Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-06-21
SPANISH GOVERNMENT HAS NOT
PASSED on HOBsON's CASE.
BLANc0 WON'T EXCHANGE HIM
ADDS THAT HE WILL RECOGNIZE M
MORE FLAGS OF TRUCE.
British Consul at Santiago Suggests
That a Ransom Be Paid for Re-
lease of Merrlmac Heroes
HObson Seems to BE
Held ms Hostage.

MADRID, June 20.-Pre.nIer Saglsta
when questioned on the subject to-day, said
nothing had been decided, ''in spite of the
American reports" regarding the exchange
of Naval Constructor Hobson and his com
panions. who were captured by the Span,
iards after they sank the collier Merrimat
in the narrow channel leading into the
harbor of Santiago de Cuba.
KEY WEST, FLA, June 20.-It is learned
from naval officers here that Captain Gen
eral Blanco has notified the American
blockading fleet that he will hereafter rec.
| ognize no flag of truce, adding that every
vessel within six miles range will be fired
upon whether flying the stars and stripes
! or a white flag.
1t seems the events which led up te
General Blanco's letter began with thu
sending Of the Maple, under charge of Cap
tain Ludlow, of the monitor Terror, te
open negotiations for the exchange Of Lieu.
, tenant Hobson and other Merrimac pris.
oners.
General Blanco's letter was addressed te
the monitors captain. After refusing to
| negotiate for the exchange of the prisoners
he delivered the ultimatum as to boats with
flags of truce.
KINGSTON, JAMAICA, June 3O-Mr. F.
w. Ramsden the British consul at Santa
go de Cuba. who Is acting for the United
States in the negotiations with the Span
iards for the exchange of Lieutenant Hob
son and his comrades, of the Merrimac ex-
pedition, has suggested to the officials at
Washington, that even a ransom might be
paid to secure the prompt release of the
American prisoners. That idea was un-
doubtedly expressed in the cable dispatches
which passed through the colonial authori-
ties here, but in what form 1t was shaped
is not clear.
LONDON, June 2l.-The Madrid CORE.
spondent of the Times says:
"Spain's refusal to exchange Lieutenant
! Hobson and his companions of the Merri-
mac is easily explained and justified. With
out any intention of acting as spies they
must have seen many things in or around
Santiago about which the American naval
and military authorities would gladly have
information
WASHINGTON, June 2O.-The following
was received to-day from Commodore Wat
son:
Captain general states Spanish govern
ment refuses to exchange prisoners"
Hobson and his men are the prisoners in
question.
Lieutenant Hobson will be transferred
from the construction corps to the line
of the navy and raised to the grade OF lieu
tenant commander probably this week.
This action was definitely decided by the
administration to-day, and legislation en-
powering this action will be pressed in
both houses and its execution will almost
Immediately follow the affixing the execu-
tive approval of the measure. 1t had been
proposed to await Hobson's personal ex-
preston as to his choice between the trans
fer to the line or promotion within the
corps where future advancement is limited.
The final decision to-day to give substan-
tial recognition without further delay, save
for legislative authority, which is to be Ing
mediately granted, follows the formal re-
fusal of exchange by the Spanish govern
ment. The matter was taken up by both
the president and Secretary Long, and it
was announced privately that the admins
tration is anxious for immediate legisla-
ton to permit the president to act, and that
promotion to the full extent authorized
would Immediately follow. This determine
tion was reached after a short and Informal
consultation as to the Spanish attitude as
to the exchange of prisoners and the likeli-
hood that there will be no early release of
the gallant lieutenant and his crew.
The refusal OF the Spanish officials to
exchange Hobson causes a disagreeable
hnr har fs M iNo
obligation on a belIigerent to exchange pris-
oners, yet 1t is universal practice in civil
lied warfare. The regulations Of the war
, department lay down specifically how the
exchanges OF prisoners are to take place,
and regulation 1G9, Of General Orders for
the Government of Armies in the Field,
says:
THE exchange of prisoners of war Is an
act of convenience to both belligerents. If
no general cartel has been concluded, 1t
cannot be demanded by either of them. A
belligerent is not obliged to exchange pris-
oners of war. cartel is voidable as soon
as either party has violated it."
In the present case there has been no
general cartel. that being the military term
by which the exchange of prisoners is reg
ularIy and specifically carried out. Pend
ing such general arrangement. the bel
exchange in anticipation of cartel. 1t is
probable that a cartel will follow at no dis
tant day, and the exchange thereafter pro-
ceeded number for number, rank for rank,
wounded for wounded, these being the gen.
eral conditions under the American regula-
tions.
AS to Hobson. the authorities here are
convinced that the Spanish officials are tax
ing advantage Of the distinction accorded
him in the United States. Under the rules
of war, a prisoner Is valued solely by his
rank, and It is considered dishonorable
either to underestimate prisoners rank in
order to cause a more advantageous ex-
change, or to take higher rank for the
purpose of obtaining better treatment. In
the case OF HObson, his rank az assistant
constructor, which Is equivalent to ieuten-
ant, Junior grade, should be the sole basis
for his exchange, yet 1t is obvious to the
authorities here that the 6paniards hold
him not as a lieutenant, but as a popular
idol of the United States.
In this respect his detention ceases to be
that a prisoner Of war and becomes one
of hostage. The holding OF hostages. usu-
ally for ransom or other benefit, Is a medi-
eyal custom, seldom, II ever, resorted to in
modern warfare. But even as . hostage.
Hobson would be entitled to an exchange
for prisoners Of greater rank or greater
number. 1t is recalled that Admiral Ger
vera won praise the world over by his
gaIlantry In making the first offer to ex-
change Hobson and his associates. so that
the present refusal to exchange Hobson Is
the more unaccountable. It IL also recalled
that when Colonel Cortejo. confined at Nc
Pherson, Ga. was exchanged, 1t was
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