The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-27
STORIES Of GABLES
Neutrality Is a Pesky Matter
in War Times
BUT 1T CAN BE MANAGED
If One Knows HoW--Some
Cases in Point

New York, April 2s.-Discussion OF the
Pacific cable bill. now before the COM
rnerce COMMITTEES of the house of repre-
sentatives, has brought 70 light two oc-
currences OF the early months OF the
Spanish war which show for the first
time certain difficulties OF cOmmunica-
ton which the navy and war DEPART
ments barely surmounted- One OF them
refers to the isolation which. 1t is avsrred
would have cut Dewey of had not
China stretched her Interpretation OF the
word neutrality almost TO the breaking
point in allowing Dewey to send his dis
patches through Mrs Bay and thence by
way of Hong Kong. The story is told
by President Scrymser OF the Pacific Ca
BILE company, who had a personal share
in the matter.
EARLY in May. 1885," said Mr.. Scrymser
recently. II received a telegram from
General Greedy. asking me 10 meet him
at my office early the following morning.
L found him at the appointed time, not a
little disturbed.
&" Mr.. Scrymser,' he said, the army IS
going to Cuba, and 1 don't know how TO
get cable connection with it. What can
you adviser
81 pointed out TO him that his idea OF
using the American line TO Panama. and
then the British line TO SANTIAGO Via
Jamaica, was not feasible. as neutrality
would demand that Spain should have
Z the same privilege. The English govern
purchase of the West India and Panama
cable I also discouraged; 1t would con-
tinue to be British, anyway.
" But there is still one way, general, >
I said. and it's this: The cable from
New York to Santiago, via Hayti is
really a French affair. but for certain
reasons the shore terminal, running out
ten miles from Coney Island, is owned by
the Mackay- Bennett people. Here IS a
copy Of a sworn statement, in a case be-
fore Judge Lacombe OF the federal court.
| that the cable is an American cable.
| That's your chance. l advise you 10 go
down to Coney Island at once and seize
the cable, on the ground that it's Ameri-
can
General Greedy seized the cable forth
state department received protest from
the French ambassador. Then 1 sent a
copy of the affidavit TO Washington, and
/ the secretary laid It before the French
Ambassador The incident was closed.
Now. that was very lucky chance
we should not have any such resource
for Manila If war in the east forced Eng
land into strict neutrality. The disaster
was partially avoided during the war by
the use of despatch boats from Manila.
And just there comes an incidsnt which
1 think is of some interest.
1.-The day after Admiral Dewey cut the
cable at Manila, and reported that he
| had one end of IL on his flagship. 1 saw
through press dispatches enough to con-
vince me that the cable was stll work
! ing. A day or two afterwards an Eng
lsh naval officer came aboard the Olym-
pia and asked the admiral II he had cut
| the other cable, a question which the ad-
miral shrewdly did not answer; that was
| his first knowledge that there was a SEE
ond cable. Seeing this leak telephoned
Assistant Secretary Allen Of the navy.
and called his attention to It; and I said
/ it was very important that Dewey should
/ be Informed that the cable was being
worked by the Spaniards under the bot
1 tom of his ship, and that some means
should be taken 10 stop IT. At Mr.. Aliens
request. went to Washington. where
advised that they should send 70 the
/ British minister and have her ma!esty's
| seal put on the Hong Kong end Of the
| second cable. and that was done.
Now. said I. you ought to have your
own cable
=" That's very good. was the reply
| but the department can't spare the
money
THAT surprised me. and. knowing that
/ the thing must be done secretly. # at all
/ 1 telephoned to a New York ansncier Of
wide fame and explained the situation 20
/ lin.
How much will # cost? he asked
About half a million.
/ All right he answered. 'teu Mr.
/ Long 70 draw on me FOR the whole
amount
| Il explained my plan. which was 20
/ have a cable practically 70 Hong Kong
and yet secret Neutrality would proven,
/ a shore connection IN China. I planned
| therefore. to lay the cable al nigbt. and
have II lead 10 Chinese junk anchored
! just outside the three-mile limit near
Mrs Bay Then It would be On the high
seas and free from rnolestatl5n on the
grounds q neutrality. The messzges
from Manila could then b taken with
perfect safety from the Junk 10 Hong
Kong By steam launch. and sent On from
there. The matter was entirely practie-
TIE plan was abandoned.