The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-17
The Escape OF Don Basilio.

Surprising that the German warship
Kaiserin Augusta gave asylum and trans
portation to Captain-G General A%UGUsTN, as
is reported from Manila, and that this was
a case Of a neutral's sheltering a belligerent,
as the news of the armistice had not yet
reached the Philippines, how far is. Ger
many responsible for preventing the cap
ture Of the Spanish commander?
HALL lays down the accepted principle
thus, in his treatise on International Law:
Although q neutral must not lend his territory
for purposes of war. he may receive q beaten army
as individual ~fugitives. provided he disarms them
and does not allow them to engage again in the war;"
A somewhat different doctrine was pro-
pounded upon one occasion by Secretary
SEWARD in a despatch Of July 10, 1862, to
Minister CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, the
reference being to the escape of Capt.
SEMMEs and some of his officers and men
by the interpretation of the British yacht
D%eerhound. at the time OF the battle be-
tween the Kearsarge and the Alabama:
81 freely admit that 1t Ia no part Of q ~neutral's
duty to assist in making captures for q belligerent,
but I maintain 1t to be equally clear that, SO far
from being neutrality. 1t is direct hostility for a
stranger to intervene and rescue men who had been
cast into the ocean in battle and then carry them
away from under the conQueror's gums"
Whatever conclusions may be formed as
to the spirit manifested by the German
naval officers from the beginning to the end
Of their professedly neutral presence near
Manila, there is not likely to be any inter-
ternational controversy over the incidento of
Gen. AUGUsTIN's escape upon one Of the
Epnnarnr,a ornYioapo To mill -ok ,o- L.
necessary for the Germans to take precau-
tions to prevent Gen. AUaUsTN from en-
gaging again in the war.
What will interest this country chiefly In
the evasion Of Don BAsILIo AUdUsTN Y
DAvILA Is the sentimental aspect of his
flight. This Is the heroic commander who
issued, just four months ago next Tuesday,
the celebrated proclamation containing
sentiments which all Americans will DO glad
to inspect now once again:
Tho North American people, constituted Of all
the social eIcrescences, have exhausted our patience
and provoked war with their perhdiouS Machine
tons. with their acts of t~reAchery, with their out
RACES against the laws of nations and international
conventions.
Tho struggle will be short and decisive. The
God Of Victories will give us ono as brilliant
as the justice OF our cause demands. Spain,
which counts upon tho SympAthles of all
the nations. will emerge triumphAntly from
this new test. humiliAting and blasting the
adventurous from those Rtates that. without oohesion
and without = history. oGor TO humanity only Inta-
nous traditions and the ungTAteful spectacle OF
Chambers in which appear united inSoleneo and
defamation. CoWardice and cyn.cism.
"A squadron manned by foreigners. possessing
neither instruction nor discipline. Is preparing TO
come to this archipelago with tho ruflanly intention
of robbing us OF Hll that means life. honor,
and liberty. Pretending to DO inspired by
a courage OF which they arc incapable. the
North American Heamen undertake the subsd-
tuition OF Protsstantism for the Catholic religion
you profess, to take possession o: your riches Rs II
they were unReQuAinted with tho rights of property,
and to kdnap thoso persons whom they consider
useful tn man their ahips or TO be exploited in Agri-
cultural or industrial labor.
Vain designsl Ridiculous boastingsi
Your indomitAble bravery will sufnoo 70 fnis-
trate the attempt 10 carry them Into realization.
You win not allow the faith you profess 10 DO
made a mock Of. imPious hands TO be PLACED ha
the ample Of The true Con. the Images you