The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-24
DEPARTMENTS LACKING DATA.
NO INFORMATION AT WASHINGTON
TO SUSTAIN A FORECAST.

No REPORTS Expected Until "a Decisive
hattie Is Fought, or Cervera Es-
capeS-Rumor of the OregOn's Ar
y.rnI at Key west Dcnied-SpHin
Dis s>ussing the Use of Her Flag by
the Enemy-France's Graceful
commitment to the United States.
SDntn'S Resort to I'rivGtcering May
Ic Met by Il Protest From the Pow
crs
Washington, May 23.-It was stated at
the navy department to-day at the close
of Office hours that no dispatches of any
kind relating to the movements of the
fleets or the prospect of an engagement
had been received during the day and that
the only dispatch received related to an
inconsequential prize case. AS the ships
arc now at sea, there is no expectation Of
reports until a decisive engagement occurs
and a dispatch boat gets to a port, or it
is found Cervera has eluded our search.
In the meantime, there is a complete lack
of official data by which to forecast the
coming engagement A report was cur
rent during the day that the big battleship
department officials would notice it only
by entering a general denial that word
had been received Of any important vessel
movements or arrivals.
Late in the day Associated Press dis
patches from Madrid giving the sharp de-
bate in the Cortes over the alleged flying
of the Spanish flag by American warships,
created much comment in naval circles.
Spans protest to the Powers that this
use of the flag was "cowardly and iniqui-
tous' was dismissed by naval officers with
the statement that International law writ
ers agreed on the right to use an enemys
flag for purposes of deceit, so long as the
flag is hauled down before shot is fired.
The United States naval regulations make
specific provision on this point,
The statement made by the Spanish mip-
lister Of interior that the government is
likely to resort to privateerIng does not
cause any apprehension among officials
here. 1t is felt that Great Britain, Ger
many and France will have considerable
to say in case Spain resorts to prIvateer-
ing. The commerce of these countries with
the United States would suffer very Sc
verely by Spanish privateering, and it's
effect would be far more disastrous 10
these foreign interests than to the ship
ping of the United States.
Commander Hemphill, who has charge
OF the naval enlistment, has made out
table showing that the recent recruiting
of the navy has swelled that branch Of the
service 6,729. The following are some of
the states from which recruits have been
secured: Virginia, 2o5: North Carolina 9a
South Carolina, lis; Gaol gia, II; Florida,
1l3
The French government has taken OPP
portunity to pay a graceful compliment
to this country by informing the French
embassy that an artist has been instructed
10 make a copy of the famous picture
''rhe Battle of Yorktown" which is one
of the priceless treasures of the French
national gallery at Versailles, to be sent
to the embassy at Washington.
The picture shows the notable incident
in American history when the British
commander, Lord CORVALLIS, surrendered
to Gen. Washington.
The announcement by way of Paris that
the italian government had protested
against the continuance of the blockade
or the Cuban coast on the ground that it
was ineffective met a prompt denial at the
state department, and it can be stated Gefi-
nitely that neither in Washington nor in
Rome has any representations on this sub
1ect been addressed to the United States
government.
As TO the allegation that the blockade is
ineffective, it is said that, on the contrary,
II has been singularly successful, and that,
so far as known, not a single neutral ship
subject to detention has passed the lines
without the consent of our government.
The MOntserrat 1t is true. did enter Glen
fuegos harbor before our blockadng ships
had time to get around the south side of
Cuba and establish the blockade, and she
DID manage to get out at night.
6g n ghi fG
perhaps the only nation in the world that
has lost the power to enter a protest
against blockade, being a combatant
herself. 1t is only for neutral powers to
enter such protests, and none of them has
as yet the slightest pretext for such ac-
tiOn.e
With the beginning of the present week,
all Spanish vessels in United States ports,
which sailed after the outbreak of war,
are subject to seizure as well as Spanish
merchantmen found on the high seas,
save where they left port for the United
states before April 21, last. The Presi-
cents proclamation of war allowed such
shlps lying in our ports or bound for them
thlrty days in which TO discharge cargo
ana also insured them safe passage home.
mat period of time expired Saturday
nlght. This, It is expected, will tend to
Iree the state department from compllca-
tions.
Under the energetic management Of
capt Bartlett who was recalled from the
teured list into the active service of the
navy department for the purpose, there
mas Just been perfected a most admirable
ana thorough system of coast signalling
ioI war purposes. The navy department
itself established thirty stations on the
coast manned by naval mIiltiamen Then
IT called into service 1860 light mouse em-
ployes and 10000 life saving men, making
total force of over $1,000 men, who pa
trol the great shore line from Bar Harbor
TO Galveston night and day and in all
Weathers, watching for the approach of
an enemy or for a signal from any pass
ing United States warship.
Ii has been arranged that all of these
watchers can communicate in the course
OF a few minutes with a telegraph or tele-
phone line and all center in the Office of
capt. Bartlett in the navy department
Wfo Is thus prepared to give The war
board instant notice of any significant ship
movements on the coast Il IS said at the
navy department that it will be at least
fve days before the Monterey can be start
ed on her long journey from San Francisco
Tor Manila ha delay beipGs on accaupt NJ