Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-23
(By Telegraph.)

(By Telegrapf.)
WASHINGTON, April 22.-There
We're two further important steps in
washington today toward actual hos
| tlltleS, not to mention the overt act
involved in the seizure of the Spanish
vessel Buena Ventura off Key West.
ne iirst was the issue by the Pres-
dent of his proclamation announcing
| 70 the world Il blockade of a number of
| Cuban ports, and the second was the
signing by him OF the bill providing
Tor the utilization of the volunteer
forces III war. Then, in addition there
was a notable retirement from the
b, NAVY department, in the case OF Can't
| Royal Is. Brandford, chief OF thu.
| equipment division.
captain Crawford asked to be given
command Of an active warship The
resignation Will be accepted and by
virtue of his rank. as We'll as to mark
the high regard entertained for him
by the administration, Capt. Brand
ford will be given one of the best of
the available ships in the navy
/ Following up the formalities begin
/ ming with the blockade proclamation.
the state Department this afternoon
| addressed IN identical note to all of
the representatives ,,H> 'ei. nations
accredited to Washington 's. flying
them of the policy to be pursued by
TINS government in the matter of pri-
watering and neutrality. This was
followed by the sending OF cable mes
SaSeS to all American embassies and
I LEGATIONS abroad. containing the same
information in a little moro. succinct
FORM for presentation to the govern
iment to which they are accredited
Inc statement was precisely similar
IN terms and tone to that telegra phed
| by the Associated Press last Wadnes-
| day. q nd its formal adoption by the
i government as the line of policy to bt.
pursued was not prevented by the
criticism passed upon it in the Senate
yesterday by Mr.. Money. of Misslssin
| pi. In brief. it declares that our GOV
eminent Will not resort to privateer-
| ing; that enemy's goods in neutral
nottoms.. save contraband. are exempt
| from seizure; that neutral goods. not
contra band. under enemy's flag, are
! saie from seizure and that blockade.
to be binding. must be effective In
| substance. these are the principles laid
GOWN IN the agreement of Paris in
1895. The officials are not disturbed
at the semi-oGicial notice from Madrid
| tna1 SPAN VIII refuse to be bound by
| the same principles and forbid priva-
teer1ns, for they are satisfied that the
| great commercial powers will nor fol-
state the practice of privateering I'M
| DER the Spanish flag. Inasmuch as
.iaere exists great amount of misap-
countries. but also among American
shlnners. lis to the character of merch
| andlse that is contraband and Liable
TO seizure during the progress of the
war war. the following unofficial but an-
thentic statement has been obtainnd
from high official of the government:
| CONTRABAND OF WAR.
IN determining, according 10 th,
| y" oi nations whether merchandise
IS contraband OF war. it is classified:
l. Absolute contraband.
| Occasional or conditional CON
! ira band LII
j. Goods not contraband.
| Inc nrSt class includes all goods
OF an essentially Warlike character
| The second class includes provis-
ions' naVal stores, coal, horses, GER
| tam Kinds of machinery, certain forms
OF steel, iron, etc, which are subserv-
iehl 10 Warllke use and which are des-
tineu for the use of the enemy. They
are contraband or not, according TO
occasions and conditions as to their
G I' shipment and destined use.
| Every case depends on it's own facts.
The third class includes articles NOT
| suited to ,varlike use, such as church
service ana musical Instruments,
housenoid wares and goods and other
such axe articles and including many
| ter.
NO article of merchandise is con
.raband unless transported beyond the
| territorial waters and jurisdiction of
| O. heutral state; nor unless destined
LOT an enemy's port or for an enemy's
| use or Tor an enemy's ship upon the
hlgh seas, which belligerent ships are
permitted to police in search or enc
my,s ships and cortraband of war
NO final and exhaustive definition
o! contraband articles can be given.
Ihey are changing with the progress
or Inventions. Some articles We're for
| merry contraband which now are not.
ana the converse is true.
Neither belligerent can treat goods
as contraband in violation of his
treaty stipulations with neutral
power as regards the subjects Of that
power. ANY one desiring to ship
goods to foreign port in neutral yes
sells would profitably consult any ey-
isting treaties between Spain and the
government of that port
The belligerent right of capture as
against neutral exists only either in
case Of contraband Of war or OF enc
! my goods abroad or of violation Of an
lnGous cases where the conduct OF the
neutral iustifes the beIigcrent in
| treating his property as enemy's rrno-
erty If Spain adhers to the princip:a
free ships and free goods as this
government proposes to do. only con-
traband goods are subject to capture
in such ships"
Inquiry at the Navy Department as
to the story that our government had
arranged for the seizure of the IIa-
waiian Islands and the establishment
of coaling station in Hawaii, failed
to secure airy positive statement on
the subject. There is good authority
for believing that the story. is exag-
rerated and all that has been done Is
to provide for the establishment Of a
t.Nnf