Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-04-23

an enemy ship upon the high seas,
which belligerent ships are permitted
TO police in search Of enemy ships and
contraband Of war
No final and exhaustive definition of
contraband articles can be given They
are changing with the progress of in
yentions. Some articles were formerly
contraband which now are not; and the
converse is true.
EACH BELLIGERENT
government is competent to determine
what it will treat as contraband Its
prescription of contraband articles
is conclusive. If such proscrip-
ton should be made in outrageous
disregard of international law or of
treaty rights, neutral States affected
| would probably interpose.
The belligerent right of capture as
against a neutral State exists only
either in case Of contraband of war or
of enemy goods aboard, or of viola
| ton of an effective blockade and in
other analogous cases where the con-
| duet of the neutral justifes the belig-
erent in treating his property as enc
mys property. If Spain adheres 10
the principle free ships, free goods,
as this government proposes to do.
only contraband goods are subject to
capture in such ships.
| Inquiry at the Navy Department as
to the story that our government had
arranged for the seizure of the Hawa-
iian Islands and the establishment Of
a coaling station in Hawaiia failed to
secure
ANY POSITIVE STATEMENT
on the subject. There is good author
ity for believing that the story is ex-
aggerated and all that has been done
is TO provide for the establishment of
coaling depot and its adequate pro-
lection.
The naval officials feel every conf
dence in the ability of the Oregon and
! Marietta not only to protect themselves
from the Spanish gunboat Temerario,
but to destroy that craft if she ever
comes within range.
The limitation Of the blockade in
Cuba to a certain part of the island
was not officially explained to-day, but
one plausible reason advanced for the
government action was that by re-
training from establishing a blockade
over the eastern portion of the island,
now understood to be practically in
the control of the insurgents, the way
has been left open for them to freely
receive all needed supplies and NUM-
tions of war.
For purposes Of transporting the
army to Cuba, the quartermaster gen.
erals Office has under consideration
the question of the charter of ships
having the carrying capacity of $4,000
men. No charters have, however, been
closed.
In the engineer and ordnance bureaus
work was being rushed with the
greatest possible speed towards the
completion of defense projects and the
installation of big guns. All the avail
able material in the way of guns and
carria ges are being utilized, and the
officials express satisfaction at the re-
suits obtained in the short space of
time at their disposal.
The military and naval preparations
We're devoid Of sensational features to-
day and are becoming more systemat-
lied in their execution. In the abb
sence of Mr.. Roosevelt, in New York,
no ships were purchased, but the Sec
rotary accepted one handsome steam
yacht, the gift to the government of
patriotic American citizen.
In the War Department all energies
were bent toward the issue Of the call
for volunteers. The proclamation was
delayed in issue until tomorrow. ow-
ing to the fact that it had been pre-
pared in advance of the adoption of
certain amendments to the bill. Up to
the close of Office hours, no official
announcement had come Of the capture
of the Spanish merchantmen near Key
West.