The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-26
PRIZES AND PRlVATEERS

London, April 25.-The officials of the
British foreign office expect that the Lon
don Gazette. the official organ Of the gov
eminent, will publish tomorrow evening q
formal notice that the warshlps Of the bel
ligerents, Spain and the United States,
must leave British ports within "a hours.
The document, it is added, is long and
complicated. It contains clauses covering
che case Of vessels which are unable to
leave in the stipulated time owing to de-
fects. The authorities of the British ports
have already been notified that the order
is to be published.
Mr.. A ]. Balfour, the acting minister
for foreign affairs, made a statement, to-
day in the house of commons on the sub
ject of the Spanish decree published yes
terday. He said that personally he was
disposed to interpret the decree to mean
that while reserving the right of grant
ing letters Of marque, If circumstances
made it eXpedent, Spain in the meantime
meant to do what Great Britain was dis
posed to do and what the United States
was doing, namely. TO put merchant
steamers under naval control for pur-
these vessels mustt fly the Spanish flag.
The British foreign office today was
officially notified of the proclamation of
the president of the United States in re-
6ard TO neutral vessels and neutral goods
and the blockade of the island of Cuba
by the United States fleet. With refer
ence to Spain's declaration on the sub
ject Of privateering issued from Madrid
yesterday. the British foreign office off,
Gals point out that the resolutions an
nounced by the United States on the sub
ject twere taken without reference to any
policy which Spain might adopt. There
fore It is not expected that SPANS in
teations viii affect the decisions promul-
gated by the United States.
Basing its opinion upon cable dispatches
referring to the alleged unpreparedness
OF the United States troops, London has
come TO the conclusion that the struggle
will be lingering one. although 1t is stin
watching with the greatest interest what
the stock exchange people term the prize
competition"
In some quarters, even now, confidence
Is expressed that Spain will yield before
long.
Whatever the prize courts may decide
rela tive to the legality of captures, the
British naval men applaud the prompt
ness of action upon the part of the Amer
team warships as being evidence that the
United States is every much alive"
Washington, April 25.-Commander ]. NJ.
Forsyth. commanding the naval station at
Key West, has reported TO the navy de-
partment the seizure of three more Span
ish prizes by the vessels of Captain Samp-
sons fleet. He says that on the oath inst.
the Detroit sent into Key West the prize
steamer Catalina OF Cadiz and that yes
terGay the Cushing and Algonquin arrived
a Key West with two Spanish schooners
which had been seized in neighboring
waters. The last two named prizes were
lowed into port by the Algonquin. which
is one Of the recent acquisitions to the
navy.
Key West. April 25.-Quartermaste
Johnson of the. prize crew Of the gunboat
Helena who accidentally shot himself yes
terday. his revolver dropping from its hoI-
sier. died this morning. The accident
occurred on board the Miguel Jover. the
Spanish steamer captured by the sun
boat.