The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-24
Outburst of Indignation in the Span
ings" of Western Barbarians.
THREATS OF PRIVATEERING
AMERICAN COMMERCE MAY BE DE-
STROYED IN RETALIATION.
Rules of Our Navy Department as to
the Enemy-Spain's Armada.

MADRID, May 23.-In the Senate, to-day,
Count Almenas vehemently protested
against the alleged action of some American
war ships in displaying the Spanish flag in
order to deceive the garrison of Guantanamo,
as announced on Saturday last in a dispatch
| from Captain General Blanco, who added
that the American ships were Immediately
recognized and repulsed.
| When the count asked if the government
had notified the powers of this incident. the
minister for the interior Senior Capdepon,
replied that he had notified the powers and
described this reported action as "cowardly
and iniquitous.''
| Count Almenas then said that, in view of
Americas manner of making war, Spain
must Immediately decree prIvateering, in
order to utterly destroy American shipping.
To this the minister for the interior re-
piled that the government had deliberated
upon the matter, land had even taken GER
tain decisions which would shortly be
known" Count Guenduain said the Ameri-
| CdiS act VI piracy was duilllllSd Wy SSAlnAh
| theorists as international law"
! Senior Martinez Pacheco remarked that it
was doubtful whether such act was legal.
But" he added, lin face of the Americans
| conduct in the war with Spain must not
| show consideration for them" Continuing,
! the speaker protested against Spains ad-
| herence to the Geneva convention. where
| upon the minister of the interior replied
| that Spain had not yet entered the conven-
| tion.
| Senator Conde, professor of international
| law at the Madrid University, warmly de-
| nounced what he was pleased to term "the
base proceedings" of the United States, de-
claring that if Washington authorized such
acts 'it did not deserve the name of CIV
| ilized government"
| The professor then proceeded to unfold
| lengthy indictment of the alleged war meth
DDS of the Americans, insisting that they
| have shown mo respect for the right of
peoples in the capture of merchantmen and
bombardments" reterating that the acts of
| the United States are not those of civil
| lied country.
When the royal decree was gazetted on
| April "a in Madrid, announcing the breaking
| off of diplomatic relations between Spain
and the United States, and declaring that
| a state of war existed between the two
countries, the rules which Spain proposed
| to observe during the war were outlined.
| Clause 8 of the decree read: "Notwith-
standing that Spain has not adhered to the
| declaration of Paris the government re-
| specting the principles of the law of nations,
| proposes to observe and hereby orders to be
observed the following resolutions of mari
| time law
| Then followed the rules in regard to con-
| traband of war and Spain's definition of a
blockade. Clause 4 read: THE Spanish
| government, upholding its right to grant
| letters of marque, will at present confine
itself to organizing with the vessels of the
| mercantile marine. which will cooperate
with the navy according to the needs of the
| campaign, and will be under naval control"
| Clause read: In order to capture the
| enemys ships and confiscate the enemy's
| merchandise and contraband of war, the
| auxiliary cruisers will exercise the right of
| search on the high seas and in the waters
| under the enemys jurisdiction in accord
ance with international law and the regula-
| tions which will be published"
Clause defined contraband of war and
| Clause read: ITO be regarded and judged
| as pirates with ali the rigor of the law are
| captains, masters, officers and two-thirds Of
| the crew of vessels which, not being Amer
ican shall commit acts of war against
Spain, even if provided with letters of
marque issued by the United States"
q