Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-01-12
General Congressional Top les.

Mashona and Maria, has been re-
ceived
The reply amounted to partial an
sWer, very satisfactory as far as it
| goes. disposing of the character of
some OF the goods seized, but not fin
ally deciding broadly whether or not
foods stuffs are to be regarded as con-
traband. The British government
adopts precisely the point of view re
garding the seized goods that was as
| sumed by the state department and
| embodied by Mr. Choate in the note
| on the subject addressed to the British
| foreign office. In brief, Mr.. ChOate re-
ports as follows:
That the answer is highly satisfac-
tory: that it is broad and liberal in
terms. The position assumed by the
British government is that food stuffs
in transit to a hostile destination can
be regarded as contraEand of war only
when they are supplies for the enemy's
forces. 1t is not sufficient that they
are capable of being used for the bene-
fit of the enemy: it must be shown
/ that they are so in fact, through their
| destination at the time of the seizure
| The British government does not claim
| that any of the American goods on the
| German bark Maria and the British
| bark Mashona We're cOntraband Of war.
| The British are investigating the facts
| in connection of the goods seized on the
| third vessel. the Beatrice
| Mr. ChOate's message embodied sufii-
| ciently the authorities relied upon by
| the British government to sustain its
| position. 1t 50 happened that Lord
| Paunccfote. the British ambassador.
| was with the secretary shortly after
! he received his message. Both the sec
| rctary and Lord Pauncefote appeared
| to be eratitied ut the progress made
| toward 4 settlement Of the case. Moth
| ing was said directly in Mr. Choatc'S
| original message, nor in a supplement
| tary message which came later, eX-
| planatory of the preceding mesSag"
touching 7. lease Cf the seized goods
but Of course n fair Inference from
the statement that the goods on two Of
the vessels had been found To be not
Contraband is that they either will ha
or have been already released. 1t is
probable that the British government
will voluntarily make such amends as
seems tp BE- fair.
Later in the day the following of-
fetal statement was given out by the
state department.:
"A telegram has been received from
-fmhaSs idor Choatr reporting an inter
view had by him with the Marquis Of
Salisbury On the afternoon of the 10th
inst. i'll regard to the American ship
ments If flour ana provisions on the
detained British steamers Beatrice and
Mashona and the Dutch steamer Maria.
The British position as to food stuff
ihd hoStlte destination II that thry
couId "niy RI considered c'ntrahana
oi war II supplen the enemy FORCES.
II not helhS Suihcleht that they ar"
'apdpI' "l pe!hS ;" uSeu. out IL must
"' ''t"" II tHdt IHl9 was lheii u"Stlili-
li"H ai tiit tiilie - lhe seizure. lh.S
''aH contention that w" R""iS
Me'r "ot SuoJe'' !" SEIZURE ana pFa'-
lI''lIi ulSdloWS t'lt Seizure. II not De
."N ,I''Hleu tHeiV i any eNiueH'e q!
i''S''Ir "eS'li'd ''oh.
lhe PHI emitting cuban vessels ~
the rights and privileges of the vessel
OF the most Favored nations in nited
states ports was, today. tavorably re
ported To the Senate by Senator Berry
from the committee on commerce. Thr
clause making the provision retroactive |
ana providing for the retuniing uf
money hitherto collected was Strlck /
ont of the bill.
The new United States cruiser Al /
bdny which was given an official trial |
off Newcastle Eng. Jan. 9. completed |
her endurance trial. Thursday. consist |
ing Of Il continuous run Of six hours |
under natural draught. The test was |
very successful. The ship behaved well |
III Il HtdNN SEA. ne result "i 'i'' Il ia!
WAS ~ l"ll'N9. Average NPr'd P'I
houf l9"f KNOTS. revolutions. II. |
hnrse-p"Wer ""Z4' cnal consumed, II
tons per "a hours.
Responding to the Senate'S resolution
nf inquiry the secretary nl the navy |
today, sent to the Senate copy "f !
Admiral Dewey $ report from Hong |
Kong. dated March II. lH9S. relative IN |
the capture Of Manila. The admiral /
gives in detail the names Of the avail |
able vessels under his command ana |
also list of Spains vessels and other |
means Of defence at Manila. The re-
port says: The islands are now in a |
state Of inSurrectlon and my INFORM |
ants stat" that even the Spanish sol |
diers VINO constitute a small part of |