The Washington herald., 1914-06-28
THE WAR DAY BY DAY.
Fifty Years Ago.
June g. 1Ss-A Diplomatic Dus Was Progress Between the United
States Minister London and Ead Russell Foreign Secretary Over the
Reue Capt Semmss and Oilers from the Alabama by an English
Yacht the DeehoundSu Of the Escaped condeas to Be
Demanded Of the British Government

4
Fifty years ago a diplomatic duel wa
in progress between the United Statei
Minister to Great Britain. Charles Fran
els Adams. and Earl Russell. Foreign
Secretary. over the rescue Of Capt Sem
mes and forty others Of the Alabama''
men, by a British yacht, the Deerhound
after the battle between the Alabama and
the Kearsarge. on Cherbourg. June 19.
As yet news of the destruction of the
Alabama had not reached the United
! that would canse feeling here to run high
! against England for the part played by
the Deerhound in the engagement on
Cherbourg. The owner Of the English
yacht. Mr.. John Lancaster, was repre-
sented as an agent of Capt Semmes, on
the scene by arrangement. It was as
serted he had taken on board his yacht
before the battle valuables from the Ala
bama, including many chronometers cap
tured from the United States merchant
men; that the Deerhound's owner had
violated a pledge made to Capt. JOHN A
winslow. of the Kearsarge. to put the
rescued men on board the United States
vessel and that he had violated neu-
tralIty laws in order to cheat the Fed
eral captain of the fruits Of victory.
All these representations were with
out foundation. nor was there to be an
understanding of the international law
bearing on the subject, even at WASH
ington-
This. however. tended rather to in
crease than to diminish popular feeling
against England. concerning the escape
Of Capt Semmes, which became so
fha hvr
many years.
The pirate Semmes escapes on an
English yacht was a line in the press
well calculated to arouse all the old
bitterness against England on the score
Of the Alabama This bitterness clouded
sober judgment, even in official circles.
Evidence Of this Is to be found in
abundance in the Official records. which
show that not only Mr.. Charles Francis
Adams, in dealing with this matter. was
less sure of his facts than usual. but
that the head Of the Navy Department
also allowed his chagrin to lead him into
intemperance Of thought and expression
in writing officially Of the incident
Bitterness Against semmes.
The attitude Of the Federal Navy Dc
partment is indicated IL. a'letter of in
structions from Secretary Gideon welles
10 capt NAnslOW. OF the hedESdFSe.
dated July L. In this Capt. Semmes
is designated as "an ignoble leader
. a deserter from our service and
a traitor to our hag." who had been
making piratical war on unarmed mer-
chantmen." He was further termed the
wretched commander of the sunken cor
sair." and was charged with "dishonor-
able means Of escape" and with having
thrown overheard the sword that was
no longer his" The remainder Of the
letter was in the same vein.
One point made by the Secretary was
that the Alabama had never sailed
under any recognized national flag" since
she left the shores Of England. While
It was true that the Confederate States
had never been recognized as a nation.
they had been accorded belligerent rights
by all nations, and their flag had been
recognized by the United States by the |
of prisoners. and by the treat |
ment as prisoners of war Of men cap
tured under 1t at sea- ,
p The right of parole Of the Alabama's
men as prisoners of war was denied by
the Secretary of the Navy, who in the
etter quoted expressly disavowed" the
act Of Capt. winslow in paroling the
prisoners from the Alabama who had
been landed from the Kearsarge in
France.
Inc purpose OF lLllS NOulSE - AA4dNS
clear in these words in the Secretary's
etter: Extreme caution must be ex-
ercised that we in no way change the |
character Of this EngIish-huilt and Eng |
If not English-owned ves-
,eI."
Secretary welles was helping lay the |
foundation of claims against England |
for the losses sustained through the |
that arbitrators would |
Fa,- taI
.easons he had set forth. England's |
liability for the Alabama had begun and |
,nded with allowing her to proceed TO |
Iea from the builders hands
Charges of Bad Faith.
When the news Of Capt. SemmeS' |
,scape reached Washington Mr.. Adams !
vas instructed by this government TO |
iemand the return as escaped prisoners |
" war Of the persons rescued by the |
Oeerhound. This was the beginning OF
diplomatic correspondence on the sub
ect that was to last the rest OF the /
rear Earl Russell claimed that the l
,wner of the Deerhound had performed
a praiseworthy act of humanity" to
which he had been "eXhorted by the
OF the Kearsarge' and that
le was under no obligation to deliver
o the Kearsarge the persons whom he
lad rescued.
These points were contested by Mr..
adams on the ground that at the time
Il their rescue the Alabama s people
we're prisoners of war.
The language used by Mr.. Adams was
veil chosen, and the tone Of his COM
was such as to give cause
or irritation. In his final letter on the
ubject. dated June IS. he stated that
grave question had arisen through
he interference Of British vessel with
number of persons belonging to the
Alabama who had already surrendered
themselves as. prisoners of war" These
ersons had been brought to England
nd were believed to be in readiness to
lie operations against the commerce OF
he United States" Mr.. Adams called
,arI RusselTs attention ito the remark
BILE proportion" Of American insur-
ents'' in the list of rescued. adding:
That this selection was made by British
ubtects with a view to connive at the
scape Of these particular individuals,
ave no doubt"
Mr.. Adams Claims.
Earl Russelrs reply was brief. 1t ap- !
cared to him that the owner Of the
'eerhound had performed only a COM
ION duty OF humanity in saving from
ne waves the captain and several of
ne crew Of the Alabama" adding that
they would otherwise, in all probability,
ave been drowned. and thus would
ever have been in the situation Of pris-
ners of war"
Il NAN- 4