The record-union., 1898-06-21
But No Official Information Has
Reached Washington.
Navy Department Indignant at the Refusal
Of Captain General BIanco to Ex-
change Hohson and His
Fellow Prisoners.


tention here to-day was divided al
most evenly between three subjects,
the movement of General Skaters
army, the probability of reinforcements
having reached Dewey and the status
of Hobson, the naval hero. Up to
late hour in the afternoon neither of
the anxiously awaited messages which
We're to announce the arrival of the
transports at Santiago and Manila had
reached either the War Navy De-
partments. 1t was not doubted, how
ever, that our war vessels are off San
tiago, for although proceeding at a less
speed than the English steamship
which reached Kingston and reported
having passed them in the Windward
Passage last night the distance which
they would be obliged to travel from
the Windward Passage to Santiago is
less than that traversed by the British
ship, which came into Jamaica in the
early afternoon. If they arrived only
this morning off Santiago, they could
report that fact solely by means of
dispatch boat running over to Kings.
ton, a twelve-hour journey, SO that di-
rect report from the fleet cannot be
expected until a late hour tonight
1t is not doubted that just about the
time Shafter appears off Santiago the
Charleston Will appear in Manila Bay,
leading the three transports which will
bring nearly 5000 men to Dewey's as
sistance That fact will not be known
however, officially for two or three
days, owing to the distance from there
to Hongkong, the nearest cable point
1t is questioned here whether with this
force to back him Dewey will feel jus
titled in assaulting Manila. or even in
accepting its surrender. Either course
. would involve heavy responsibility for
the Admiral, and it is extremely de-
sirable that no pretext be afforded jeal-
Gus European Powers for intervention
al Manila under guise of protecting the
interests of their subjects. Therefore,
it may be that the Admiral will wait
for another ten days. until the second
installment of troops reaches Cavite.
In this case he probably will land the
troops that arrive in the town of Ca
vite. which is now completely under the
control of himself and the insurgents,
and employ the time in accustoming
them to Manila methods and climate.
During the day dispatches announc-
ing that Captain General Blanco had
refused TO exchange Hobson and his
fellow prisoners created some indigna-
ton, which was modified later by Ma
drid advices quoting Sagasta as saying
no decision had been reached. Should
Spain adopt the cruel and unusual
course of refusing an exchange the
regulations of the War Department are
sufficient to meet the case The fol-
lowing principle is laid down in its reg
ulations:
Retaliation will never be resorted to
as a measure of mere revenge. but only
as a measure of protective retribution
and, moreover cautiously and unavoid-
ably: that is to say, retaliation shan
only be resorted to after careful in
quiry into the real occurrence and the
character of the deeds that may de-.
mand retribution. Unjust or inconsid-
crate retaliation removes the belliger-
entS 1urJneT anu lutliiCI lToln the rnltl-
eating rules of regular war; and by
rapid strides leads them to the inter-
necine wars of savages."
1t was pointed out to-day by lead
ing officer of the army that the Spanish
had most to lose by. course OF cruelty
which would call for retaliation, as the
number of Spanish prisoners is far
greater than that of American pris-
oners.
There was a wholesale christening at
the Navy Department to-day, when
Secretary Long supplied names for no
less than thirty-five war craft All of
these were provided for in the last
naval appropriation bill. and while con-
tracts for their construction have not
yet been let, the advertisements have
been issued except in the case of moni-
tors. and all the boats will be under
way before cooler weather. First IN
the list OF big battleships is the Maine,
for Congress has provided that the
name shall be continued in the naval |
list The other big battleships will be
called the Missouri and the Ohio. The
drpt Of the torpedo boats bears the