The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-21
SIGNED

United States TO execute the will OF
congress.
PUBLICITY WOULD BE TREASON.
How this will be done, what steps shall
first be taken, whether Havana shall be
blockaded' or whether an attempt shall
be made to make speedy campaign by
hurting a large force o Troops into Ha-
vana under cover of bombardment by
& feet, are all matters of mere specula-
ton. The experts of the army and navy
have laid their plans with the greatest
detail, but they do not hesitate to say
that any attempt to make these public
in advance, to the manifest advantage Of
Spain, would be actual treason.
NEUTRALs AND PRIvATEERs
An outline of the policy 10 be followed
py this government in the treatment Of
neutraIs and the matter of privateering
IS contained in the following statement:
an the event of hostilities between the
United States and Spain, it will be the
policy of this government not TO resort
to privateerng. The government will ad-
here to the following rules:
'First-Neutral flag covers eneny's
goods with the exception of contraband
of war.
"Second-Neutral goods not contraband
Of war are not liable to confscanon I'M
Ger enemy's flag.
''Third-Blockade, in order to be bind
ing. must be effective"
This doctrine is undoubtedly laid down
to meet the various inquiries received
by the diplomatic representatives. of the
United States from foreign governments
as to the attitude to be assumed by the
United States. It is substantially in line
with the rules adopted in the recent
Chinese-Japanese war, and places the
United States IN a most advanced posi-
ton so far as the protection of individual
property and neutral goods at sea is con-
cerned. By It Spanish goods are made
free from seizure on the seas in the
bottoms of a neutral power. This de- !
cision on the part OF our government |
Will doubtless be welcomed in Europe.
THE SPANISH FLEET.
Word came to the navy department to- !
day that the Spanish cruisers Pelayo, |
Nizcaya and Oquendo are all at present |
at Cape De Verde Islands. in company i
with the torpedo boat fotiIla. It is real |
lied that this constitutes a most formid- |
able naval force. IN the opinion Of ex-
perts equal to our crack flying squadron
now lying in Hampton Roads.
The department is a good deal disturb
ed about the torpedo boat Somers, now
lying at Falmouth, England. and is cast
ing about for means to bring her to the
United States with safety, so far with
out success.
No purchases of ships were made dur
ing the day. but the offerings continue
in undiminished numbers.
PROBLEM OF THE VOLUNTEERS.
Nearly all the time of Secretary Alger.
General Miles and Adjutant General Cor
bin today was consumed in the consid-
grafton Of the best means to secure the
volunteers needed for the army, but this
complicated question has not yet been
settled. An order sent to the Twenty
NTH infantry at Chickamauga to pro-
coed to Mobile early in the day was can
celled later on.
Captain Duvall. the artillery expert and
special aide to Secretary Alger, who has
been making an investigation of the
eouthern seacoast defenses. returned to
washington today and reported the re-
suits Of his trip to Adjutant General
Corbin- For prudential reasons the re-
suit cannot be made public.
WAR SPIRIT IN WASHINGTON.
The military enthusiasm has spread TO
the capital, usually so undemonstra tive
ana today the city was brilliant with the
rtars and stripes. Along f street and
other thoroughfares nearly every build
ing flew the flag. and some of the larger
BUSINESS houses took on the appearance
ot an inauguration day. Several Of them
were literally covered with red. white
and blue bunting. In the residential por-
lions Of the city many private houses ,
raised the colors and the city generally I
had holiday aspect. {