New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-26
WANTS TO FIGHT THEM BOTH.
LIEUTENANT DE CARRANZA CHAL-
LENGES LEE AND SIGSBEE.
WASHINGTON CALLS THE TWO AMERICANS
TO AcrNnI-NT For THI:IR TESTIMONY
THE FORNE

THE FORMER SPANISH NAVAL ArTAcHE IN
WASHINGTON CALLS THE TWO AMERICANS
TO ACCOUNT FOR THEIR TESTIMONY
ABOUT THE MAINE DISASTER
Washington. April 25.-Iieutenant Ramon de
Carranza Of the Spanish Royal Navy until re-
Gently naval attache OF the Spanish Legation Al
Washington, has challenged General F1tzhugh
Lee and Captain Sigsbee. Of the Maine, TO nsht'
duels The challenges were issued on the night
the Spanish Minister withdraw from Washing
ton. Lieutenant de Carranza determined on TINS
course of action Immediately after General Lee
and Captain Sigsbee appeared before the Con-
gressional committees and testified that 1t was
their belief that Spanish naval officers were re-
sponsible for the blowing up Of the Maine he
made known his purpose to Minister Polo VINO
| pcremptorily forbade him from issuing the chal-
! lenge while he was a member Of the Legation
STAFF Lieutenant do Carranza persisted that his
/ official position in no way restricted his rights
az a gentleman to call another gentleman to
account.
II was finally arranged ttat the issuance OF
4 the challenges should await the termination OF
diplomatic relations between Spain ana the
limited States. whereupon Lieutenant de Car
rama would he absolved from any restraint as
/ an official under Minister Polo In the mean
| time Lieutenant de Carranza consulted MS CLOSE
personal friend. Captain de la Casa. or the span
ish Army. late military attache here, ana the
details OF the challenges were arranged OhlS
Minister Polo Captain de Ia Casa and one other
person were aware OF what was done, the s'ri0'-
est secrecy being enjoined on all persons ao-
cordinr IN tho ethics OF duelling. which give to
the challenged person the privilege OF MAKING
public the facts in the transaction. This secrecy
l,,t no rtrn
and the facts OF the challenges are maze puo"c'
CHALLENGES LEE FIRST.
Lieutenant dc Carranzas first challenge WAS
/ sent To General Lee. and " Is rather lo"s''
than the one 10 Captain Sgsbee. Il Is H'os'
defcrcntial. even courty In tone, accordihe ~
the tencts Of duelling but aside from the chai-
! lenge proper II contains an Intentional Insult
70 General Lee with view TO provoking MN
/ n an acceptance The letter says that General
Leo In his testimony before a Congressional
/ committee stated that In his judgment, spanish
officials exploded the mine which bic" up 'ie
/ Maine This Lieutenant de CarranZa aserts III
his challenge. is a direct reflection upon ''e
honor OF the naval officers who had charse VI
the dofences II Havana. Any man VINO makes
such n charge on belief. and not on proof the
challenge proceeds rs himself capable OF COM
miit!ng the crime.
Lieutenant Dc Carranza refers 70 Reports '''h'
General Leo Will return TO Cuba as major
rcneral and asks that before he goes ne VIII
etvo IN, lieutenant the privilege Of lighting him
The challenge closes as follows: for eish' Gays
shall await your answer at the Spanish con-
sulate ut Toronto"
The challenge to General Leo was mailed az
Ic3o p m on April 20 as the Spanish Minister
AVID his marty were about take the train
II v.ag directed 10 the state Department, as a
room at the Department had peeh aSsIsn,N "
General Lee II happened, however that ne
boI gnue 10 Richmond, SO that II Is not known
Whether h. received the letter the iouoWans
morning Lleutcnan' De Carranza rev sa ao,'sa
INT General Leo would accept the chaiehee
and that a meeting would occur probably on
Canadian coil
HIS GRIEVANCE AGAINST slGsREE
Tho challenge 20 Captain Sigsbee Is subtan-
TALLY The same as that 10 General Lee. but IS
srrb,iv shorter owing 20 the omission or the
/ ,.trase relating 20 General Lees return 20 'u"a
/ as a major-genernl It refcrs 10 Captain Sigs-
bees testimony before tho senate corrrl',.'.
and SAYS that the statement that the MINI Vas
,,,d bv t,.r=ons on shore directly impuEns tne
naval officials IN charge ~ shore de-'Y,ss III
this challenge. also. eight days are gl''i' uu'
i,r which a reply may be sent o. the spanish
| ,s,,f' 49, ~ Toronto The challenge was sent
I'm carr. - the Navy Department captain HIEs SIX
t,o had previously gone 10 Phiadelphia 20 TAX
Command ~ the auxiliary cruiser q "u'' 80
,n, ,h. fo,for may not have reached him
since the challenges were sent no word mas
cached here rs 70 the purposes ~ Genera i-e'
and CAPTAIN Sigsbee The dispatch from or
onto Indicates that no acccptanceS or de'l''"-
tons have reached there a.,
. Lieutenant De Carranza Is about t2r'yo' ',,,
oars old tall and Of athletic build. re- looks
more like an Enelishmnn than Spaniard' ms
fsce Il ill-bcarled and rudy from exposure
an Tho sea Ior he came 10 Washington h'",
ING qoa service n was - him that ,'"heral
Hlanro entrusted tho delivery IN washington
~ the report ~ the Spanish Naval C.minSsloh
hlrh investigated the disaster 10 inc MhlH';
and after delivering the report INTO inc minus ~
Minister Polo he was attached 10 the Legation
I.r three years he commanded Euno"aV III
1uhau waters Like most naval nfhr"f3 l'''u
tana,,t Dc CarrauzR Is an expert SW"ruN'"''i
and pistol shot He made known ms PURPOSE
before leaving here II waiting eight days. Wn i,
- .,,s,,ere we're not received. he would puDHSn
IN. challenges sent to General Lee ana .aptan
,:ipsho~ II was suggested 20 him that que. nnt
was looked upon differently I'm this country IRON ION
tho Wow taken iu Euron". and that IN" Jaw
nr,hihiiad H. bat he insisted that these on'"rS
,,ould not invoke the law or the custom OF the
country In the present case
OPPOSED TO INDIVIDUAL ENhl9 MEN