Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-04-23
DECLARES GOAL IS
CONTRABAND OF WAR
Great Britain's Action Is Strictly in
Line With the Wishes Of the
Government,
MATERIALLY ASSISTS AMERICANS
The Decree Affects Our Own Fleet
Operating Against the
Philippines
MATERIALLY ASSISTS AMERICAN;
ARRANGEMENTS TO MEET I
Those Who Favor the Annexation oi
Hawaii Find an Excuse for
Doing So just at This
Time.

New York, April 19.-ln directing
ner colonies TO regard coal as a contra
band OF war in the event of a hostile
act between the United States ano
spain, Great Britain has taken action
the administration officials say, in line
with the wishes of the president ant
naval authorities, says the Washington
correspondent of the Herald. Pressure
has been eNerted upon France ane
Hayti 10 accomplish the same result
and some attention is being given 10y
he state department 20 the Soutf
American countries with a view 10 Sc
curing from them a declaration of tn,
~sontraband character OF coal, as wei
as an announced determination OF
their part not TO sell either To Tho
Spanish or American war vessels a sup
ply Of fuel greater than that necessary
20 enable a belligerent vessel To steam
20 the next home port.
So far as the Danish West Indies are
concerned, the authorities have pur
chased al their ports all the coal thai
I is possible 10 secure With coal de
dared a c~ontraband of war, the admin
stration officials and navy experts say
I will be impossible for the Spanish
cssels to operate in the West Indies or
n the Pacific and as "A result the
chances of success for American arms
will he UNNECESSARILY enhanced.
Great Britain's declaration Of the
~:ontraband character of coal will al
'ect the United States at only one
point, in the far east. The United
states now has at Hong Kong a feet OF
iiN vessels. the cruisers Baltimore,
olympia, Raleigh and Boston and the
gun boats Concord and Petrol, ana
hese ships are awaiting word TO rush
20 Manila. If the Notifications of ths
Philippines should stand off the Amer
can fleet for any length of time tho
operations Of the vessels would be
greatly embarrassed, for, by Eng
and's declaration, her ~colonists would
DO only allowed TO sell to either bellig-
.rent a supply sufficient TO take him
% his home port. Approaching the po-
iition summed up by the British gov.
.rnment, Commander Dewey, acting
nnder instructions from Secretary
long, has purchased a large quantity
IF coal and stored il on board two col
liers, which will accompany his fee,
10 n rnmpprnes.
Extended operations would necesSi-
tate a renewal of the supply, aud the
central position of Hawaii is pointed
10 10y naval experts who want it for n
naval base. Hawaii is 1000 miles from
the Philippines. Her position i'm the
family of nations would compel her To
observe strict neutrality and not ia.
yor one belligerent more than another.
but by her annexation to the United
States, IL is pointed out. would result
in placing supplies for the Asiatic
squadron 1000 miles nearer TO the ves-
sells than would be the case IL coal, mu-
nitiOns of war, etc, had To be shipped
from the United States. 1t is also
pointed out that Hawaii will find il
necessary TO sell coal to a Spanish yes-
sci coming in at Honolulu sufficient Ia
take il a portion of the way 10 its nexc
home port, just as she would sell coal
TO an American ship.
In the event of coal being declared a
contraband of war by France, Haytl
and San Domingo, the naval authori-
ties say il will be impossible for Span.
ish vessels 10 secure fuel i'm the West
Indies.