Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-12-17
CONFIRMED BY BOWEN
lie Says the PortiiicatiOns Only Had
been IiOmbarled.
ALLIES AND PORTS.
They Have a Legal Right 90 Close
Them, Yet Secretary Hay Says
That Our Ships Must Not
lie Interfered With.

Washington. Doc iG -Minis'cr Bow.
on has confirmed the press reports 10
the eject that tho guns of the allied
neet which b0mbarded Puar Cahello
were directed entirely at the fortifca
tlous and not AZ the town Regret
table a. II was this statement relieves
the aauir of the arst suspicion that y
constituted a violation % International
law in tho fact that the twentyfour
hours notice was not served from the
bombardmeut
The requirement as 10 notice ap-
plies 20 unfortlfod or fortified towns
where the FIRE must be- directed upon
the inhabitants and THIS was not the
ease ~ Puerto Cahello. So that while
the officials here regret that The fr.
Ing took pisrc they have aa SET no
cause 10 protest But it is now prob
able that the United states will break
its attitude of Inactivity 90 the advent
of an attempt being made 10 enforce
the peaceful blockade" toward an
American ship. Thrn the allies were
considering the ways and means of
bringing Venezuela 10 terms and a
blockade OF this character had been
decided upon. the German government
informed the United States that when
the blockade was established q would
turn back all shipping though no q.
fort would be made 10 seize the ships.
The United States government made
no response to this statement at the
time (lasi year,. not feeling called up
on TO 90 40 before the presentation
OF an actual case. But now that the
blockade IS sought 20 b. established
Secretary Hay has Informed that the
German government that American
ships must not BE- inierfered With IN
their trading unless tae Inhibition ap
plies 10 an shipping. and further. the
note intimates a disapproval OF stop.
page az ali In so doing the state de.
partment Is following a precedent. for
during the effort of the powers TO es
tabllsh a peaceful blockade" of Crete
In 1898. Secretary sherman formally
recorded a refusal 10 be bound by it
II happened that no American ship had
occasion 20 enter a Cretan port dur
Ing the brief period the blockade was
In force. 80 the issue was not made
then. but In the present case with reg
ular lines OF American steamers en-
tering Venezuelan ports at short inter
walls, test case may soon follow. II
n within the legal right OF the allies
20 close these ports. but probably thi.
can be accomplished without a pro
test on our part only after a forma
declaration OF war. The hope Is grow
ing here that such a declaration cat
after all be averted owing 10 the ener
Ky with which Mr. Bowen has acted
The proposal of President Castro q
the allied partic> for q peaceful settle
ment was suggested by Mr.. Bowen. and
Il came 20 the state department
through his hands II has been for
warded 20 London and Berlin through
the embassies here. and a. both Grea
Britain and Germany have hilbert,
professed a desire 10 settle the issue'
peaceably. II Il hoped that they vii
take this action. The pro
pOsal aid not mention the method %
arbitration nor the limitations. and th'
point OF doubt which may prevent th'
acceptance OF the scheme II believed
10 be Castro's unwillingness TO bin'
himself IN advance 10 the recognition
OF the principle oI liability; he woul'
leave the arhitrators 10 determine
whether or not he il liable at all.