Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1898-04-21
SPAIN WILL SUFFER.
Engiand's Proposal to Declare Con,
Contraband suits Uncle sam.

NohtfADanu suits Uncle Sam
New York, April 2O.-In directing
her colonies to regard coal as contra
band of war in the event of hostilitie;
between the United States and Spain,
Great Britain has taken action. Ameri-
can officials say, in line with the
wishes of the president and naval au-
| thorities, says the Washington CORE.
spondent of the Herald. Pressure will
be eXerted upon France, Hayti and
san Domingo to accomplish the same
result, and some attention is being
gwen by the state department to South
American countries, with view of Sc
curing contraband character of coal,
as we'll as an announced determination
on their part not to sell either to
Spanish or American men-of-war a
supply of fuel greater than necessary
to enable the belligerent vessels to
steam to the next home port.
So far as the Danish West Indies are
concerned, the authorities have pur-
chased, in their reports, all the coal
that is possible to secure. With coal
declared contraband of war, admins
tration officials and naval experts say
1t Will be impossible for Spanish yes
sells to operate in the West Indies or
in the Pacific, and as result the
chances of success for American arms
would be UNNECESSARILY enhanced.
Great Brltian's declaration of the
contraband character of coal will affect
the United States at only one point in
the far East. The United States now
has at Hong Kong six vessels, the
cruisers Baltimore, Olympia, Raleigh,
and Boston and gunboats Concord and
Petrel-and these ships are awaiting
the word to rush to Manila.
If the Notifications of the Philip
pines should stand off the American
fleet for any time, the operations of the
vessels would be greatly embarrassed,
for by England's declaration, her COL
onies will be only allowed to sell to
either belligerent a supply only suf1i-
Gent to take him to his home port.
Approaching the position assumed
by the British government, Com
mander Dewey, acting under instruc-
tons from Secretary Long, has pur-
chased large quantity of coal and has
stored it on board two colliers, which
will accompany his fleet to the Philip
pines. Extended operations would ne
cessitate renewal of the supply, and
the central position of Hawaii is
pointed to by naval experts who want
it for a naval base. Hawaii is 1000
miles from the Philippines. Her posi-
tion in the family OF nations would
compel her to observe strict neutrality,
and not favor one belligerent more
than another, but her annexation. it is
pointed out, would result in placing
supplies for the Asiatic squadron o.
600 miles nearer to the vessels than
would be the case if coal, munitions of
war, etc. had to be shipped from the
United States. 1t is also pointed out
that Hawaii will find it necessary to
sell coal to a Spanish vessel in at Hon
olulu sufficient to take it portion of
the way to its next home port, just as
she would sell to any American ship.
In the event that coal is declared
contraband by France, San Domingo
and Hayti, authorities say it would be
impossible for Spanish vessels to secure
coal in the West Indies.