the affair has not
yet returned. having prolonged her watch
along the coast. The governor general
had no particulars OF the Incident
Under the circumstances. Senior Mu-
raga feels that only one sigae of the story
has been told. But should II appear that
there has been any oRense or indiscre-
tien on the part OF the Spanish warship.
Senior Muraga says that Spain viii
speedily make every apology consistent
with the friendship she hears to the
United States. Talking of the version of
the AFFAIR as given by Capt. CrosSnan. OF
the Allianeia. Minister Auraga says Il IN
apparent the American ship was IN the
5arssdictional waters OF Cuba and not on
the high seas. IL Il evident. the minister
says. that the firing of the blank was In
order that she might be asked "a 10
whether insurgents were on hoard.
The letter of Capt Crossman was ra-
eeiyed az the state department In tho
afternoon today. Secretary Uhl. after
looking over the letter carefully wrote
10 Capt. Crossman. asking for more par
ticulars bearing upon the incident. until
these are furnished IL is not prohahlo
the complaint win be formally brought
to the attention or the Spanish governs
nent The point upon which the state
department requires further information
from Capt. CroSsman is the exact locR-
ton OF the Ailiancia when she was first
siguaied by the spanish gunboat and II
Is possible the whole case may turn on
this point. According to Capt. Crossmaass
story, he had been In the habit OF taking
his ship on a cruiEe that brought IL wlth-
In mile of Cape May, the eastern ex-
tremity of the island OF Cuba. He ts res
ported to have said on this occasion, hear.
ing at Colon that there WAS trouble In
Cuba that he kept of the land no thar
he was six miles or the cape when the
incident occurred From this Statements
it appears that the captain was aware
that Spanish cruisers were patroIing the
coast in search Of tiiibusters. and thai q
rebellion was In Ifogresa. hut 1T Is not
marine jurisdictions. considering the fact
there re outlying keys or islands belong
Ing to the same nation. That these NAV
be regarded In establishing the boundary
OF the marine jurisdiction is shown by
the act OF our own government In lay
Ing out tha sixtymile exclusive line
around the PribiIof islands last year.
There Is another but minor point, upon
which further information will be de-
manded. and that IL whether the ship'a
officers can be sure that the shots fired
by the spanish vessels were directed at
the Alliancia or across her bows