The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-12
FAMINE
Continued from FIRST Page.o

were taken into butcher shop and LETT
there
Dozens OF other letters are printed. all
Of the same tone So far as known there
is no insanity IN Methuen's family back
OF the present generation, but il is gem
orally understood that all his sisters have
been backward from childhood.
AMERICAN SEIZURES DISAVowED
Washington. Jan. 1.-THE answer OF the
British government 10 AR Choats's rep
reservations respecting the seizures OF the
American -four and other goods on the
three vessels Beatrice. Msshona and Ma
ria, has been received. Just as the OH
Gals OF the state department expected. it
amounted 10 a partial answer. very sat
isfactory as far as it goes. disposns Of
the character Of some of the goods seized.
but not finally deciding brady whether
or not food stuffs are TO De regarded as
contra band. The British government
adopts precisely the point OF view re-
garding the seized goods that was as
sumed by the state department and en-
bodied by Mr.. Choate in his note on the
subject addressed 10 the British foreign
office. In brief, Mr. Choate reports as
follows: That the answer is highly sat-
isfaetory; that II Is broad ana liberal in
terms. The position assumed by the
British government that foods-uffs in
transit TO a hostile destination can be
regarded as contraband OF war only when
they are supplies for the enemy's forces
II is not sufficient that they are, capable
of being used for the benefit OF the en-
envy; it must be shown that they are so
In fact through their situation az the
time Of the seizure. The British govern
ment does not claim that any 81 the
American goods on the German bark Ma
ria and the British bark Mashona were
contraband Of war. The British govern
ment is investigating the facts in connec-
ton 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 posi-
ton and as this position. as already
stated is one OF those already assumed
by the state department, OF course they
are regarded as convincing For this rea-
son. Mr. ChOate's message is long and Il
was nearly noon before it could be de-
ciphered and placed in Secretary Hays
ahnds. 1t so happened that Lord Paunce-
fote. the British ambassador, was with
the secretary shortly after he received
his message. and probably the subject
was discussed by them. 1t Is certain that
both the secretary and Lord Pauncefote
appeared TO be gratifed at the progress
made and the prospect OF a settlement
of the cases.
Choate's original message nor in a sup
Elementary message which came later.
explanatory OF the preceding message.
touching a release OF the goods. but OF
course a fair inference from the state
ment that the goods on two OF the yes
sells had been found TO be not contraband.
is that they are or will be released.
II any question arises as 70 ccmpensa-
ton to the owners on account OF these
seizures. that can he adjusted later on.
1t is probable. however. that the British
government will not want for any fur
Their hint, but will voluntarily make such
amends as seems to be fair.
II is believed that the uncertainty as
TO the character of the Beatrice's cargo
is based on imperfect knowledge OF the
ownership Of the goods. The American
consignors. however, evidently apprehend-
ing 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 consignees in South Africa
were not collectsble Unt1 the goods were
safely delivered at their destination. Mr..
Hopkins the legal representative here of
one OF the la; gest firms concerned IN ~
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 estab-
Iish the character Of the goods on the
Beatrice, and Il is not expected that there
viii meantime be amy further deliveries
by the British government upon the gen
eral subject % the contrabaud character
OF foodstuTs.
Later in the day the following oflcial
statement was given out BY the state
department: "A telegram has been re-
celved from Ambassador Choate report
ing an interview had by him with the
Marquis % Salisbury on the afternoon Of
the 10Th inst. in regard to the American
shipments Of -four and provisions on the
detained British steamers Beatrice and
Mashona and the Dutch steamer Maria
The British position as 70 foods;ufs and
hostile destination is that they can only
be considered contsa rand II var 81 sup
piled for the enemy's forces. r. not being
sufficient that they are capable o. being
80 used. but II must be shown that TINS
was their destination al the time of seiz-
gre. The qualification virtually coneeass (
the American contention that tas goods
were not subject 20 selzBrs. and pFar- {
tically disayows the seizure. &. not being
Gained that there e. any evidence q hos (
tile destination.
London. Jan. I2-The Standard IN A.
editorial upon the government reply % ]
NJ Choaie and Count Won B8ei9w. says.
I'VE shall be much surprised q the Brit I,
Ssh governments definition - interna-
u5nal law as applied % TIE carriage o. /
f3odstufs falls ~ ind scc~iance a. 4
Washington and Berlin.'
Berlin. Jan. 1z-Tf v asserted fh4; the 1
German cruisers SchEsfbe ard Con4or. +
which were ordered % Dsiag1a Bay I
have been Instructed 20 proceed instead .
% Cape Town. Tins indicates belief iu 4
German Official circles that ths contra 4
band controversy w.l bs zmlca5ly SCI I
tied.
REBELS STAND STUBB0RaLY /
Thirty Ninth attacks Ten Companies. 4