The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-27

steam with ali speed for Raiquiri. They
should each there by Wednesday. They
are not ntted with heavy derricks such
as the tenders VIII carry. but hay ma
terial aboard which will enable the
sailors 90 convert them speedily into
lifting machines capable OF handling
the heaviest cannon carried by the ex-
pedition.
Through It's agencies In the West
Indies. the state department has dis
covered a suspicious craft lying at Fort
DE France, Martinique. She is q collier.
and presumably - trying TO convey
coal 10 Cervera at Santiago. or TO BlancO
at Havana via the Isle OF Pines and
Batabano. Captain Sigsbee OF the st.
Paul and some OF the other commanders
OF the American scouting vessels have
been notified and are expected to defeat
this purpose. Sigsbee Saturday warned
a British vessel from seeking TO enter
the harbor OF San Juan on the ground
that IL was b~lockaded. No formal no.
tice has been given OF the blockade OF
this port. but the captains free action
Is in line with the construction OF
international law published by the navy
department. namely. hat a blockade
may be initiated without formal notice
by simple warning from a naval com
mander. 1t is fully expected that this
construction will be combatted. IL h
Spanish government can interest IN OF
the European powers 10 do So, but the
navy department Is sure of its ground.
having had the aid OF the best minds
In the state department in framing the
blockade regulations.
0xl. -Afs.n &c.,. 0-.G~ 49, 49,
eminent had succeeded in purchasing
three powerful cruisers gains not the
slightest credence here. No European
nation Possessing such vessels dare be
guilty Of the violation Of neutrality in
volved in the making Of such a sale. II
any vessels were secured II 10 probable
that they are only merchantmen, bought
with the purposc OF converting them
into armed transports by the addition
Of a few guns.
Notwithstanding the report OF the ar
rival OF Admiral Camara's squadron at
Port Said, the westerly entrance to The
Suez canal the officials here still doubt
thnt thu vessels are bound for the Philip
pines. lRumors reach here, uncon-
frmed as yet, that the only ironciads
in h squadron. the Pelayo and Don
Carlos v, have left the squadron and
returned to Spain. 30 that Cnmara no
longer possesses a force that would
threaten Dewey, II this be SO. either
the Spanierds have realized the folly Of
leaving their home ports unprotected,
or they have received information from
the British government that the navi-
cation Of the suez canal cannot be
jeopardized by allowing deep draught,
unwteldy jronclads TO attempt the
passage. Some attention has been at
tracted at the state department by the
dispatch from Madrid 10 a British pa
per. stating that camara's PURPOSE is
not to attack Dewey. but TO seize and
hold with his ships and troops another
island In the Philippine group. 1t is
suspected. II this be 80. that the object
IL purely diplomatic, the Spanish gov
eminent being anxious TO assert, In the
event that peace negotiations are foSed
upon II, that the United States IL not In
such occupation OF the Philippines ~
would justify a demand for their re-
tsntion as n of the terms OF peace.