Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-11
How and When FOodstufs viii be
Called COntraband Of War;
SITUATION IN SOUTH AFRICA
All Looking 20 Roberts and Kitchener
stopping HeeruIts for the
TransysaI.


Of American -four and other goods on
the three vessels. Beatrice. Mashona
and Maria, has been received. Just
as the officials OF the state department
expected, II amounted 10 a partial an
swer, very satisfactory as far as il
goes, disposing OF the character Of some
OF the goods seized, but not finally de.
Gliding broadly whether or not food
stuffs are 10 be regarded as contraband.
The British government adopts pre-.
cisely the point OF view regarding the
seized goods that was assumed by the
state department and embodied BY Mr.,
Choate In his note on the subject. adj
dressed TO the British foreign office.
In brief, Mr.. Choate reports as follows.
That the answer is highly satisfac.
tory; that 1t is in broad and liberal
terms.
The position assumed by the British
government is that foods,uffs in transit
10 a hostile destination can be regarded
as contraband Of war only when they
are supplies for the enemy's forces II
Is not sufficient they are capable OF
being used for the benefit Of the enemy.
1t must be shown that they are so In
TACT, by their destination at the time
OF seizure The British government
does not claim that any OF the Ameri-
can goods on the German bark Maria
and the British bark Mashona were
contraband OF war. The British gov
eminent is investigating the facts In
connection with the goods seized on the
third vessel, the Beatrice
Mr. ChOate's message embodied sue
cinctly the authorities relied upon by
the British government 10 sustain its
position, and as this position. as al
ready stated Is one Of those already as
sumed by the state department, OF
course they are regarded az conyinc-
Ing. For this reason Mr.. Choates mes
sage is long and II was nearly noon
before It could be deciphered and placed
In Secretary Hays hands II so hap
pened that Lord Pauncefote. the Brit
ish ambassador, was with the secretary
shortly after he received his message
and probably the subject was discussed
BY them. II is certain that both the
secretary and Lord pauncefote APP
peared TO be grathed at the progress
being made toward settlement OF the
cases Nothing was said directly in
Mr.. Choate's original message nor in
a supplementary message which came
later, touching q release OF the
seized goods. but Of course a fair in
ference from the statement that the
goods on two OF the vessels had been
found to be not contraband, is that they
are or viii be released. II any ques-
ton arises as to compensation to the
owners on account Of these seizures
that can be adjusted later on. II is
probable, however, that the British
government viii not want for any fur
Their hint, but viii voluntarily make
such amends as seems 10 be fair.
II Is believed the uncertainty as to
the character OF the Beatrice's cargo is
based on imperfect knowledge OF the
ownership OF the goods The American
consigners, however, evidently appre-
hendlng that doubt might exist on
that point have come forward with the
positive statement that they have not
been paid for the goods shipped and
that the drafts drawn by the con-
signees in South Africa were not collec-
tiDlc until the goods ere safely deliv-
cred at their destination.
Mr.. Hopkins. the legal representa-
tive here of one OF the largest firms
concerned In the ownership Of the
goods, was at the state department
this morning TO discuss the case with
the officials.
The next step will be the collection
OF data by the state department and
by the British foreign office 10 fully
establish the character of the goods on
the Beatrice, and II is not expected that
there win In the meantime be any
further deliveries by the British gov
eminent upon the general subject Of the
contraband character Of food stuffs.
London, Jan. IL. 2:4O p. m.--Even the
announcement OF the arrival Of Field
Marshal Lord Roberts and Gen. Lord
Kitchener at Capetown has failed TO
stem the growing impotence of the
country at the prolonged inactivity In
the main British camps and the entire
absence OF news giving an adequate in 3
sight 10 the local situation. The public
and press being unable 20 form any
Just judgment as 10 the actual posi-.
ton of affairs, stories are rife that in
action II forced on Gen Butler owing
10 the exhaustion OF the reserves OF am
munition, and there are even wild ru.
mors of shell famine at home. But
not much Importance need be attached
10 these rumors.
II Is almost universally assumed that
with the landing Of Gems Roberts and
Kitchener prompt return will be
made TO the original plan of campaign.
namely. great central advance on
Bloemfontein, but the most impatient
of the enthusiasts admit that Gen. Rob
erts will be unable TO move before the
end OF the month
There was n rumOr current In the
clubs today that a battle was progress
sing at the Tegula river but nothing
could be obtained In corrobOration of
the report
The war office here denied the report
published In the United States that
General Methuen had been recalled.
Southampton, Eng. Jan. 1.-THE
Cunard line steamer Umbria, which has
been chartered as a transport by the
British government. will sail from
Southampton this afternoon with 220O
soldiers bound for South Africa.
Lorenzo Marquee. Jan. li.--Severol
Portuguese who were on the way ia iain
the Beers have been intercepted bv
the frontier police Nobody in future
Will be allowed 20 pass the border
without a permit from the governor.
81 Paul, MINI, Jan. IA Winnipeg
special TO the Despatch says:
The mounted police for South Africa
had a great send-off al Regina last
night. Lieut. Gov Forget. who Is a
French-Canadian, said the men OF his
race We're as loyal 10 the queen as those
born at the foot OF the throne. The men
leave on Monday
STEAMSHIP stranded.
Cape Henry. Va, Jan. 1l.-Captaln
O'Neal Of False Cape Life Saving sta
ton, reports an unknown steamship
stranded opposite his station. mills
and half OF shore Cape O'Neal ana
crew have launched the lie boat and
are on their way 10 the vessel.
To be Biackburn's s0n-in-Lqw.
Cincinnati, Jan 1l.--A Lexington. Ky. |
special says:
Senator William Gocbel, who lie con-
testing the seat OF Gov W. s. Taylor, II |