The San Francisco call., 1896-06-10
Arguments to Be Submitted Are
Prepared by the United
States.
MAY YET CAUSE A RUPTURE.
Uncle Sam Is in No Mood to Permit
Prisoners to Be Shot Without
a Proper Hearing.

NEW YORK, N. Y, June "a Wash
ington special to the Herald says: The
eyes of the administration are now upon
the proceedings of the naval court in
Madrid, which is to consider the case OF
the men captured on board the American
filibustering schooner Competitor. Inc
arrival of the papers in the cases OF THESE
men at Madrid at this time was expected
by the authorities, and in expectation OF
their early consideration the authorities
have been preparing ammunition which
could be used in behalf of the prisoners.
Spain will not be permitted to execute
the prisoners Spain has been fully in
formed of this determination on the part
of the United States, and rather than risk
strained relations and possible conflict
with this Nation the officials believe that
she will grant the wish OF this Govern
ment-a civil trial for the men.
The President and Secretary Olney have
been in close consultation for some weeks
past preparing the argument to be sub
mitted to the court on behalf of the United
States, showing that the men should, by
treaty provisions between the Spanish
Government and that of the United States,
TtC6lNS d ClHl1 GiAdls 4dC OOSIObo4J PO'ipo
out that both the original treaty and the
protocol made special provision for the
class of offenses under which those of the
men came, and these provisions require
civil trial. This argument will be laid be-
fore the Spanish Government by Minister
Taylor at Madrid, and by it will be SUBJ
mitted, it is expected, to the Spanish
court.
In case the decision of the Spanish court
is favorable the men will be tried by civil
court in Havana. The authorities are
quite willing to abide by the result of the
decision made by tribunal of that char
acter. They declare, however. and Secre-
tary Olney has so stated in his argument.
that it was unjust to try the prisoners by
drumhead court-martial.
1t is expected by the authorities that the
efforts of Consul General Lee to secure
better quarters for the Competitor men
will be successful. In any event, the de-
partment quite approves of the steps he is
taking in this direction.
A special to the Herald from Kingston,
Jamaica, says: The steamship Laurada
is reported as at Port Antonio, where she
is waiting for a cargo of fruit. She had
been at Port Antonio since May 80. The
authorities here have searched her, with
view to finding whether or not she carried
arms, or was engaged in filibustering ex-
pedition in. aid of the revolutionists in
Cuba. Nothing of contraband character
was discovered on board the vessel. 1t is
reported that several Spanish gunboats are
watching the coast, with the idea of inter-
cepting the Laurauda when she shall pro-
ceed to sea.
The Laurada, which recently landed
filibustering expedition in Cuba, had not
been reported for several days and much
anxiety was felt in Cuban circles here and
in Florida as to the fate of the ship.
MADRID, SPAIN, June 9.-The military
council is engaged in minutely studying
the documents relating to the case of the
American filibustering schooner Com
petitor, which was recently captured by
the Spanish authorities on the coast of
Cuba. The examination of these docu-
ments will be protracted and no decision
will be reached before August at the very
earliest.
HAVANA, CUBA, June 9.-On Thursday
last force of Havana volunteers who
were acting as garrison on the Threcioso
estate, near Cardenas, met a large rebel
party, and an engagement took place in
which the volunteers were defeated and
compelled TO retire. Several of the Gov
ernment forces were killed and two