New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-13
NAVAL. OFFICERS NOT EXCITED.
Not ANTICIPATING ANY FUSS WITH sPAiN-rhf
AMERICAN FLEET ~ SOUTHERN WATERS


I'LL
THE SPANISH NAVY.
Tho sen lawyers" were all agog In the navy
van ,e.,ordoy over the report that an American
.u s,eouer had been fired upon. by spanish
- 81, ,a, while OF the eastern coast OF Cuba
:, seened 10 be the general opinion among the
officers that there was "a Niger IN me Woou
nile 80 and that all OF the story OF captain Cross
man the commander Of the Ailianca' mas not oeeh
told -. i,
tho Navy Yard had not heard OF the affair when
soon by The Tribune reporter. and after nearing
the facts declined TO discuss them.
rloutcnort-C commander. Charles A. Adams aid
70 the commandant. thought that on later reports
II would bc found that the facts were. exaggerated
and rho worst features OF the matter would be
modified He d!d not think the Spanish commander
would commit so grave an act as hring upon Il
ship flying friendly flag without some we'll
founded reason. captain Silhs casey. the COM
rnander OF the receiving ship Vermont an" zap
tain winfield Scott Schey. who was III con''hahu
., tho u,l,lr.ore during the trouble with Chil,
were found 10y the reporter IN the CABIN OF the
former on board the Vermont. Both nave see"
much duty in southern waters ana are iail'l'ar
with all the affairs this Government ilas hau
with the Spanish American governments bo'h
CaptaIn Schley and Captain Casey were OF the
oplron that the Spanish captain had no right 10
fire upou the Anianca unless he knew that she had
Cuban insurgents aboard 'But, sa'u 'aP."'"
Schley 81 don't care TO be quoted upon the Id"
or the matter for all such things are settled at
Washington" Both officers thought mat as d
matter OF custom and courtesy the captain Oh inc
Alliance should have hove To ana seen what the
Spanard wanted when he continued on MS way
the suspicious OF the Spanish captain were prob
ably increased and he followed the blank shells with
solid shot The route FOR ships from Colon to New
York lies close to eastern coast or cuba ana IL
WAS likely that the Spanish man-of-war was how
erng of the coast the outlook for vessels at
tempting land arms. ammunition or men Tor the
! Insurgents and mstook the Alliance for vessel
OF that description.
/ Captain Casey is familiar with the principal ves-
sells Of the Spanish feet. and ne said that In case
Of any fuss with Spain that country could put out
a fleet that would compare fgvcraby with the yes
seis Of the United states But both captains pooh-
p5ohed" the idea OF any trouble. and thought later
! accounts would change the aspect OF anair''
n "a said that this city Is full. Of agents OF the
/ Spanish Government who are here TO keep Tue"
ewes on the friends and sypspathizers or the CUBAN
reyolutionsts and they keep their Government tniy
/ Informed OF the movements OF any snip that -
! though, TO be taking assistance to the insurgents
!, 20 ,houobt not unlikely that the Alliance was mis-
! taken for such ship and because her captain re-
fused TO stop she fired upon The friends OF
the rcvoutonists are up 10 all manner OF schemes
10 aid them and the plan OF shipping arms from
a South American por ostensbly to New-forlS
and then landing them on the way. at some quiet
| nont ON the cuban coast. Is nos unusual one. as
II avcrts the suspicion which the large shpmert OF
, arms from a COSBY "dtcheu port IKE Ne"-i ofh
/ would cause.
The VIrginus affair sti.l rank,es in. the breasts OF
| the old American naval officers AMI all the sea
lawyers unite In declaring that II the report OF the
firing upon the American flag IL correct II was
I an outrage, and there was no excuse whatever fol-
H. The question OF the right OF foreign vessels Il
stop ana ea ssa an nv H R esss , Tas Sco
In the case OF trouble with Spain growing out o
s anna rs on the ,s o the
| and Spain. and where the principal fleets Of the two