Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-22
Philippines before we decide as to what
we shall do with them7
HOHsoN,s FATE.


which prefaced this war, the spanIards
she wed themselves quite able to take care
Of Themselves, and later events demon
strate that they have not yet lost any OF
their shrewdness.
our government TO this day does not
know certainly whether Hobson and his
companions are. or have ever been, IN
MORO Castle, BY many Il is suspected
that the statement that they had been
sent there was "a cute Yankee trick" in
tended to save the castle from lombard
ment. II so. It has had that effect, though
we hear that Sampson Is now 80 well sat
isned our men are not there that he
means 10 batter down the castles walls
at an early day.
But II Hobson is in MORO Castle: II ~
can we say about It? Can we contend
that to shield ones self behind a prison.
e. is unciylized warfare? Hardly. IL
we do we may be sure the Spaniards will
bring forward some modern instances"
which will enable them to show that GER
tain nations have at one time put as
many as 600 commissioned officers in the
lire of their own friends fire.
Again, It appears that the spaniards
have refused to exchange Hobson and
his men. II is also said that Blanco has
notified our people that he will recognize
no more flags OF trucel This latter we
will not believe without confirmation. For
him to take any such position would be
to put himself outside of the pale OF
civilized warfare and estrange from Spain
such sympathy as she now has.
1t may be that Blanco has declared his
purpose not TO allow any more faS-of-
truce boats TO come near Habana, but
that would be quite different thing from
the story we have heard He has me
right TO object to bearers of flags of truce
coming near enough to his lines TO be
able to make discoveries that might prove
of value to our army and navy, but Iar-
Their than that he cannot go. He is not,
however. bound TO exchange prisoners.
In the first place, we have no cartel with
the Spanards. They may or may not
choose TO make one with us. Even after
they have entered upon an agreement
with this country to exchange prisoners
they can Though they should not break
the cartel when they please. For so 90
ing there is modern precedent. when
must have weight with this government!
We have known time when there
were tens of thousands OF sick ana
wounded soldiers held captive, and
though one side was anxious to continue
to carry out the cartel, the other side ie-
fused 10 do so, and so those poor fellows
lauguished and died by hundreds ana
hundreds. SO we incline to the opinion
that If the United States get into a con-
trcversy with Spain, either on the SD
ieet of putting prisoners in the line OF
fire. or on the duty Of civilized nations
to exchange prisoners, Spain will produce
authorities which may stagger us.
II seems that Mr.. Ramsden. the Bril-
fish Consul at Habana, suggests that we
might try to ransom Hobson and MS
men. saying at the same time that they
arc all well. He evidently knows the
Spanish character, and maybe he throws
out the suggestion with the approval OF
Blanco & Co. But we have no idea tha'
our government has any idea of pursuing
the course recommended by him. The
Standards. finding that Hobson is almost
idolized by the American people, are
capable Of making the most absurd pro-
positions concerning his liberation, but
they will talk more sensibly after we
have taken Santiago and Manila. we
have quite a number of Spanish prison.
ers in our hands now, but none OF them
is a grandee, but we shall, doubtless
have many grandees in our hands In the
course of q few weeks. Their our friendS
the enemy will doubtless talk different
w. In the mean time, we do not think
that Hobson will be harmed. III the Span
ish generals hope to get money for hlin'
he certainly will not be injured. II they
can prevent it. And, inasmuch as the OIL
fcers at Santiago know they are likely
to become captives in our hands in lit
tie while, that fact will have much
weight.
We conclude, therefore, that. HoDsoh
and his companions are now well, ana
will be safely kept by the enemy. AS
yet. we are not certain whether 1t is
true. as has been reported, that our gov
eminent has given notice to Pando and
Ceryera, that if Hobson is harmed they
will be held personally responsible. 1t Is
a question whether any such notihcatlon
would be necessary. If the circumstances
of the case do not cause the Spaniards TO
take care of the Merrimac's men, nothing
we could say or write would avail us.
For our part, we repeat, we believe our
brave fellows are quite safe from harm
in the hands of the officers of the Span
ish army at Santiago.
THE SEVENTH.
The majority of the officers and men