Show MUST AT ONCE BE STOPPED No More Toying With the American Flag at Sea GRESHAM MEANS BUSINESS i i riuragua Does Not Like the Tenor of the Secretarys Letter Hints That Captain Grossman of the Alllnncn Dreamed That He Was Fired Upon By a Spanish Gunboat Gun-boat I Madrid March 15The following cablegram ca-blegram has < been received here Taylor Minister Madrid This department de-partment is informed that on the 8th Inst the United States mail steamship i Alliancia on her homeward voyage I i I from Colon to New York when sixI miles from the coast of Cuba was repeatedly re-peatedly fired upon by a Spanish gunboat gun-boat with solid shot which fortunately fell short The windward passage where this occurred is the natural and usual highway for vessels plying between be-tween ports of the United States and the Carribean sea Through it several regular lines of American mail and commercial steamers pass weekly within sight of Cape May They are well known and their voyage embraces no Cuban port of call The forcible interference in-terference with them cannot be claimed as a belligerent act unless they pass within three miles of the Cuban coast and can under no circumstances be tolerated when no state of war exists This government will expect the I prompt disavowal of the unauthorized act and due expression of regret upon I the part Of Spain and it must insist that immediate and positive orders be given to the Spanish naval commanders command-ers not to interfere with the legitimate I commerce passing through that channel I chan-nel and prohibiting all acts wantonly i imperiling the life and property lawfully II law-fully under the flag of the United States You will communicate this to I the minister of foreign affairs and urge the Importance of a prompt and I satisfactory response responseGRESHAM I |