Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-05-18
FRANCE ALL RIGHT.
Department Does Not Think There Is Any
Unfriendly Discrimination.

----S
UnfrIendly Discrimination.
From the Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, May 14.-Oflicial in
formation reaches here today that the
Spanish government had fled pro-
test at the foreign office in Paris against
the permission given by the French
authorities at Martinique to the United
States auxiliary cruiser Harvard to
remain in the harbor of ST. Pierre,
Martinique, for seven days TO make
necessary repairs.
The French government has taken
speedy action on the protest and insists
that the United States cruiser, being
disabled, has a full right to remain
seven days or such time as may be
necessary to complete her repairs, and
that in the meantime no steps will he
taken to have her leave the French
port. The Spanish protest is an i'm
portant development in the present
naval situation in the West Iudies, as
it serves to permit France to give a
conspicuous evidence Of her friendly
feeling toward the United States and
to offset the insinuations which have
been made as to the French favoritism
to Spain.
1t also makes clear for the first time
the plans of the Spanish admiral to
have the Harvard forced out of the
harbor at Martinique, and then cap
ture her by his swift cruisers and de-
stroyers. 1T impossible for the Span
ish warships to attack her while she
is inside the harbor. The most the
Spanish admiral can do is to remain
outside this barbor in hope of taking
the Harvard as she leaves.
1t is evident from the filing OF
Spain's protest that she had fully ex-
pected the Harvard to leave St.
Pierre, and that the Spanish ships
were lying in wait for her. But wait
of seven days would be futile, as other
Americans can 60 to the relief of the
Harvard before that time. Moreover,
while the capture of the Harvard
would be a valuable incident to the
movement of the Spanish squadron, it
is obvious that it cannot shape its en-
tire movements for the next seven days
in order to effect this one capture.
Had the French authorities decided,
in view of the protest, that the Har-
ward must leave at once, her position
would have been extremely critical, as
her batteries are insignificant CON-
pared with those of the big Spanish
warships, and her feetness would not
avail when the Spanish ships comman-
ded the harbor entrance and had 80
knots vessels among their number.
AS it is the navy, department is re-
lieved of all serious apprehension on
account Of the Harvard, as the action
of the French government insures her
safety.
By a strange coincidence the French
ownership of Martinique is bringing
protests from both quarters, the United
States as we'll as Spain, although those
from this country are entirely unoffi-
cial, and are expressly discountenanced
by the state department.
They relate to the use of the French
cable system between the United States
and the West Indies, intimations being
made that they strived to assist the
Spanish authorities and to enibarrass
the officials at Washington. There
appears to be no ground for this sus'
picion, as it is pointed out that the
French cable company would be work
ing against its interests by such a
course of action, and moreover would
subject itself to the danger of having
its cable cut at Coney Islands where it
makes the landing.
1t is developed today that General
Greedy, chief Of the sigual service, had
laid down a strict course of action for
the cable company, to which the com
pany fully acceded. On Thursday last
General Greedy notified the company
that the government was reliably in
formed that Spain was secretly using
the French line to send messages from
two Spanish officials in London to the
Spanish authorities at Cuba and Porto
Rico. He said this doubtless was
without the knowledge Of the country.
He then laid down certain classes oi
forbidden messages.
These included messages between
Spanish officials, code or cipher mes
sages, and messages inimical to the
United States in its present war against
Spain.
Exceptions were made to messages
signed by the president and members
of the cabinet and also to messages
from neutral governments and their
representatives in Washington. Gen
eral Greely stated that he had no de-
sire to exercise military control or
supervision over the French cable
lines, and, as long as the necessities Of
war permit, preferred that the compa'
ny should look after its own affairs.
While granting this permission, how
ever, General Greely said it was with
the distinct proviso that the company
would order all its agents and en-
ployes to refuse to receive or transmit
any of the messages he had forbidden to
be sent. Mr.. Turienne, the agent OF