The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-10

What Washington officials Say About
the Action Of Spaniards.

WASHINGTON, May 9.-No information
is TO be had from official sources in WASH
ington to-day respecting the Competitor case
in any aspect, either as to the results OF
the court-martial nor as 10 the course
our government will follow in the future.
Nevertheless. il is generally understood that
the court-martial has found the prisoners,
one and all. guilty and has imposed the
death sentence upon them, subject to Adj
miral Navarro's approval. This, however,
does not necessarily mean that there is TO be
speedy action in the execution Of the SEN
tences, or even that hope for the convicted
men must be abandoned. Under the Span
ish military code, as In the case of our own
military law, all capital sentences are re-
viewable by superior authority. The impress
sion prevails in well-informed quarters that
the proceedings of the court-martial must be
submitted to them in the first instance and
eventually to the council of Ministers at
Madrid, and while this may be done by the
free use OF the cable, several days will be re-
CURED to complete the action in the case.
Meanwhile the State Department is in close
connection by cable with United States Con-
sul-general Williams at Havana, and under
instructions he will lose no opportunity to
aid the prisoners in all proper ways. Indeed,
1t appears that he has already been energet-
icaHy protesting and making representa-
lions in the interest of the Americans cap
tured and has raised some points that, al
though dismissed by the court-martial in
Havana inapplicable, are likely to be
made the subject Of immediate representa-
lions by the State Department TO the
Madrid authorities.
Our department Is not disposed to accept
as final by any means the construction given
by the court-martial TO the celebrated Cush-
ing protocol, on which depends the safety
of so many American citizens in Cuba. AS
gathered from the newspaper reports OF yes
torlox rf- trfo tha S,o N N
answer to Mr.. Williams demand that the
Americans under arrest be granted the privi-
leges assured by that protocol, held that the
protocol did not include persons captured I'M
der such conditions as were these, but APP
plies only to American citizens resident in
ing of the protocol, but it is held that this
construction is extremely technical and mar
row, and it will not be accepted without re-
monstrance by our government The Conn.,
petitor case is also complicated by a wide
variance between Spanish law and our own
respecting the definition OF piracy, and this
becomes of great moment when 1t is realized
that in the present case the captives are
accused, in addition TO treason, OF being
pirates. Under our law, or under British
case but II appears that the Latin code rec
ognzes what Is called municipal piracy"
meaning offenses committed against the laws
of a country from a base within the waters
over which municipal jurisdiction extends.
and this ss the gravamen OF the charge
against the Competitors men. Altogether
the case promises to present features of
novelty, making 1t extremely difficult to deal
with legally and perhaps to call forth some
strong expressions of opinion from both sides
before 1t is finally disposed of satisfactorily.
Secretary Olney and the President were in
conference for some time to-day the
Competitor case. The result of the confer
ence is not stated, but there can be no
doubt that strong representations will be
made to the Spanish authorities against the
summary nature of the proceedings and
against the infiction of the death sentence.
and that special stress will be laid on the