The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-05-26


ed at the navy department Yesterday at
the close of office hours that no dis
patches of any kind relating to the
movements of the fleets or the pros
pect of an engagement had been re-
celved during the day, and that the
only dispatches received related to an
1nconsequential prize case AS the
ships are now at sea there is no expec-
tation of reports until a decisive en-
gagement occurs and a dispatch boat
gets to port, or it is found Cervera has
eluded the search. In the meantime
there is complete lack of official data
by which to forecast the coming en-
gagement. A report was current dur
ing the day that the big battleship Or
egon had arrived at Key West, but the
department officials would notice it
only by entering a general denial that
word had been received Of any impor-
tant vessel movements Or arrivals.
Late in the day Associated Press dis
patches from Madrid, giving the sharp
debate in the cortes over the alleged
flying of the Spanish flag by American
warships, created much comment in
naval circles. Spain's protest to the
powers that this use of the flag was
"Coward1y and Iniquitous'
was dismissed by naval officers with
the statement that international law
writer's agreed on the right to use an
enemy's flag for purposes of deceit so
long as the flag is hoisted down before
a shot is fired. The United States naval
regulations make specific provision on
this point. The statement by the Span
lsh minister of the interior that the
government is likely to resort to pri-
watering does not cause any aDpre-
hensiOn among officials here. One of
the highest authorities of the naval de-
partment said Spain would adopt
privateering if she felt it to be to her
interest without waiting for this coun-
try to give any pretext for such action.
1t is felt, however, that Great Britain,
Germany and France will have consid-
cradle to say in case Spain resorts to
privateering. The commerce of these
countries with the United States would
suffer very severely by SPANS pri-
watering, and it's effect would be far
more disastrous to these foreign inter-
ests than to the shipping of the United
States. 1t was this influence Of Great
Britain, Germany and France which
forced spain reluctantly to forego pri-
watering, and it is not thought prob
able these foreign influences will now
consent to have their commerce. de-
stroyed,
It.1y Has Not Protested.
The announcement by way Of Paris
that the Italian government had pro-
tested against the continuance of the
blockade Of the coast Of Cuba on the
ground that it was ineffective met a
prompt denial at the state department
and it can be stated definitely that
neither in Washington nor in Rome
has any representations on this sub
ject been addressed to the United
States government. AS q matter of
fact, Italy probably is the maritime
power Of all others with which the
United States has had absolutely no
correspondence in any degree connect
ed with the Cuban blockade. AS to the
allegation that the blockade is ineffect-
I've, it is said that, on the contrary, it
has been singularly successful, and SO
far as known not single neutral ship
subject to detention has passed the
lines without the expressed consent of
our government. The Montseratt, it is
true, did enter Cienfuegos harbor be-
fore our blockading ships had had
time to get around the south side Of
Cuba and establish the blockade, and
she did manage to get out at night.
But she is a Spanish ship, and Spain is
perhaps the only nation in the world
that has lost the power to enter a pro-
test against blockade, being a COM
Blatant herself. 1t is only for neutral
powers to enter such a protest. and
none of them have as yet the slightest
prete1t for such action.