The herald., 1898-04-19
SPAIN WON'T ACT FIRST
BUT WILL WAIT FOR Us TO DE-
CLARE WAR
There WILL BE NO fighting
Unless the United States Absolutely
Drives Spain to Defend Herself.
Maybe Not Then
,soc,ated Press Special Wire

| Associated PRESS 0peCidi Vho
NEW YORK, April 1s.-The Marquis
de Guiror. First Secretary of the Spanish
Embassy in London, said to the World
correspondent:
| "Although the Cortes will not meet un-
| til Wednesday, that need not prevent
Spain from declaring war before tnen'
should she desire to do so.
But if war does come it will be fore
ed on us by the United States.
I'VE shall wait for America to declare
war. But before she does, let her re-
member the extent of her coasts, the
amount of her commerce and that we
| have scores of ships of almost every Eu-
ropean nationality ready and willing to
sail under letters of marque.
"As to the absurd story in circulation
about a letter and telegram said TO
have been sent by General Weyler-the
| first expressing Joy at the destruction or
the Maine and the second desiring that
the communication be destroyed-they
| do not even deserve the name of canards.
They are the creations of stupidity.
General Weyler Is neither fool nor
| a beast. He would have to be both to
express joy at the destruction Of hun
dreds of fellow-creatures.
"It has been suggested that Spain
will be in difficulty in regard to coal.
Well, if it has been decided that coal is
contraband of war. have received no
official intimation of the fact.
1.-The United States would be in pre-
cisely the same difficulty; or, rather.
| in a worse plight, for we have hundreds
| of thousands of tons at Porto Rico. AS
to America being able to seize that port
Immediately. it would be just as sensible
for me to talk Of capturing Chicago at
once. Capital Is being made out of the
manifesto of Don Carlos. Bah, it is
worth nothing; does not even disturb the
Spanish government"
| More Coal Wanted
NEW YORK, April 1S.-A dispatch to
the Herald from St.Vincent, Cape Verde
Island, says:
| The Spanish cruisers Infanta Maria
Teresa and Cristobal Colon are filing
their coal bunkers here. The supply Is
running short.
1t is understood that 1000 tons will be
brought here in few days, probably
from the United States, where 1t Is
known orders have been placed.
Spanish officers bought 610 tons from
local dealers April 7th. and Immediately
made contract for 1000 tons additional.
which has not arrived.
Coal Is Contraband
| NEW YORK, April 1S.-In directing
her colonies to regard coal as contra
band of war in the event Of hostilities
between the United States and Spain.
Great Britain has taken action. admins
tration officials say, in line with the
wishes OF, the President and naval au-
lHoii.ieS' says ~Uashinpfon corre.
spondent of the Herald. W.. W.
Pressure will be eXerted upon France,
Hayti and San Domingo to accomplish
the same result, and some attention Is
being given by the State Department
to South American countries with view
Of securing from them declaration Of
the contraband character of coal as well
as an announced determination on their
mart not to sell either to Spanish or
American men-of-war a supply of fuel
greater than that necessary to enable
the belligerent vessel to steam to the
next home port.
So far as the Danish West Indies are
concerned, the authorities have pur-
| chased in the ports all the coal that 1t
is possible to secure. With coal a contra
band of war, administration officials and
naval experts say it will be impossible
for Spanish vessels to operate In the
West Indies or on the Pacific Coast, and
as a result the chances for the success OF
the American arms would be immeas-
urably enhanced.
Great Britain's declaration Of the con-
traband character of coal will affect the
United States at only one point-in the
Far East. The United States now has
at Hong Kong a fleet of six vessels, the
cruisers Baltimore. Olympia. Raleigh
and Boston, and gunboats Concord and
Petrol, and as these ships are await.
ing the word to rush to Manila, If the
fortifications of the Philippines should
stand off the American fleet for any
length of time the operations of the yes
sells would be greatly embarrassed for
by England's declaration, her colonist:
would only be allowed to sell to either
belligerent supply only sufficient tt
take him to his home port.
Approaching the position assumed
by the British government, Command
er Dewey, acting under instruction.
from Secretary Long, has purchased {
large quantity of coal and has stored 1
| on board two colliers, which will accom-
rany his fleet to the Philippines. Elk
, tended operations would necessitate :
renewal of the supply and the centra
position of Hawaii is pointed to by nav
al experts who want it for a naval base
Hawaii Is four thousand miles from
the Philippines. Her position in tn,
: family of nations would compel her t.
4 observe strict neutrality and not to favo
( one belligerent more than another, bll
q her annexation to the United States 1t i
S pointed out would result in placing sup
plies for the Asiatic squadron 1000 mile
nearer to the vessels that would be tn
S case if coal, munitions Of war; ETC., ha
I to be shipped from the United States.
Is also pointed out that Hawaii will fin
r It necessary to sell coal to Spanish yes
: sci coming in at Honolulu sufficient t
o take it a portion of the way to its mex
# home port, just as she would sell coa
to an American ship.
II In the event that coal Is declared con
= traband Of war by France, Hayti an
y San Domingo, naval authorities say
t, will be impossible for Spanish vessel
A, to secure fuel in the West Indies.
d official information has reached th
State Department, as the Herald ar
IT nounced this morning, that Spain ha
o been shipping large quantities of Coz
d and provisions into Havana and Sa
20 Juan, and the President Is contemplat
ing action which will prevent any furthe
supplies from being exported from tn
country.