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

TWO IuFlner important steps III WASH
ington towards actual hostilities, not 10
mention the overt act involved in the
seizure Of the Spanish vessel Buena
Ventura, off Key West.
The first was the issue by the Presi-
dent of his proclamation announcing to
the world a blockade 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, i'll addition, there was not
able retirement from the Navy Depart
ment in the case OF Captain Royal B.
Bradford, chief of the equipment divis-
ion. Captain Bradford is not only an
officer of high scientific attainment, but
is equipped as well in great practical
experience in naval matters. Although
he has not held his present Office long,
and by custom is entitled to nearly
three years of further service here, he
has become SO impatient to join in &C
tive service that he to-day addressed
the following letter to the President:
Il respectfully tender my resignation
as 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 | beg to express my thanks for the
honor conferred upon me by your ap-
pointment to such responsible Office
This resignation is rendered only that l
may ask for active service afoat."
Captain Bradford addressed a similar
letter to Secretary Long with the addi-
ton of a request to have command of
an active warship. The resignation
will be accepted and by virtue of his
rank as we'll as to mark the high re-
gao entertained for him by the admin
istration Captain Bradford will be
given one of the best of the ayilable
ships in the navy.
THE NAVAL AUTHORITIES
welcomed with pleasure the manifesto
ton of patriotism on the part of dis
tinguished New York citizen in tender
ing to the government without compen-
sation his speedy steam yacht.
Following up the formalities begin
ming with the blockade proclamation,
the State Department this afternoon
addressed an Identical note to all Of
accredited to Washington, notifying
them of the policy to be pursued by
this government in the matter OF priva-
teering and neutrality. This was fol-
lowed by sending cable messages to
all American embassies and legations
abroad containing the same informa-
ton in a little more succinct form,
for presentation to the governments
to which they are accredited. The
statement was precisely similar in
terms to that telegraphed by the As
ISOLATED Press last Wednesday and it's
formal adoption by the government as
the line of policy to be pursued was
not prevented by the criticism passed
upon it in the Senate yesterday by Mr..
Money, of Mississippi In brief, it de-
clares that our government will not
goods in neutral bottom, save contra
band, are exempt from seizure; that
neutral goods not contraband under
enemy's flag are safe from seizure, and
that blockades to be binding must be
effective. In substance, these are the
principles laid down in the agreement
of Paris Of 1856 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
fed that the great commercial powers
will not tolerate the practice of pri-
watering under the Spanish flag. In
asmuch as there exists a great amount
of misrepresentation, not only among
foreign countries, but also among
American shippers, as to the character
of merchandise that is contraband and
liable to seizure during the progress of
war, the following unofficial but au-
thentie statement has been obtained
from a high official of the government:
In determining, according to the law
of nations. whether merchan disc is con-
traband of war; it is classified:
l. Absolute contraband.
, Occasional or conditional contra
band.
8. Goods not contraband.
The first class includes all goods Of
an essentially warlike character
The second class includes provis-
ions. naval stores. coal, horses, certain
kinds of machinery, certain forms Of
steel, iron. etc, which are subservient
to warlike use and which are destined
for the use of the enemy. They are
contraband or not according to the oc-
casions and conditions as to their char
acter, shipment and destined use.
Every such case depends on its own
facts.