The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-13
Canal Route
TO the
Philippines

"If Spain desires to send feet to
the Philippines to attack Admiral Dew
ey's forces. she is at perfect liberty to
send it through the Suez canal. was
the statement made TO mo the other day
by high official CT the state depart
ment.
"Of course" he continued, "tbe gef1-
ous question of coal supply would great
ly harass her. but IL the American ves-
sells can find dealers willing to take tho
risk of violating the neutrality laws If
the nation In which their coal piles are
located they will probably be willing to
do the same thing for the Spaniards,
provided the latter pay the necessary
cash.
81 doubt very much il this govern
ment would direct Admiral Dewey's
force to leave Manila and proceed to
the Mediterranean for tho purpose OF
harassing Spanish commerce in that SEES
and Of attacking Spanish ports which
lie upon it. but it would be possible for
American men-of-war to reach the
Mediterranean through the Suez canal
If they were ordered to do so.
There is great deal Of popular ig-
norance on this point. AS a matter Of
fact, the Suez cansl il open to belligex-
ents.
1.-THE principle of the naturalization
of the Suez canal was applied by tho
convention of Oct. 20, 1883, which was
signed by the six great powers, by Tur-
key, Spain and the Netherlands. Strict
ly speaking, their action does not bind
the powers that were not parties to the
conventions; but, as none is of any i'm
portnnce except the United States and
all have distinctly acquiesced In what
was done, the practical result is much
the same as if the whole body Of civil
lized nations had formally expressed
their adhesion to it.
1.-The convention declares that the
canal is to be open in time of war as
we'll as in time of peace to all ships,
whether merchantmen or vessels of war,
whether belligerent or neutral, hut no
acts OF hostility are to be committed Ell
ther in the canal itself or in the sea to
distance Of three miles from either end
of it.
Tho entrances are not to be block.
AIDED. The stay Of belligerent vessels Of
war or their prizes within the ports at
either end ia not to exceed "a hours,
and belligerents are not to embark
troops or munitions Of war within the
canal or its ports.
"By using the Sucz canal Spain's yes,
sells will be compelled to go only 7,200
miles to reach Manila. The steaming
radius Of the Almirante Oquendo, Viz
caya and Infanta Maria Teresa il Q. 700
miles, going at the rate Of ten knots,
aud they therefore could 60 the entire
distance without recoaling. II necessa-
ry, they could take colliers along. None
of Commodore Dewey's vessels has
such q great steaming radius. and il
they should be sent to the Mediterra-
mean they would have to take colliers
along and might be caught without coal
in that sea-"
None of the members of the war
board believes for an instant that Spain
will attempt to retake the Philippines,
Notwithstanding the Suez canal is open
to her fleets. 1t was pointed out by an
expert with whom talked that the
withdrawal of sufficient force from
the Atlantic TO attempt the recapture Of
the Philippines would place not only
Cuba and Puerto Rico. but the Canaries
and Spain itself. at the mercy of the
American warships on this coast.
1t was more probable, he said, that
the United States would send ships
from the Pacific through tho Suez canal
to the Mediterranean to attack Spain's
coast than it would be for the Madrid
government TO order its ships to rctake
tho Philippines, but either contingency
he thought decidedly remote. New
York Telegram.