The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-23

iron. etc, which are subservient TO war;
like use and which arc destined Tor use
OF the enemy. They are contraoand or
not, according TO occasion and as 20 inc
character, shipment and destined use.
Every such case depends on itS own
facts.
The third class includes articles not
suited to warikc use--such as church
service and musical instruments, house
hold wares and goods and other such
like articles and including many that are
purely mercantile in character. No ar
ticle Of merchandise Is contraband unless
Transported beyond the territorial waters
and Jurisdiction of another neutral state.
or unless destined for an enemys use or
for an enemys ship upon the high seas,
which beIigerent ships are permitted TO
police in search OF an enemy's ships and
.contraband Of war.
No final and exhaustive definition or
cOntraband articles can be given. They
are changing with the progress of in
ventions Some articles were formerly
contraband which now are not; and the
converse is true. Neither belligerent can
treat goods as cOntraband in violation
Of his treaty stipulations with neutral
power as regards the subjects OF that
power. Any one desiring 10 ship goods
10 a foreign port in neutral vessels would
proftably consult any existing treaties
between his and the government OF that
port.
RIGHTS OF CAPTURE.
The belligerent right Of capture as
against neutral exists only either I'm
case Of contraband of war or OF enemy's
goods abroad. or Of violation of an ef-
fective blockade and In other analogous
eF - 1,as rnl
iustifes the belligerent in treating his
property as enemy's property II Spain
adheres to the free ships. free goods as
this government proposes to do only con-
traband gods are subject 10 capture In
such ships.
Inquiry at the Navy Department as TO
the story that our government had ar
ranged for the seizure Of the Hawaiian
Islands and the establishment of coal
ing station in Hawah failed to secure any
positive statement on the subject.
There is good authority for believing
that the story Is exaggerated and all that
has been done is to provide for the es-
tablishing of a cOaling boat there.
The naval officials feel every confidence
In the ability Of the Oregon and the Mar
ietta not only 10 protect themselves from
the Spanish gunboat TameTrieTo. but 10
destroy that craft II she ever comes
within range.
LIMITATION OF THE BLOCKADE.
The Limitation Of the blockade in Cuba
to a certain part OF the island was not
officially explained but one plausible rea-
son advanced for tine government ac-
ton was that by refraining from estao-
fishing a blockade over the eastern pOT-
tion OF the island now understood to be
nractical I'm the control of the insurgents
The ports will be left open for them 20
freeIv receive all needed supplies and
munitions of war - ,,,
A formal order was issued by the war
Department increasing the equipment OF
light batteries of artillery 10 SIX guns
six cafssons. one combined forge and bat
tory wagon. and one hundred horses. The
enforcement Of this order will require sOO
additional horses which the quartermas-
ter's department will purchase In Tennes-
see.
For purposes of transporting the army
N cuba the quartermaster's office has
under consideration the chartering OF
ships having the carrying capacity or 90 =
0O0 men. No charters have, however.
been closed.
In the Engineer and Ordance Bureaus
work was being rushed with the greatest
nossible speed toward the completion OF
defense projects and the installation of
big guns All the available matter IN the
waV of fortihcations is being attended TO
and the department Is Utilizing every
thing at their disposal