Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-05-31
THE ARCTIC WAR-CLGUD.
1t Strikes Officials as Very
Like a Whale"
MARE CLAUSUM NO CASUS BELLI.
John Bull Can Mean No Menace to
Our Policemen of the Sea-"
the Thetis and Bear.

( Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALDi
WASHINGTON, May 30.-The warlike
dispatches from British Columbia, with
regard to the expected trouble between
the United States and Great Britain, are
generally discredited by the officers of
the Navy Department. 1t is pointed out
that no officer of rank sufficiently high
to make him acquainted with the Eng
lish Governments purposes would, un-
der any circumstances, be so foolish as
to talk in the manner stated in the dis
patch from Victoria, B. G. A promi-
nent naval officer today said that the
United States had no reason to appre-
hend any difficulty. Great Britain
assuredly would not commit any overt
act of violence in case her sealers were
arrested, without warming this Govern.
ment of her Intentions, and warn
ing that Great Britain would, by
force, dispute the sovereignty of Behring
Sea had never been communicated to
the United States. This, alone, showed
the improbability of the story. 1t might
be that the three vessels named were
going to Behring Sea, though that was,
| by no means, certain. Their duties
there, however, would probably consist
in nothing more than keeping watch on
the situation, to prevent their citizens
from being wantonly ill-used, and giving
the sealers good advice. II our vessels
attempted anything that was unwar-
ranted, it might be that the British Off
GERS would feel called upon to interfere.
The United States sent vessels to the
Newfoundland fisheries each year to look
| after American interests, and the British
probably had similar mission in the
Alaskan waters, presuming that they
would 60 there.
The United States naval force at pres
ent available in Behring Sea consists of
the Bear, the Thetis and revenue cut
ter. These vessels are of no use for
actual warfare, and are simply policemen
| OF the sea. The Adams and Iroquois are
| at Mare Island, and could be sent to sea
| at short notice if circumstances demanded
| it. The Charleston is also at San Fran
cisco, but it will be some time before she
will be ready to 60 into commission. She
| has demonstl ated, it is said, that she is
| an excellent boat, but has not yet full
filled the contract requirements. Even
| if these requirements were waived, under
stress Of emergency, it would take some
| time to fit the Charleston out for service,
as has been already stated. However,
the naval officers do not think the situa-
ton at all alarming, or even threatening.
The Bebring Sea fisheries, they are conf
dent, will not precipitate a conflict be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain.
LONDON, May 30-In the Commons,
this evening, Sir James Ferguson. Par
liamentary Secretary to the Foreign Of
| fee, denied the report from Victoria, B.
| c., that three men-of-war in the Pacific
had been ordered to proceed to Behring
Sea in June to protect British sealing
vessels from interference by American
men-of-war.
| OTTAWA, May 30.-The Department of
Marine and Fisheries is without any Of
fetal information as to the dispatch of
war ships to Behring Sea, by either Eng
land or the United States. No signif-
canoe is attached by the head officials to
the dispatch of these steamers. A. any
rate, that is how they express them
| selves