The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-04-19
COAL DECLARED
CONTRABAN
By This Action Britain Aids the
United states.
THE SPANISH NAVY OUTDoNE
Could Not Operse 10 Vest ladis. or the
rsaiie-Aetioa % Be 1aken By tui'ed
states 90 the same Lines

New YORK. Aprl is-fn dIrecung her
colonies 20 regard coal as contraDgH>f ot
VAR ln the event 0f hoHtIltles between
the United STAGES and Spain. Great Br-
tain has taken action American Oh ..als
say. In line with tho wishes of the prcsi.
. dent and naval authOrltles, says ths
WashIngt0n correspondent 0f the Her
aid Pressure will be eXerted upon Hay
q. France. and San DOmlngo 10 accom-
plish the same result and some attention
Is being given by the state department
90 south American countries with "a View
0f securing a contra band character VI
coal no well az an anpOunced determine
ton on their part not 20 sell either 10
Spanish or American men-0f-war a sup
ply Of fuel greater than Necessary 90 en-
able the belligerent vessel 90 steam 70
the next home port So FAR 40 the Danish
West Indies are concerned. the authori.
Ties have purchased In their ports all the
coal that u is possible 10 secure. With
coal declared "a cOntraband Of war. ad-
/ mnislratlon officials ana naval experts
say 10 will be impossible for spanish
VESSELS 10 operate In the West Indies or
IN the Pacific and as a result the chances
OF success FOR American arms would be-
. immeasurably enhanced.
/ Great Britains declaration OF the con.
iraband character Of coal will anect the
United States az only one polnt-ln the
FAR east The United States now has az
Hong Kong six vessels, the cruisers Bal
tim0re, olympia. Ra,eigh and Boston.
and gunboats Concord and Petral-and
these ships are awaiting the word 70 rusn
20 Manila.
II the fortifications Of the Philippines
should stand Of the American fleet for
any time the operations OF the vessels
would be greatly EMBARRASSED. for By
England's declaration her colonies will
De only allowed TO sell TO either belllg-
ereut a supply only sufficient to take him
10 his home port
Appreciating the position assumed BY
the British goyernmene Commander
Dewey, acting under Instructions from
Secretary Long. has purchased a large
Quantity OF coal and has stored It on
board two colliers which will accompany
his feet 10 the Philippine Islands Ex-
tended Operations would necessitate re-
d
ton OF Hawaii is pointed TO by naval
experts who want II for a naval base.
Hawaii II four thousand miles from the
Philippines, her position In the family
OF nations would compel her to observe
strict neutrality and not to favor one
belligerent more than another. but her an
heNauoh, Il is pointed out. would re
suit IN placing supplies for the Asiatic
squadron 900 miles nearer to the vessels
/ than would be- the case II coal. munitions
I OF war etc, had TO be shipped from the
/ United States. Ii is also pointed out that
Hawaii will find it Necessary to sell coal
TO a Spanish vessel at Honolulu suficl.
ent TO take 1t portion OF the way TO its
next nome port, just as sne would sell
TO an American ship. In the event that
coal IS declared contraband by France
san pomingo and Hayti, authorities say
u would be impossible for Spanish yes.
I sells to secure coal in the West Indies.
Strong representations have been made
TO the President by Secretary Long and
naval experts to get him to instruct the
1 secretary OF the treasury to decline 10
grant clearances to ships carrying pro.
visions and coal to Spanish ports. With
coal contraband Of war it will be possible
Tor American cruisers to seize vessels
carrying 1t TO Spanish possessions. The
canary Islands will be admittedly a span
lSh base Of operations and il will be the
euort OF this government to blockade
'hem ana seize vessels which may try
TO bring contraband from any country
to them, This will be especially the case
with cuba and Porto Rico.