Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-04-28
CUBA is DEVASTATED.
The Spaniards Abandoning Interior
Towns and Burning Them.
DOnS Reserve tho Right to Have Recourse
TO PrlvAteerlng- Proposed Concerted
Action OF the Powers-No News OF
Parls-NO Spanish Captures.

KINGSTON Jamaica, April 95, The
United States consul at Baracoa, Cuba,
Alfredo Il. TRAY, his wife and child,
two Spanish merchants and 22 Cubans
and Spanish-Americans, mostly women
and children from Guantanamo, de-
parked from the Ely here yesterday,
after "a hours quarantine. When
the steamer left Guantanamo on Fri
day last Spanish mob, including
many soldiers filled the public
square and adjacent streets, yell
ing: death to the YankeesW
Several American flags were soiled,
torn, trampled and treated with
elaborate uncomfortable indignities.
Some naturalized Americans were COM
PEELED to take part in the insulting
work, on the threat of death II they
refused, Orders to the Spanish army
declaring the armistice ended were
publicly posted at Guantanamo last
Friday. Two days previous the troops
began concentrating at the principal
seacoast cities, abandoning all the in
terror towns and plantations, in many
cases burning them. The passengers
by the Ely believe the devastation of
that part of the island will be com
pleted before the Americans invade
the ports held by the Spaniards,
A SPANISH DECREE GAzETTED.
MADRID, April %. The following
decree was gazetted yesterday:
Diplomatic relations IRE broken OF between
Spain and the United States, and the state OF
war being begun between the two countries,
numerous questions Of International law arise,
which must be precisely defined, chiefly be-
cause the injustice and provocatiou come from
our udversaries, and it is they who, by their
detestable conduct have caused this grave con-
tliCt
The royal decree says Spain main
tains her right to have recourse to pri-
Watering, and announces that for the
present only auxiliary cruisers will be
fitted out. The rules Spain will OBJ
serve during the war are outlined in
five clauses, covering neutral flags and
goods contraband Of war, what will be
considered a blockade, the right of
search and what constitutes contra
band of war, ending with saying for
eign privateers will be regarded as
pirates. Continuing the decree reads:
We have observed with strictest fidelity the
principles of international law, and have shown
| the most scrupulous respect for morality and
| the right of government There Is an opinion
that the fact that we have not adhered to the
| declaration Of Paris does not exempt us from
the duty of respecting the principles therein
enunciated The principle Spain unquestlon-
ably refused to admit then was the abolition OF
privateering. The government now considers
It most Indispensable to make absolute reserve
on this point In order TO maintain our liberty
OF action and uncontested right to have re-
course to privateering when we consider 1t ex-
pedient
PROPOSED ACTION OF POWERS.
WASHINGTON, April 25. - The pro-
posed concerted action of the powers
for the protection of the flags Of neu'
trail powers is believed here to be de-
signed more as a warning to Spain than
to have any other sign ficance. The
representatives of the powers say the
contemplated action is very likely
and natural move, although their home
governments have transmitted to then
no notification of the negotiations
to that end. 1t is a measure of pre-
caution sanctioned by the usages Of
past conflicts, but there is not to be
implied in it, as understood here, any
disposition to question the sincerity Of
this government as expressed in the
formal notification as to the course II
will adopt, which has been communi'
Gated to all the foreign governments.
NO NEWS OF THE PARIS.
LONDON, April ga point Of vita
interest for all Londoners is whether
the Paris has escaped the Spanish war
ship. Up to midnight there was abso
lutely no news as to the liner al
Southampton.
no CAPTURES OF AMERICAN VESSELS.
MADRID, April 25.-The government
has received no official information O.
the capture of any American vessels.