Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-09

Think There is Less Danger of a.
Rupture in the Relations With
Spain--Captain Brownson Sailed
for England Last Night viii
Look Over European Shipy ards
and See What Available Vessels
Are TO Be Had-The Rights Of
Of Nations to Sell Ships to Bellig-
qerents-The Work of the Court
ofInquiry and the Gravity of It's
Report Still Kept in Sight.
Washington, d. c., March Sin
spite OF numerous conferences of Off
eals. OF the continuation of the prep
arajions now in progress on a large
scale to put the country in a state of
defence. OF the outburst of patriotic
seeechas in Congress, there was GER
tam feeling apparent in the best in
formed circles that the situation as to
au relations with Spain was to-day
much more favorable than il was yes
-erday. Perhaps the semi-official adj
vices received through the Associated
Press from Madrid, indicating a peace
fl purpose on the part of the Spanish
government, contributed in large
measure to that feeling. or it may have
hean that the growing knowledge of
rhe vast extent of our own resources
tended to the belief that they would
fmpress others with the futility of at
.acking the United Staes. However
that may be- the feeling prevailed At
IInIco COL all
of the facts that were known to the
President as to the existing state of
affairs were laid unreservedly before
the cabinet members and discussed
While Captain Brownson is going
abroad for the government to learn
What ships Of war are for sale and
their condition, 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 his
arrival Immediately at the United
States embassy in London, but further
fban that the Captain declines to in
dicate the places he will visit in Eu-
rope. He has been furnished all of
The information in the possession of
the navy department respecting the
ships in course of construction in Eu-
rope, and had a talk to-day with Mr..
Lane. who is said TO have some of
THESE SHIPS FOR SALE,
though he does at present have the
right to speak in the case of the
TWO small Brazilian battleships now
building at La Seinne in France. AS
to these, or, indeed, any Br2 lillian or
Gillian warships, it has been discov-
cred that Brazil and Chile are par
ties to a treaty by the terms of which
neither country can sell any OF its
Warships unless the other also sells
a ship. The reason for this peculiar
provision is to be found in the alli-
ance that is reported to have been en-
Tered into by these two countries for
mutual protection against Argentina
and other South American nations
Captain BrOwnson does not expect to
stay abroad long and goes only on
condition that he may return imme-
Giately in case of an open rupture
AS 10 the right to buy foreign war
ships all authorities agree that such
purchases may he made, even after
aostilities have begun, if the neutral
nation exercises strict impartiality be
r.'e'44 tiAC wills NtltSs anu itlC onlpo
are not armed and QUILTED ready for
service. The trade of shipbuilding is
recognized as a legitimate one, which
may be carried on at all times. Mr..
Clay, when Secretary of State, laid
DOWN the principle as follows: IF it
be forbidden by the law of nations
to sell TO belligerent an armed YES
sci completely equipped and ready for
action it is believed not to be contrary
TO The law TO sell a belligerent vessel
IN any other state, although it may
5e convertible into ship of war
Alr. Clay specified a case in which
pain and one of the South American
5publics. then at war,
EACH BOUGHT A SHIP
from the same shipbuilder, which
ships afterward met on the sea and
mad an engagement. He also specified
the case Of Russia selling a whole
Heet OF ships to Spain, including some
Of The Russian ships of the line, while
oussia held neutral attitude between
spain and the Southern republic with
Ehlch she was at war.
The subject has been before the
American courts, and in one case JUS
uce Storey said: The sale Of a yes
sell armed or unarmed, to a bellig-
clent, is not forbidden in interna-
uonal law. Such a vessel, even on its
way 10 the purchaser, is liable to seiz-
ufe as cOntraband.'
IN a later case before the Supreme
court the distinction is made between
'he unlawful act Of fitting out and
aiming a ship of war for a belligerent,
ana the lawful act of selling such
SnlpS to be converted into men-of-war.
ne decision says that the distinc-
Ton is the same as that between the
awful act of a gunsmith in selling a
pistol and the unlawful act of the
same gunsmith in arranging that a
pistol shall be used for criminal act.
good deal is being accomplished
III the way OF preparation in both the
navy and war departments. The con-
''Ience at the navy department to-
Jay looked into the procurement of a
suitable store of ammunition, coal and
supplies touched upon the question of
Wy docks and generally considered
number of other matters connected
win the operation of warship
ne war department was not behind
'le navy. Gen. Flagler. chief of ord
nance, is very busy reaching out in
very direction by means of the tele-
5faph and the mail to learn just how
nav the resouces of the big private
W8hafacturing concerns can be relied
tpon to come to the aid of the war