Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-05-11
LINER RELEASED.
The Lafayette Had Been Given Per-
mission to Enter Havana
HarbOr.

Washington, d. c.. May Amy inter-
national difficulty connected with the seiz-
ure of the French steamer Lafayette,
which was captured by the blockading
fleet while attempting to make Havana,
has been removed by the prompt release
Of the vessel Immediately upon notice of
her capture reaching the state depart
ment.
The explanation for this action on the
part of the administration is given in the
statement which follows and which was
issued from the white house last night:
''The Lafayette was released in pursu-
ance of orders which We're issued by the
navy department previous to her seizure,
but which had not been received by the
commanding officers of the vessels that
made the capture.
THE facts that are on April % the
French embassy made IN informal in
quiry as to whether the Lafayette, which
left st. NaZalre, France, for Vera Cruz,
by way of Havana, before war was de-
clared or information of the blockade was
received, would be allowed to land at Ha-
vana certain passengers, her mail bags
and the dispatch bag of the consulate
general Of France and take some French
passengers on board. An assurance was
given that, if this privilege should be
granted, the steamer would be forbidden
by the French consul to land goods.
The matter was duly considered and
it was decided that, without regard to the
strict law of blockade, and as an act of
courtesy, the request of the French gov
eminent should be acceded 10.
Orders were according y sent on the
second day of May.
when information was received OF the
capture of the steamer and of her having
been brought to Key West these orders
were communicated to the captors. with
iDS Inn RI
to see that the orders were duly delivered,
so they might be carried into effect. No
demand was made either by or on be-
half of the French government, direct
or indirectly, for the steamers releas.
'The Wilmington escorted the Lafay-
cite to Havana tonight"
French Warship Arrives.
Havana, May 7.-Yesterday morning.
about II o'clock, Ell MORO was signaled
by a French warship, and at 12:45 p. m.
the second-class cruiser Du Bourdieu
from Martinique, entered the harbor.
She carried the admiral of the French
feet in the Antilles. When the Du Bour-
dieu passed the American squadron, the
cruiser Montgomery hoisted an Italian
flag, but when the mistake was discov-
cred, she promptly hoisted the French
flag, whereupOn the Du BOurdieu an
swered her salute. On entering the har-
Dor, the French warship exchanged sa-
4 80 the commander of the Du Bourdieu,
Capt. Leon, accompanied by the French
consul, visited Gen. Blanco.
Carried No Spaniards.
Havre, France, May THE officers of
the French Transatlantic Steamship COM
pany say they do not believe Spanish Of
ficers embarked on board their steamer
Lafayette, captured by the United States
gunboat Annapolis off Havana, when the
French liner touched at Corunna, Spain.
They said it would have been easier for
the Spaniards to embark on Spanish YES
sells, and they explain that if such officers
We're found on board they deceived the
captain of the Lafayette in regard to their
status.
When the Lafayette sailed from ST. Ma
zaire, though war had not yet been de-
clared, her commander was warned that
if he learned hostilities had commenced he
was to obey all the customary regulations
The French company officials do not be-
lieve the captain of the Lafayette has vio-
lated the neutrality laws.