Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-10-21
NOT TO RETIRE.
Admiral Dewey TO Remain on the Ac-
tive List about the Situation
I'm the TransvaaI.

Reports have been current since Adj
mlral DeWey's return that he would APP
ply tor retirement on December 25th next
when he viii reach the usual retiring age
OF o. years, or Immediately thereafter. 1t
seems certain that these run1ors are incor-
rect, and that the Admiral viii stay on
the active list. remaining on duty with the
Philippine Commission during the winter.
We're he to ask for retirement he would
suffer a loss in salary Of 81, SEQ a year, the
allowance he now receives for quarters,
and the services Of a naval aide and sec
rotary.
The State Department officials have
had much to occupy their attention dur
ing the past week. An official statement
was issued stating that in the absence Of
a request from both England and the
Transvaal there WIS nothing in internat-
ional rules or usuages to justify an offer
OF mediation under present circumstances.
The President had hoped that hostiIities
would be averted, buf as they had come
the efforts Of this soTernment would be
directed to seeing that neither our nation
al interests nor those of our citizens
should suffer unnecessary injury.
As a result of a notification received
by the British embassy that the British
agent at Pretoria had been withdrawn,
Acting Secretary Adee cabled Counsel
Macrum directing him to carry out the
instructions sent him relative to the pre-
lection OF the interests Of British subjects
during hostilities. This arrangement
contemplates the American Consul acting
only as guardian of private interests and
not as a representative of the British
government. The only consular official
besides Mr.. M@rum in the Transvaal is
Consular Agent Dorgon at johannesburg.
In the Orange Free State the United
States has been represented by Alfred
Elliott, consular agent at Bloomfontein.
He is an Englishman, and should he be
required to withdraw Mr.. Macrum will
be instructed to select some suitable
American to take his place.
1t does not appear likely at present that
formal proclamation Of neutrality will
be issued by the United States. 1t has
been customary with us to omit these
| proclamations until some emergency
arises calling for their issue, and such is
not expected to occur in South Africa. 1t
| Is also taken into consideration that the
| Transvaal Republic has never been rec
ognized by the United States as an indie
/ pendent nation, all Of its foreign relations
| having been conducted through Great
Britain. Officially, the present dispute is
regarded as parallel to the conflict be-
tween the Federal government and the
seeding Southern States, during which
I this government resented any appearance
of recognition of Southern independence
| by foreign nations. 1t is held that proc
lamation of neutrality would recognize in
a tacit way the independence of the
| Transvaal, and to that extent be a rever-
sal of our position regarding the Southern
Confederacy.
Although formal proclamation may
not be issued strict neutrality will be OBJ
served, but this Will not prevent either
party from purchasing their supplies from
this country. Great Britain has already
contracted for large numbers of mules
and army wagons, and for canned provi-
sions. The Beers are likely to contract
for large quantities of munitions of war if
they can make arrangements for their
transportation to the Transvaal, now that
England has shut them off from the sea
by getting control of Lorenzo MARQUEE
from the Portuguese Neutrality if strict
ly observed, will prevent the enlistment
OF men within the United States to serve
with either party.