Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-04-23
Great Britain's Action Is Strictly in
Line With the Wishes of the
Government.
MATERIALLY ASSISTS AMERICANS
The Decree Affects Our Own Fleet
Operating Against the
Philippines.
ARRANGEMENTS TO MEET 1T
Those Who Favor the Annexation ol
Hawaii Find an Excuse for
Doing So just at This
Time.

New York, April 19.-In directing
aer colonies TO regard coal as a contra
band of war in the event of a hostile
act between the United States ano
Spain, Great Britain has taken action
the administration officials say, in line
with the wishes of the president ant
naval authorities, says the Washington
correspondent Of the Herald. Pressure
has been eXerted upon France ane
Hayti to accomplish the same result
and some attention is being given by
he state department to the South
American countries with a view to Sc
curing from them q declaration of tn,
eontraband character of coal, as wei
as an announced determination u
their part not TO sell either TO the
Spanish or American war vessels Il sup
ply of fuel greater than that necessary
70 enable a belligerent vessel TO steam
20 the next home port.
So far as the Danish West Indies are
concerned, the authorities have pur
chased AT their ports all the coal that
t is possible to secure. With coal de
dared a c~ontraband of war, the admin
stration officials and navy experts say
I will be impossible for the Spanish
'cssels to operate in the West Indies or
n the Pacific and as Il result the
chances of success for American arms
will be im~measurably enhanced.
Great Britain's declaration Of the
%:ontraband character of coal will al
lect the United States at only one
point, in the far east. The United
states now has at Hong Kong a fleet OF
iiX vessels, the cruisers Baltimore,
olympia, Raleigh and Boston and the
run boats Concord and Petrol, ana
:hese ships are awaiting word TO rush
20 Manila. If the Notifications of the
Philippines should stand Off the Amer
can feet for any length of time tho
operations Of the vessels would be
greatly embarrassed, for, by Eng
'and's declaration, her c~olonists would
DO only allowed to sell to either bellig-
.rent a supply sufficient to take him
20 his home port. Approaching the po-
SitiOn summed up by the British gov
eminent, Commander Dewey, acting
nnder instructions from Secretary
Long, has purchased a large quantity
IF coal and stored it on board two col
Tiers, which will accompany his fleet
TO the Philippines.
ENCenueu operations WOulu hecSsSl-
tate a renewal of the supply, and the
central position of Hawaii is pointed
to by naval experts who want it for Il
naval base. Hawaii is 1000 miles from
the Philippines. Her position in tho
family of nations would compel her to
observe strict neutrality and not ia.
vor one belligerent more than another,
but by her annexation to the United
States, 1t is pointed out, would result
in placing supplies for the Asiatic
squadron 1000 miles nearer to the ves-
sells than would be the case if coal, mu-
nitions of war, etc, had to be shipped
from the United States. 1t is also
pointed out that Hawaii will find il
necessary TO sell coal to a Spanish Ves-
sci coming in at Honolulu sufficient to
take it a portion of the way to its neXc
home port, just as she would sell coal
to an American ship.
In the event of coal being declared n
contraband Of war by France, Hayti
and San Domingo, the naval authorl-
ties say it will be impossible for Span
ish vessels to secure fuel in the Wesr
indies.