Show FRENCH GUNBOAT HALTED did not respond to american signals and a fight seemed imminent copyright 1898 by the associated press playa del este bay july 14 A french gunboat of about 2000 tons displacement attempt ed to come into the harbor about dusk tonight without bermis eion and met with a surprise party the cruiser marblehead fired a blank shot as the gunboat came into the entrance to the harbor but no attention was paid to this and a shot froma six was sent across her bows this too was disregarded the gunboat coming along under full steam for a few minutes it looked aa if a row was possible the trumpets on the marblehead rane out a call to quarters and another shot was sent across the frenchmans French mans bows this time in uncomfortable proximity that warning was sufficient however and the frenchman stopped with extreme suddenness it is naval custom for a war vessel of one nation to enter a port which vessels of another nation are blockading unless permission is granted the captain of the french gunboat wag eithur in ignorance of the american occupation or chose to disregard dia regard it until forcibly reminded of the fact by commodore me calla at was allowed to anchor in the lower bay for the night |