Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-03-15
WAS SPAIN THREATENED
Rumor That Warning Was Sent
 Concerning the Allianca.
MUST FIRE NO MORE SHOTS AT US

If 1t Occurs Again, n Declaration of Wan
 May Speedily Foiiow-Assistant secrcta-
 ry UhI Looking Up Precedents For De
 manding Damages For the Insult.
 WASHINGTON, March 16.-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 OK act facts so as to avoid the humiliation of retrHction through making a demand that could not be sustained by the evidence
 So far no reply has been received at the department in response to tho request made upon Captain CroSsman of the Al lianca for further particulars of the incl dent. In the meantime the officials are industriously looking up precedents for their guidance, and MT. Uhl, who is still acting as secretary of state during the continued illness of Secretary Gresham, is in frequent 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 direct bear ing upon the Allianca incident was found in tho proceedings of the Alabama claims commission. In one of the decisions an- nounced by Judge French the court held that there was no authority for the stop page or detention of a mail steamer which is pursuing her usual route even if that route lay at places within the three milo shore limit and so within the marine juris- diction of the power seeking to stop tho ship.
 If this is held to be sound doctrine, then of course the Spanish government will make reparation for the action of its cruiser, even should 1t appear that the AL lianoa was within three miles of Cape Maysi, as the Spanish minister here bo- lieves.
 The HeadIand Theory.
 On the other hand, if this decision is not of effect, then what Is known as the headlnnd theory of jurisdiction will prob ably play an important part in the adjust ment of the matter. According to the con- tsntion of Great Britain in the Fortune bay fisheries case. in which the United States has acquiesced. the line of marine | jurisdiction is drawn three miles from n line running across from headland to head | land in the case of a bay or n depression l in the general coast line
 The Spanish authorities evidently take the position at this time, in tho absence of exact hdvices, that the Allianca was within such line. and so within their | jurisdiction. although the ship may have 1 been actually moro than three miles from the nearest shore. Probably based on the Alabama decision, a rumor was in circula- 1 ton to the effect that the state department had sent n sinister warning to the Spanish 1 government to the effect that declaration l of war would follow repetition of tho Al llanca affair. Acting Secretary Uhl said that he had no further information to give to the press than he had already given out | and taking their cue from him the other 1 officials of the state department absolute ly declined to say anything about the Al lianca. But from the fact that no intima- tion of any such precipitatc action, in the absence of a knowledge of the facts, had been communicated to the Spanish min ister here, which would certainly be the case if the usual diplomatic amenities were observed. even if such a message had been sent to the Spanish government di. rectly through United States Minister Fay. Tor at Madrid. the story failed to find | much credenco