Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-24
NO NEWS OF FLEETS.
None Expected Until a pecIsiv, En-
ssgement Occurs.
SPANS ABSURD PROTEST..
CorlsS SputteriDS Over Our Flying Of
the Spanish Flag.
QUESTION OF PRlVATEERING.
llSpain Resorts to II, Britain, Germany,
and France Will Be Heard from.
A BIZ OF FRENCH TAFFY.
Copy Of The Battle Of Yorktown for
Embassy at Washington.
A BIZ OF FRENCH TAFFY.
40 ANTI BLOCKADE PROTEST..
In Point of Fact, Our BIockades Have
Becn Singulnrly Efective--spanish sh
Vessels Now Subject to Seizure
Coast Signalling.

WASHINGTON, d. c.. May 2s.-It was
stated al the Navy Department to-day,
at tle close Of Office hours, that no dis
Patches of any kind relating 10 the
movements of the fleets or the prospect
a. an engagement had been received
during the day. and that the only dis
patch received related to an inconsequen-
tal prize case.
As the ships are now at sea there is
10 expectation of reports until a decis-
!ve engagement occurs and a dispatch
boat gets to a port or 1t is found that
Cervera has eluded our search.
In the meantime, there is a complete
lack Of official data by which to forecast
the coming engagement.
report was current during the day
that the big batteship Oregon had ar
rived at Key West, but the department
oihcials would notice it only by entering
3 general denial that no word had been
received of any important vessel move
ments or arrivals.
SPANS PROTEST.
Later in the day the press dispatches
from Madrid. giving the sharp debate
In the Cortes over the alleged flying of
.he Spanish flag by American warships.
treated much comment in naval circles.
spain's protest to the Powers that this
use Of the flag was "oowardly and in
uutous" was dismissed by naval Off
Jers with the statement that interna-
tonal law-writers agreed on the right
50 use an enemy's flag for purposes OF
feceit, so long as the flag is hauled down
before & shot is fired. The United States
naval regulations make specific provision
pn this point.
SPANISH PRIVATEERING.
The statement made by the Spanish |
Minister OF the Interior that his govern
ment is likely to resort 10 privateering |
Hoes not cause any apprehension among |
officials here. II is felt that Great B-i-
tain. Germany, and France will have
considerable 10 say in case Spain resorts |
10 privateering. The commerce Of these
with the United States would |
suffer very severely by Spanish privateer-
ing and its effect would be far more |
disastrous TO these foreign interests than
10 the shipping OF all the United States. |
NAVY RECRUITING.
Commander Hemphill, who has charge |
Of the naval enlistment, has made out a
able showing that the recent recruiting
o. the navy has swelled that branch of
the Service 6729. The following are some
Of the States from which recruits have
been secured: Virginia 255 North Caro-
Ina, IS; South Carolina, lis; Georgia, II;
Florida, 1lS.
FRENCH "TAFFY."
The French Government has taken op-
1orunity to pay a graceful compliment
10 this country by informing the French
mbassy that an artist has been instruct
"a 10 make a copy of the famous picture
The Battle OF Yorktown" which is one
81 the priceless treasures Of the French
.ationd gallery al Versailles, to be sent
% the embassy at Washington. The pic
Ire shows the notable incident in Amer
can history when the British command
r. Lord CORVALLIS. surrendered 10 GEN
gal Washington.
Al-AsLILD 1AOl bl ALL. ,
The announcement by way Of Paris ,
hat the Italian Government had protest {
d against continuance Of the blockade I
q the Cuban coast, on the ground that I
. is Ineffective, met denial at the State
apartment. and it can be stated definite ;
y that neither in Washington nor in I
some mas any representations on this S
lbject been addressed to the United
iates Government. AS to the allegation
hat the blockade is ineffective, il is said +
BAT on the contrary, it has been singu- u
riy successful. and that so far as d
noWn. not a single neutral ship subject q
detention has passed the lines without =
Be consent Of our government 4
MONTsERRAT CASE.
The Montserrat. it is true, did enter :
lenfuegos harbor before our blockading a
hips had time 10 gett around the south a
os Of Cuba and establish the blockade Ia
ld She did manage to get out at night =
ui she Is a Spanish ship, and Spain is. .,
rhaps, the only nation in the world $,
Iat has lost the power to enter a pro- s,
si against blockade. being a combatant
.rseif. II is only for neutral Powers TO
lier such protests. and none of them =,
's as yet the slightest pretext for such
zion.
SPANISH SHIPS IN PERIL
with the beginning Of the present week ~
Spanish vessels in United States ports .
hich sailed after the outbreak Of the -
ar are subject TO seizure as well as all =
'anish merchantmen found on the =,
"a seas save where they left port for
United States before April 2ist last. m
me Presidents proclamation OF war be
Owed such ships lying in our ports or
und for them thirty days In which TO vi
'charge cargo. and also ensured them ~,
ie Passage home. That period OF time
pred Saturday night This, 1t Is ex-
eted, VIII tend 70 free the State De-
flment from complications. u u
COAST SIGNALLING. 1a
,ncer the energetic management of nS
psin Bartlett. who was recalled from on