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The mysterious sailing of the steamship _Adria_ from Key West, a week
ago, has attracted a good deal of comment; it is said that she had on
board many miles of submarine cable, together with the necessary
appliances for grappling, splicing, and laying, and telegraphic
instruments for use on shore. It is believed that the purpose is to cut
the cable off shore, splice a piece to it, and carry it to some
unfrequented spot and there establish a cable station; this would enable
our authorities to communicate quickly with Washington--when the
invasion of Cuba takes place, or to keep the insurgents advised as to
our movements.

* * * * *

A very interesting question of international law has been brought up by
the cutting of the cables by Admiral Dewey; it is claimed that by doing
this he has established an international precedent, for his cutting of
the cable connecting a country at war with another country is a forcible
interference with communication which has not been practised in any
previous war.

The question of cable-cutting has never come up before as a means of
offensive warfare, as it is only in recent years that there has been any
extensive laying of cables. Dewey's example has been followed by the
blockading fleet off Cuba; this fact establishes beyond all peradventure
the position that this Government has assumed. The British Government
evidently believes that in the time of war the right to cut cables
connecting the opposing nation with other countries is one which may be