The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1895-04-03
THE ALLIANCA AFFAIR
schoonrrs Reported to Have Been
Fired On by Spanish War Vessels

New YORK, March 1S.-A cable
special To the World from Havana
says: The comrnan ar OF the Spanish
cruiser Coude d. Venadito reports
that on March Sth, while cruising
oil the eastern coast OF the island,
he sighted a steamer heading for
Maisi point. The steamers course
was to the northeast. The cruiser
hoisted a flag aud the steamer re.
piled by raising the English flag.
The cruiser signaled the steamer to
stop, but without effect. As tn.
steamer proceeded at full speed the
cruiser first fred two blank charges
and then two solid shots.
The commander says he did not
desire to bit the steamer, but merely
to cause her to heave to. He as
serts that the steamer was but one
and a half miles off the Cuban coast
when the firing occurred. The
authorities here have ordered that a
full inquiry be made into the com
mander's statement. Judging from
Captain Crossman's story, nobody
can doubt that the steamer in ques-
ton was the Alliance, which was
fred on by Spanish cruiser on
March 9Th.
A Herald special from Havana
says: 1t is reported here that the
Alliance carried $4,000 rifles south
on the trip on which she was fred
at. 1t is also reported here that
there were landed on the eastern
end Of the island some men who
were passengera on the Alliance.
These men, it is reported, were taken
off the Alliance in fishing smack
the night preceding the firing.
1t has been learned that the crui-
ser which fired on the Alliance was
the Condo de Venadito. The Com
mander General Of Marine here has
reported the matter to the Capt ain
General, and the latter has asked for
further details OF the incident.
NEw YORK, March l9-The Ward
line steamer Segurauca arrived in
port yesterday, three days out from
Havana. Speaking Of the Alliance
matter, one OF the passengers said
he heard a Spanish official say the
Spaniards had been waiting for
chance to fire upon American YES
sells, as they believed the Americans
were aiding the insurgents.
New YoRK, March lS.-In response
to message sent him by the editor
OF the New York Times, the follow
ing cablegram was received by that
newspaper to-day from William G.
Whitney, former Secretary Of the
Navy:
"NApLEs, March Isl reply to
your dispatch as follows: In con-
sidering what should be done con-
corning the outrage perpetrated by
a Spanish man-of- war in firing on
the Alliance one fact should not be
lost sight Of 1t was deliberate and
with full knowledge OF the character
OF the act. 1t is certain that no per-
son in command OF any war vessel 10
the world would be ignorant that
firing upon merchant vessels OF an
other power on the high seas in time
OF peace would violate the law OF
nations. There is not a subordinate
officer OF any mau. of-war in the
world who has not been sufficiently
instructed to know that. 1t is there
fore a case OF willful insult to the
American flag and people. do not
recall SO waston an outrage as hap
pening to any first-class power in
fifty years. An apology scarcely
wipes out such an aifront.
"The truth is, we have happened
to come in for a piece OF the general
brutality and ruffianism that holds
Cuba. The thing is a relic OF the
Middle Ages. 1t is disgrace to us
that lies at our doorstep.
ut makes my blood boil, for one.
or course they will apologize elabor-
ately, and discipline the officer, but
when We are looking toward him the
general terrorism which holds Cuba
down while they lick her blood will
have been substantially increased at
our expense. You can gather what
my opinion is. What the Govern
ment should do is another matter.
The President, in such matters, is
generally a safe person to follow;
hut as ypp ask INV nptri IN thara -