The times., 1898-05-08
THE SUEZ CANAL.
Ii Is Open TO Warships of BeIIiger-
enIs.


IF Spain desires to send a feet to the
Philippines to attack Commodore Dewey's
forces she is at perfect liberty to send it
through the Suez Canal" was the state
ment made by a high official Of the State
Department.
"Of course" he continued, the serious
question Of coal supply would greatly har-
ass her, but if the American vessels can
find dealers willing TO take the risk OF
violating the neutrality laws OF the ma
ton in which their coal piles are located
they viii probably be willing TO do the
same thing for the Spaniards, provided
the latter pay the necessary cash
u doubt very much If this Government
would direct Commodore Dewey's force TO
leave Manila and proceed to the Mediter-
ranean for the purpose OF harassing
Spanish commerce in that sea and OF at
lacking Spanish ports which lie upon it.
but II would be possible for American
men-of-war to reach the Mediterranean
through the SueZ Canal If they were or
dered 10 do so.
There Is great deal OF popular lg-
norance on this point. AS a matter of
fact, the Suez Canal is open 70 beIifc-
erents.
The principle Of the naturalization of
the Suez Canal was applied by the con
Nenion Of October o. 1883 which was
signed by the six great powers, by Tur-
key, Spain and the Netherlands Strictly
speaking, their action does not bind the
powers that were not parties to the con-
Nenuon, 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 IL.
ne convention declares that the canal.
Is 10 be open IN time OF war. as well as
IN time of peace, TO all ships, whether
merchantmen or vessels of war, whether
beiiGe-ent or neutral, but no acts of
hostility are 10 be committed either in
the canal Itself or in the sea to a dis
tance OF three miles from either end Of il
The entrances are not to be plock-
AIDED The stay Of belligerent vessels of
war or their prizes within the ports at
either end is not 10 exceed twcnty-four
hours, and belIigerents are not to en-
bark troops or munitions of war within
the canal or its ports.
BY using the Suez Canal, Spains yes
sells viii be compelled to go only 7.2O0
miles TO reach Manila. The steaming
radius OF the Almirante Oquendo Viz
caya and Infanta Maria Teresa is 9. 700
miles. going at the rate of ten knots, and
they, therefore, could go the entire dis
tance without recoaling. If necessary.
they could take Golfers along None Of
Commodore Dewey's vessels has such 4
great steaming radius, and If they should
be sent to the Mediterranean they would
nave 10 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 Sanal Is open 10
her fleets II was pointed out by an ex-
pert with whom l talked that the with
drawal Of sufficient force from the At
lantic 10 attempt the recapture of the
Philippines would place not only Cuba
and Porto Rico. 5ut the Canaries al M
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 Il would be for the Madrid govern
ment 10 order It's ships to retake the
Philippines but either contingency ne
thought decidedly remote.