Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-08-05

Washington, Aug. 4.-Five destroy CTS are patrolling the entrance to the Miami, Flo, harbor, under orders from President Wilson, to prevent, by force, if necessary, the landing Of cable the Western Union Telegraph com- pany is having laid from Barbadoes, a British possession in the West In- dies.
 A British cable ship, the Colonial, has been chartered by the Western Union company to land the American end of the cable which would connect with British cable line from Barba dos to South America. At the state department it was stated today that the British embassy had been asked to inform the master of the ship that such landing would be in violation of American law. Officials explained there was no significance in the fact that. the vessel was British; that she probably was the only cable craft available to the American company when she was chartered.
 Work on the cable line from Barba- dos was begun last summer.
 Some time ago the Western Union company applied to the state depart ment for an executive permit to land the wire at Miami, but officials said action on it had been delayed pending the holding of the international com munications congress, called to meet in Washington, September 15.
 A British cable company, it was ex- plained, now has a monopoly of cable rights in Brazilian waters. An Amer ican concern desires to construct di- rect cable line from the United States to Brazil and it was stated that the American government desired to know before issuing the permit to the Wes- tern Union company, whether the ar engagement entered into by the com pany with the British concern, the Western Cable company, controlling the line from Barbados to Brazil, would add to this monopoly.
 In this connection, it was asserted that at the forthcoming international communications congress the whole theory of international communica- tions was to be examined Gin very different temperament" from that ex- isting in the past.
 There were reports today that af- ter the Western Union company filed it's application for a permit the state requested that a copy of the contract with the British cable concern also be filed and that the company had refused to comply. No information as to this was obtainable at the department.
 While there is direct cable line between the United States and the Pacific coast of South America, cable between this country and Brazil is possible now only by way of London, unless the messages are sent to the west coast and d.relaved over the land. A direct cable line to Brazil, officials said, is much to be preferred as it would afford aNmeans of faster and probably cheaper com munications.
 The orders from the president which resulted in the destroyers be- ing assigned to patrol the three mile limit off Miami, were issued, it was said, after reports had reached the government that the company planned to complete connection of the line Sec retary Daniels was advised of the or ders upon his return from Alaska. It was announced today that five de- stroyers had instructions from the president to use any means necessary to prevent the landing of the cable. Rear Admiral Decker, commandant at Key West, is in command of the de- stroyer force. but Secretary Daniels said he would be replaced by his or der. Rear Admiral Anderson, com mandant at Charleston, s. c.