The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-22
Privateering.
From the Philadelphia Ledger.


At the close of the Crimean war, in
1856, seven nations-France Great Britain,
Austria, Russia, Prussia, SARDINIA and Tur-
key signed the treaty of Paris, by which
il was stipulated that privateering be abol-
ished; that the neutral flag covers enemy 3
goods, with the exception OF contraband
of war; that blockades TO be binding must
be effective that is to say, maintained by
a force sufficient really TO prevent access
to the coast of the enemy. The signatory
powers pledged themselves 20 bring these
rules to the attention of other powers and
to prevail upon them to adopt them They
were adopted, within five years, by every
European country, except Spain, ana Dy
every country of North and South Ameri-
ca, except the United States and Mexico.
The United States took the ground that
It's then extensive commerce was guarded
by relatively small fleet of war vessels,
and that self protection might compel the
country to avail itself of the services Of
privateers. The country did not appear,
however, as the defender of piratical war
fare, and made counter propositions to the
Powers signatory 20 the treaty, or "declar-
ation," of Paris, which, if adopted, woulG
have made the resort 10 privateering I'M
necessary. It's proffer was that the prl-
Vate property on subjects qr citizens of
belligerent on the high seas shall be ex-
vessels of the other belligerent, except it
be contraband The Paris treaty Powers
. would not accept this amendment to the
declaration, and the United States is left
free to commission privateers to prey upon
the comemrce of Spain IL il be decided 10
take this course. 1t is said that the FED
eral government is loath TO resort TO pri-
watering, unless IL be necessary TO do SO
as a measure of retaliation upon Spain.
al Of Nlr mar
merce would seriously affect the trade of
countries who are neutral in the impend-
ing war. Those countries will be slow TO
adopt any policy which will injure their
commercial interests 1t is vitality. essen
tial that not only the public armed YES
sells of SPAIN, but its privateers shall have
convenient access TO coal English jour
nails are insisting that neither have free
access to coal in British ports. This policy
would have an obstructive effect upon the
operations of Spanish privateers ana
Spanish war vessels seeking to replenish
their coal supplies in the British West
India harbors. BY enforcing restrictions
upon such supplies Great Britain would
effectually aid the-United States without
violating any principle of international
law Should the United States secure pos
session of the outlying Spanish possessions
the Spanish war vessels of all kinds would
find IL exceedingly difficult to secure sufIi-
Client coal if they are prevented from tax
ing full supplies at the nearby British
ports. The ability of privateersmen, as
well as that of men-of-war, to remain long
at sea is dependent upon the coal supply
Naval warfare is not wholly a question OF
guns and prowess in these days. The
danger from the depredations OF Spanish
privateers has been exaggerated in the
public mind, though it Is doubtless suffi-
clentlV great tn trqnSfar m, a