Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1895-03-15
WAS SPAIN TRREATE NED.
Rumor That Warning Was Sent
Concerning the Alliance.
MUST FIRE NO MORE SHOTS AT Us

II It Occurs again, Declaration of waI
May Speedily Foilow--Assistant secreta
ry Uhi Looking Up Presidents For De-
manding Damages Tor the Insult.
WAsHINGToN, March. is. The depart
ment Of state Is moving with deliheratinn
In making mp 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
eminent 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
department in response to the request
made upon Captain Crossman of the Al
lianoa for further particulars Of the incl
dent. In the meantime the officials are
industriously 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 frequent consultation with his superior
At his rooms in his hotel.
One Of the precedents which has been
uneafthed and brought to the attention Of
the acting secretary rs having direct bear
ing upon tho Alliance incident was found
in the 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 mile
shore limit and SO within the marine iuris-
"a .r.F ,I4
ship.
II this is held to be sound doctrine,
then Of course the Spanish government
viii make reparation for the action Of its
cruiser, even should Il appear that the Al.
lianea was within three miles Of Cape
Maysi, as the Spanish minister here be-
lieves.
The Hendiand Theory.
On the ether hand, IL this decision is
not Of effect then what IS known as the
headland theory Of jurisdiction win prob
ably play an Important part in the adjust
ment Of the matter. According to the con-
tention OF Great Britain in the Fortune
hay fisheries case, in which the United
States has aequiescod, the line Of marine
jurisdiction is drawn three miles from a
linerunning across from headland to head
land in the case Of bay or a depression
in the general coast line.
The Spanish authorities evidently take
the position ut this time, in the absence
Of exact adyioes that the Alliance was
within such "a line and so within their
jurisdiction, although the ship may have
boon actually moro than three miles from
the nearest shore Probably based on the
Alabama decision. n rumor was in circula-
tion TO the eacct that the state department
had sent a sinister warning ~ the Spanish
government % the effect that a declaration
Of war would follow a repetition Of tho All
lianca 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
officials Of the state department. absolute
ly declined to say anything about the All
lianca. But from the fact that no intima-
tion Of any such precipitate action, in the
absence Of a knowledge Of the facts, had
been communicated to the Spanish min
ister here, which would certainly be TIC
case if the usual diplomatic amenities
were observed, even If such message had
been sent to the Spanish government d.
rectly through United States Minister Tay-
Tor at Madrid, the story failed to find
much credence