The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-27

Tor COllectlnS In
Washington, May 23.-It was stated
at the navy department today at the
close Of office hours that no dispatches
of any kind relating to the movements
of the fleets or the prospect Of any en-
gagement had been received during the
day and that the only dispatch receiv-
ed related to an incOnsequential prize
case. AS the ships are now at sea
there is no expectation of reports until
a decisive engagement occurs and a
dispatch boat goes to a port, or it is
found Cervera has eluded our search.
A report was current during the day
that the big battleship Oregon had ar
rived at Key West, but the department
officials would notice it only by enter
ing a general denial that word had
been received Of any important YES
sci 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 nag by American
WaTShips, created much comment in
naval circles. SPANS protest to the
powers that this use Of the flag was
"COWardiy and ~iniquitOuS' was dis
missed by naval officers with the state
ment that international law writer's
agreed on the right to use an enemy'S
flag for purposes of deceit so long as
the flag is hauled down before a shot
is fired. The United States naval reg
ulations nah specific provision on
his point.
SPAIN THREATENS TO USE PRI-
VATEERS.
The statement made by the Spanish
minister Of the interior that the gov
inner is likely to resort to ~privateer-
ing does not cause any apprehension
among officials here. 1t is felt that
Great Britain, Germany and France
will have considerable to say in case
Spain resorts to privateering. The
of these countries with the
United States would suffer very Sc
verely by Spanish privateering, and it's
effect would be far more disastrous to
these foreign interests than to the
shipping of the United States.
Commander Hemphill, who has
charge of the naval enlistment, has
made out a table showing that the re-
cent recruiting of the navy has swell
ed that branch of the service 6, 729. The
following are some of the states from
which recruits have been secured Vir-
Ginia 255; North Carolina 95; South
~H'L OAiiAN AL' S"| L'' 4AN AAC
FRANCES COMPLIMENT TO
AMERICA.
The French government has taken
opportunity to pay a graceful COmpli-
ment to this country, by informing the
French embassy hat an artist has
been instructed to make a o of the
famous picture The Battle of York
town." which is one of the priceless
treasures Of the French national gall
IL
embassy at Washington. The picture
shows the notable incident in Ameri-
can history when the British COM
mander Lord COrnWalis, surrendered
to General Washington.
NO PROTEST FROM ROME.
The announcement by way of Paris
that the Italian government had pro-
tested against the continuance of the
blockade of the Cuban coast on the
ground that it was ineffective met a
prompt denial at the state department
and it can be stated definitely that
neither in Washington nor in Rome
have any representations or this sub
ject been addressed to the United
States government.
AS to the allegations that the block
ade is ineffective it is said that on the
contrary it has been i~rregularly sue
ceSSful and that, so far as KNOWN, not
a single neutral ship subject to deten-
ton has passed the mes without the
consent of our government. The Mont
serrant it is true, did enter CienfuegOS
harbor before our b~lockading ships had
time to get around the south side Of
Cuba and establish the blockade and
she did manage to get out at night.
But she is a Spanish ship and Spain is
perhaps the only nation in the world
that has lost the power to enter a pro-
test against a blockade, beingk a COM
Blatant herself. 1t is only for neutral
powers to enter such protests and zone
Of them has as Yet the slightest pre-
text for such action.
With the beginning of the present
week all Spanish vessels in United
States ports, which sailed after the
outbreak of the war, are subject to
seizure as we'll as all Spanish mer-
chantnen found on the high seas, save
where they left port for the United
States before April 21st, last. The
presidents proclamation Of war allow
ed sue ships lying in our ports or
bound for them thirty days in which
to discharge cargo and also ensured
them safe passage home. That period
of time expired Saturday night. This,
it is expected, will tend to free the
state department from complications.
COAST SIGNALING SYSTEM.
Under the energetic management of
Captain Bartlett. who was recalled
from the retired list into the active ser
vice Of the navy department for the
purpose, there has just been perfected
a most admirable and thorough system
of coast signalling for war urposes.
The navy department itself establish
ed thirty stations on the coast manned
10y naval militiamen. Then it called
nto service 1850 light house employees
and 1000 life saving men, making a
total force of over 5000 men who patrol
the great shore line from Bar Harbor
ITO Galveston night and day, and in all
weathers, watching for the approach
of an enemy or for a signal from amy
passing United States warship. 1t has
been arranged hat all these watches
can communicate in the course of a few
minutes with the telegraph or tele-
phone line and all centre in the office
OF Captain Bartlett in the navy depart