The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-26

as the movements just preliminary to ac-
tual hostiitie5 and rs anon itpg 10 n
threat that force VIII follow IL reIarai ion
Is not made The case OF the Water Witch
Is considered TO be the most anainHrnS TO
that of the Maine should II be established
that the Maine disaster WIS not the result
OF accident. TIE Wafer Witch was Il
United States ship engaged IN 1885 in sur
veying the entrance TO one of the rivers of
Paraguay. without warning and by orders
OF President Lopez OF Paraguay, a force Of
troops opened fire on the Natar Witch.
Killing the man at the helm aud woundi s
olbeiN Intense feeling was aroused In the
United States when the facts became
known. The president reported tho facts
to congress adid in his message asked au
th0rity to make demonstration of force
which would ensure suitable redreHi. IN
response TO this congress author'2sl him
TO ''use such force MS is necessary to secure
ample reparation. Accordingly m arrived
fleet was hastily assembled on II scale
which was regarded as remarkable for thcee
days. The expedition Included ninateen
armed ships and $500 sailors aud marines,
Accompanying this formidable futfit were
civilian plonipetentares prepared TO make
the demands of this government and then
enforce Them by calling on the armed ships
Tho expedition made formidable showing
in South American waters and President
Lope2's government was awcd into com.
plete submission by lis presence. The
American commanders and naval officers
were received at Ascension with much
honor and all PREPARATION within the power
of the republic was given. This included
abject apology. a sweeping dlsay oval and
$4,000 Tor the sufferers from tho outrage.
AS the republic was willing to grant full
ruliaration, tho naval expedition di1 not
exert the force 1t was prepared 10 use In
case a refusal had been offered When the
facts OF the expedition We're rcpoGt4d to
the American congress the president stated
that the dispatch OF this formidable naval
fleet had had saiutary Influence thrcash-
out the world and had convinced torc,gn
nations that the United States w0ill pro-
tect the lives of its citizens With all The
force at ito command.
The case Of the firing on the untsd
States ship Chesapeake by the British ship
LEOPARD is another caan affordng a prpee-
dent as to the governments mode of ac-
ton. Tho Chesapeake VAS proceeding to
sea when she was hailed by tho commander
OF the Leopard with Il demand that British
dcs2rters, said TO be In the hold of tho
Chesapeake be surrendered The Ameri-
can commander refused 10 comply, where.
upon the leopard first flrod u shot across
the bow of tho Chesapeake and followed
this with two broadsidts, The American
tOllltllUucf WIS severely WOnnUhU. tnlef
sailors were killed outright aud many were
wounded, being unprcrared for action Il
being time OF peace. the American con-
mander hauled down his colors and sur
rendered, Tremendous excitement pro-
vailed In the United States over tho out
rage President Madison speedily iseued
proclamation excluding from American
ports all Drltifh warships. He also caused
energetic protests and demands TO be pre-
cd al A.. -.
promptly disayowed the action recalled
the admiral under whom the outrage had
been perpetrated and, without request ten.
dered indemnity suffipiont 10 support the
wives and families OF all those who had
been killed and wounded
In a later ease the American ship Prou.
tous was fired upon In the harbcr of Grey
town. The ship had declined to pay ex-
ccssiye port charges Imposed by the king
of the Mosquito country, then In contro,
OF the country under a British protectorate
The king called on the British wnrship Ex-
nress to sustain his dtmands and the Ex-
press promptly sent q brcadside into the
Promteus. There wore no persons killed,
but tho United States made prompt DO
niand for roparation, The British govern.
ment gave this In the fullest manner and
without question, disayowing the act and
the officer OF the Express
Displays OF force We're rosorted to by the
United States IN 1859 against Japan and III
1858 against Java In the case OF Janaa
American sailors had been severely han
died In Japanese ports and tho native
courts failed to give adequate redress
naval expedition was sent to Japanese
waters and this had the effect OF securing
the fullest apology, and also I'm agreement
BY which every American was guaranteed
70 American citizens and property in Js.
pan.
In the case OF lava the secretary OF inc
navy sent large naval force 10 the waters
y Java 10 demand that the native trial
courts should give the fullest protection to
Americans. The expedition was successful
2 ~ purpose and all the assurances de-
'ired were given.
IN 1873 seven Americans We're killed aud
bout alxty wounded while being datainna
p the Briilsb prison AZ partpore This
YES hrcpTht on by a clamnr for rations, |
mich wns resisted BY the prIaon gunra |
'no IInffan Afnf Al 49,