The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-04-23

Washington, April 23.--There were two
further important steps in Washington
yesterday toward hostilities, not to men,
ton the overt act involved in the seiZ-
nre Of the Spanish vessel Buena Ven
lura off Key West. The first was the
: Issue, by tbs. president Of his proclama-
lion announcing to the world block
ade Of a number of Cuban ports, and
the second was the signing by him of
the bill providing for the utilization of
the volunteer forces in war. Then, in
addition, there was a notable retire
ment from the navy department In the
case Of Captain Royal B. Bradford
chief of tfx, equipment division. AL
though he has not held his present Of
fice long, and by custom Is entitled to
nearly three years of further service,
he has become so impatient to join in
active service that he addressed the
following letter to the president:
Il respectfully tender my resignation
~ chief Of the bureau Of equipment of
The navy department. 1t has been a
great pleasure to serve during your ad-
ministration in my pending capacity,
and l beg to express my thanks for the
honor conferred upon me by your ap-
pointment to such a responsible office.
This resignation is rendered only that
! may ask for active service ahoat"
Captain Bradford addressed similar
letter to Secretary Long, with the ad-
aition of request to have a command
Of an active warship. The resignation
will be accepted, and by virtue of his
rank, as well as to mark the high re-
gard entertained for him by the ad-
ministraton, Captain Bradford will be
given one of the best of the available
ships in the navy.
A Patriotic New Workers. GIFT.
The naval authorities welcomed with
pleasure the manifestation Of patriot
Ism on the part of distinguished New
YORK citizen in rendering to the gov
eminent without compensation his
speedy steam yacht. The vessel is the
fine yacht Free Lance, and the donor
ls r.. Augustus Schermerhorn. This is
the first outright gift of ship to the
navy, and it is rather a marked con-
trast with the terms of acquisition of
other steam yachts, tugs, ETC., for
which owners have made most exorbi-
tant demands.
Following up the formalities begin
ming with the blockade proclamation.
the state department yesterday after
noon addressed an identical note TO all
OF the representatives of foreign ma
uons accredited to Washington noti-
Tying them Of the policy to be pursued
by this government in the matter of
prlVateering and neutrality. This was
followed by the sending of cable mes
Bases to all American embassies and
legations abroad containing the same
Information in little more succinct
form for presentation to the govern
ment to which they are accredited.
In brief the identical note declares |
that our government will not resort to |
prlvateering; that enemy's goods in |
neutral bottoms, save contraband, are
exempt from seizure: that neutral |
Sooos not contraband under enemy's |
nag are safe from seizure, and that !
slockades, to be binding, must be ef- !
Isctlve. In substance these are the
principles laid down In the agreement !
or Paris Of 1855. The officials are not |
disturbed at the semi official notice
from Madrid that Spain will refuse to
be bound by the same principles and
forbid privateering, for they are salts
fled that the great commercial powers
Will not tolerate the practice of priya-
teerlng under the Spanish flag.
Inasmuch as there exists a great
amount Of misap apprehension not only
among foreign countries, but also
among American shippers, as to the
character Of merchandise that Is con.
traband and liable to seizure during the
progress of war. the following unofficial
but authentic statement has been OBJ
tanned from high official of the gov
crnment:
COntrabRnd of War.
In determining, according to the law
OF nations, whether merchandise is
oontraband Of war, It Is classified l.
Absolute contraband. g. Occasional oy
conditional contfaband. 8, Goods not
contraband
The first class includes all goods O.
an essentially warlike character. The