The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-05-13
COULD USE CANAL.
Short Cut Through the SueI 10
Open to the Spanish
WarshIDs,

New York, May IA special to the
Herald from Washington says: IF
Spain desires to send feet to the Phil
ippines to attack Commodore Dewey's
forces she is at perfect liberty to send it
through the Suez CANAL" was the state
ment made by high official of the state
department.
'Of course" he continued, "the serious
question of coal supply would greatly
harass her, but if American vessels can
violating the neutrality laws of the nation
in which their coal piles are located they
will probably be willing to do the same
thing for the Spaniards, provided the lat
ter pay the necessary cash.
Il doubt very much if this government
would direct Commodore Dewey's force to
leave Manila and proceed to the Mediter-
ish commerce in that sea and of attacking
Spanish ports which depend upon it, but
it would be possible for American men of
war to reach the Mediterranean through
the Suez canal if they were ordered to do
so.
'"There is great deal Of popular ignor-
ance on this point. AS matter of fact,
the Suez canal is open to belligerents.
1.-The principle of the naturalization of
the Suez canal was applied by the conven-
ton of October 20, 1888, which was signed
by the six great powers, by Turkey, Spain
and Netherlands. Strictly speaking, their
action does not bind the powers that were
not parties to the convention, but as none
is of any Importance except the United
States, and all have distinctly acquiesced
in what was done, the practical result is
much the same as if the whole body of
civilized nations had formally expressed
their adhesion to it.
Open to warships.
'Thc convention declares that the canal
is to be opened in time of war, as well as
in time of peace, to all ships, whether
merchantmen or vessels of war, whether
belligerent or neutral, but no acts of hos
tility are to be committed either in the
canal itself or in the sea to distance
of three miles from either end of it.
1.-THE entrances are not to be blockaded.
The stay of belligerent vessels of war or
their prizes within the ports ut either end
is not to exceed twenty four hours, and
belligerents are not to embark troops or
munitions of war within the canal or its
ports.
Before using the Suez canal, SPANS
vessels wilt be compelled to go only
200 miles to reach Manila. The steam
ing radius of the Almirante Oquendo,
Vizcaya and Infanta Maria Teresa is
900 miles, going at the rate of ten
knots, and they therefore could go the
entire distance without recoaling. If
necessary they could take GOLFERS along.
None Of Commodore Dewey's vessels has
such a great steaming radius, and if they
should be sent to the Mediterranean they
would have to take Golfers along and
might be caught without coal in that
sea-"
None of the members of the war board
believes for an instant that Spain will
attempt to retake the Philippines, not
withstanding the Suez canal is open to
her fleets. 1t was pointed out by an ex-
pert with whom talked that the with
drawal of a sufficient force from the At
lantic to attempt the recapture of the
Philippines would place not only Cuba
and Porto Rico but the Canaries and
Spain itself at the mercy of the American
warships on this coast.
1t was more probable, he said, that the
United States would send ships from the
Pacific through the Suez canal to the
Mediterranean to attack Spain's coast
than it would be for the Madrid govern
eminent to order it's ships to retake the
Philippines, but either contingency, he
thought decidedly remote,