Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-24

ron Till he has an GugdReAA0i'
With the Spaniards or He Be-
comes Convinced That the Span
iards Have Escaped-The Cues
ION of American Vessels Using
snanish Flags Spain Privateer-
mo plan-No Protest From Italy.
washington, May 25.-It was stated
o- +be Navy Department to-day at the
.losa of office hours that no dispatches
If anv kind relating to the movements
Of the fleets or the prospect of an enga-
cement had been received during the
day and that the only dispatch receiv-
cd related to an inconsequential prize
case AS the ships are now at sea there
* no expectation of reports until de-
cisIve engagement occurs and dis
match boat gets TO a port, or it is found
Cervera has eluded the search. In the
meantime. there is complete lack of
official data TO forecast the coming en-
EdEtIltHt. ~ ICpOlL was Sul Cit bul
ing the day that the big battle ship Ore
gon had arrived at Key West, but the
department. officials would notice il
only by entering a general denial that
word had been received of any import
ant vessel movements or arrivals.
Late in the day Associated Press dis
patches from Madrid giving the sharp
debate in the Cortes over the alleged
flying of the Spanish flag by American
war ships created much comment in
naval circles. SPANS protest to the
powers that this use of the flag was
"cCwa.dly and iniquitous" was dis
missed by naval officers with the state
ment that international law writers
agreed on the right to use an enemy's
flag for purposes of deceit, so long as
the flag is hauled down before shot is
fired The United States
NAVAL REGULATIONS
make specific provision on this point
The Navy Department recently issued
an edition OF Shows naval precedence,
standard work on naval usage in time
Of peace and war. In this, the doctrine
on the use of an cnemy's flag is stated
as follows THE regulations of the
United States navy state that the use of
a foreign flag to deceive an enemy is
permissible, but that it must be hauled
down before a gun is fired. and under
no circumstances is an action to be
commenced or an engagement fought
Without the display of the national en-
sign"
Inc foregoing rule, both by regula-
uon and by the text book distributed to
the navy, is guide for all naval Off
GERS, Practically the same rule is an
pIled 10 the use of the enemy's uni
form.
Inc statement made by the Spanish
minister Of the interior that the gov
eminent is likely to resort to privateer-
ing Goes not cause any apprehension
among officials here. One of the high
'Sl authorities Of the Navy Department
Sa'u Spain would adopt privateering if
sue lelt 1t to be to her interest without
waiting for this country to give any
pttext for this action. 1t is felt. how
ever mat Great Britain. Germany and
france will have
CONSIDERABLE TO SAY
~ Ease Spain resorts to privateering
iHe commerce of these countries would
>"''er very severely by Spanish priva-
e'His and its effect would be far more
1'SasVrou9 to these foreign inteests than
''e Snlpplng of the United States. 1t
"S 'niS Influence of Great Britain.
- many and France which forced
~ 1'D reluctantly to forego privateer-
10 anu 1t Is not thought probable
foreign Influences will now con-
S'NI 70 have their commerce DESTROYED
ne announcement by way of Paris
"' 'le Italian government had pro-
,N'5a against the continuance of the
Naae OF the Cuban coast on the
mat ii was ineffective met a
~ Genial at the State Department.
w., ! can be stated definitely that
''' IN Washington or in Rome has
a., presentations on this subject been
r. a' VsSea to the United States govern
ab, AS a matter of fact Italy prob
er, e 'he maritime power of all 9th
bad =" "hlcn the United States has
tbo @oSoi0t'ly no correspondence in
cnha 'sn'eSt degree connected with the
cuban blockade
II ir.s 'ne allegation that the blockade
trar,. 'Il'e' 1t is said that on the con-
,,s ' 1t has been sjngularlv successfu,
pon. uia' So far as known not single
passoa 'ip subject to detention has
On. the lines without the consent of
tine ~, niient. The Montserrat. it is
fore o, D-u enter Cienfuegos harbor be-
n '' oiockading ships had had time
and "round the south side of Cuba
mana .a"ilSf the blockade, and she did
sna Se 10 get out at night. But she is
tn, on,. snip and Spain is perhaps
lost - ~ nation in the world that has
b,oa' power to enter a protest against
!, !. made being a combatant herself