The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-09
PEACE SMILES AGAIN.
News Yesterday Of a Most Qaieting
Character.
NOT so HOT FOR A FIGHT In SPAIN
AS USUAL.

The Question of Purchasing Battleships
| Abroad is Now the Important One
Field Over-Interview With MIR.
DuBosc.
Washington. March SIN spite OF
| numerous conferences of officials the con-
tinuation of preparations now in progress
on large scale to put the country In a
state of defense and the outburst of
patriotic speeches in Congress, there was
| certain feeling apparent in the best in
| formed circles that the situation as tolour
relations with Spain was today much
more favorable than yesterday. The semi-
official dispatches received by the press
| from Madrid indicating a peaceful pur-
| pose on the part of the Spanish govern
ment contributed in large measure to that
feeling, or it may have been that the
growing knowledge of the vast extent OF
our own resources tended to the pellei
that they would impress others with the
futility of attacking the United States.
| However that may be the feeling pre-
vailed. While Captain Brownson Is going
abroad for the government to learn what
shins of war are for sale and their con-
dition, he will not necessarily make any
purchases. The officer left Washington
tonight and will take the st. Paul TO
Southampton, sailing from New YORK.
He will report here his arrival at once a0
the United States embassy In London,
but further than that the captain declines
to indicate the places he will visit In
Europe. He has been furnished all OF the
information in the possession Of the navy
department respecting Jhe snlpplne ~
had talk with Mr.. Lane, who Is SAID 70
have some Of those ships for sale. though
he does not at present have the right In
| the case of the two small Brazilian battle
shius now building at La Seyanne,
| France.
AS to these or any Brazilian or Chilian
yarships, it has been discovered thaU
Brazil and Chilli are parties to treaty by
the terms of which neither country can
sell any of it's warShips unless the other
also sells ship. The reason for this
necrliar provision is to be found IN the
alliance that is said to have been entered
| into by these two countries Tor mutual
protection against Argentine and other
South American nations. Captain Brown
| son does not expect to stay abroad long
| and goes only on condition that he may
return Immediately in case OF an open
rupture.
| AS to the right to buy foreign ships all
authorities agree that such purchases may
4 he made, even after hostilities have be-
gun, it the neutral nation exercises strict
| impartiality between the bell1gerents, and
j the ships are not armed and outf1tted
ready for service. The trade of shipbuild
ing is recognized as legitimate one to
| be carried on at all times. Mr. Clay when
Secretary of State, laid down the principle
| as follows:
ssIf it be forbidden by the law of
| nations to sell to a beiligerent an armed
vessel completely equipped and ready for
| action, it is thought not to be contrary to
the law to sell belligerent vessel in
any other state, Rltho ugh it may be con-
yertable into ship of war.
Mr. Clay specified case in which spain
and one other South American republic
then at war, each bought ship from the
same shiI Ibuilder which ships afterwards
met on the sea and had an engagement.
He also specified the case OF Russia's sell
ing whole feet of ships to Spain, in.
Guiding some of ths Russians ships of
line, While Russia held IA neutral attitude
between Spain and the Southern republics
with which she was then at war.
The subject has been before the Ameri
can court aud in one case Justice Story
held; While the sole of a vessel, armed
| or uuarmed to belligerent, is not forbid
dent by International law, such vessel
even on it's way to the purchaser, is liable
| to seizure as contraband-
In a later case before the Supreme court,
the distinction is made between the un-
lawful act of fitting out and arming a
shin of war for q belligerent and the law
full act of selling such ships to be con-
yerted into men-of war. The decision
saws the distinction is the same as between
| lawful act of a gunsmith in selling a
pistol and the unlawful act of the same
in arranging that u pistol should be used
for q criminal act.
A good deal is being accomplished in
the way of preparation in both navy and
war departments The conference at the
navy department today looked into the
procurement of suitable store OF ammu-
milton, coal and supplies, touched upon
the question Of dry docks and generally
considered number of other matters
connected with the operation of a war
ship. The war department. WAS not be-
hind the navy. General Flagg, chief OF
ordance, is very busy reaching out in
every direction by means of the telegraph
and the mail to learn just how far the re-
sources of the big private manufacturing
concerns can be relied on to come to the
aid of the war department in arming and
equipping volunteer army, should one
be found necessary. He will not tell
what he is doing in this direction, hold
ing that it is not wise to make everybody
aca uainted with our strong or weak
points Major General Miles is looking
after the personnel closely and today was
irving hard to perfect the organization OF
the two new regiments of artillery which
1 CONGRESS has granted The officer must
be nominated to Congress. Meanwhile
beyond the statement that two lieuten-
ant colonels of the existing artillery regi-
ments will be made colonels of the twonew
regiments, the names of officers are with
hold.
The Maine was own up three weeks
ago tonight, but as yet nothing is known
officially as to the cause of the disaster.
The court of inquiry is hard ut work and
that is all that is known at the navy de
partment 1t is not even known wher
the court may be expected to finish It'll
work. But the Importance of its report
,,oo, y,ot 5i,ojpich hv the laDSa Of fint