Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-12-12
THIS is NOT A BLUFF.
Uncle Sam Will Insist on Having
His Rights or Blood.
FOUR WAR SHIPS GOING TO HAYTl.
Secretary Whitney Orders the Entire
Available Naval Force to Prepare
to Proceed to Port au Prince
Must Surrender the
Seized Vessel.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. faction
has been taken by Secretary Whitney,
which leaves no doubt as to the policy
of this government with regard to the
case of the American steamer Haytiel
Republic, recently seized at Port all
Prince, Hayti. The release of the ves-
sci has been demanded through tie
proper diplomatic channels, and if tie
demand is not complied with within a
reasonable period of time, steps will be
taken to enforce it. With this end in
view Secretary Whitney to-day sent
Geographic instructions to Rear Ad
miral Gherardi, commandant of tne
New York navy yard, to have the ships
Richmond, Galena and Yantic prepared
for sea as rapidly as possible. 1t WAS
expected that these vessels would in
the ordinary progress of the work upon
them be completed in about two weeks.
The idea now is to have then ready so
that they can sail direct for Hayti carly
next week. Orders have also been is
sued for Rear Admiral Luce, command
ing the North Atlantic station to trans
fe1 his flag from the Galena to the
Richmond and to use that vessel as the
flagship of the expedition.
Officials of the State Department are
as usual reticent on the subject and will
not admit even that the release of the
Hayden Republic has been demanded.
Secretary Whitney, however, is more
candid and outspoken. When APP
preached this morning he admitted
frankly that he had ordered the three
naval vessels at New York to be cotton
ready as soon as possible to start for
Hayti. He added: "There is local
disturbance there, you know, and it is
always good plan to have naval vessels
near at hand on such occasions. You re-
member that the Haytien authorities
referred the case of the seized steamer
to this government. Well, we have
reached decision and that in short is
that they have got to give her up. 1t is
unfortunate that the yellow fever broke
out on the Boston while she was at Port
au Prince, and compelled her to leave
that climate. Otherwise the matter
might have been settled before now.
If it was not considered somewhat I'M
safe, we would send the Boston back to
Hayti to aid the other vessels in case of
necessity. That's about all there is to it.
We do not think TIE seizure of the YES
sci justified and are, therefore, deter
mined that she must be delivered up to
u.s."
Orders were issued this afternoon to
the commandment of the Norfolk Navy
Yard to prepare the L. S. s. Ossipee for
service as soon as possible. 1t Will take
little longer to DO this than will be
necessary with the three vessels at New
York, but it is thought she can be fully
prepared TO follow them to Hayti with
in Jew days. She will be sent to Port
au Prince unless something happens in
the meantime to render it unnecessary.
Secretary Endicott had an interview
with Secretary Whitney this morning
and rumor started that it had been
decided to send a number of troops to
Hayti to assist the naval forces, but it
was subsequently, ascertained that there
was no foundation Tor the report.