The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-03-14


of the department., was tonight shown
the latest San Francisco bulletin respect
ing the alleged blowing up of the United
ton in stamping it an absurd fabrication,
and he denied that any orders have been
sent to San Francisco looking to
the immediate equipment of the
cruiser Charleston. To show the utter
improbability of the story, Commodore
Walker says telegraphic news reaching
San Francisco from Samoa must CROSS
from Auckland to Australia, then Gross the
Dutch East Indian Islands to Asia, up
through Europe to England, across the
Atlantic to the eastern coast of the United
States, where it is taken up by land lines
and transmitted to California. "So," said
the commodore, it is evident such news
could not possibly reach San Francisco
but it is known in the east. As the navy
department. has an officer stationed at
Auckland for the very purpose of for
wsrding information respecting Samoan
events, and it is not to be supposed he
would overlook a matter like the sinking
of the Nipsio."
NOT OFFICIALLY ADVISED.
WARRINGTON, March 9.-In the state de-
partment they have not been officially ad-
vised of the blowing up of the Nipsic, and
it is regarded as sufficient evidence that no
such thing has happened. They have not
telegrsphed the acting consul for the res-
son that it is not to be supposed that he
has neglected his duty and has failed to
inform his government of an event of
such importance.
In answer to suggestion that the Ger
mans would control every avenue by
which news could reach the United States,
it is said they could not prevent informa-
ton from reaching England through
some of the English vessels at Samoa,
even supposing that the reported
engagement had been followed up
by declaration OF war, which
might have resulted in the cutting
off of Consul Blackjack from the cable at
Auckland. The naval officers here,
without exception, all deride the
story, although they admit the Nipsio
would have been overmatohed by the Olga
In sea fight. They rather incline to &C.
cept the view taken by certain of the
English papers that the publication in the
German newspapers was thrown out as
feeler to learn how an attempt to chastise
the Mataafa forces for the killing of Ger
man seamen would be received in Ger
many and America.
The Nipsic has been at Apia four
months relieving the Adonis. She was
put in commission October 10, 1887, at
New York, and sailed from that port for
the Pacific January 10, 1888, arriving at
Apia November 7. In the naval register
the Nipsic is described as second-rate
vessel, of the cruiser type, having wooden
hull, bark rugged. She carries six
guns, mostly smooth bore, in
her main battery, and has d
displacement of 1875 tons. The Trenton
and Vandalia which it is believed have al
| ready reached Apia, though second-rate
ships, are larger than the Nipsic. The
Trenton is a ship-rigged wooden cruiser
of ten guns, of $500 tons displacement
The Vandalia is also bark-rigged wooden
I cruiser of 2,100 tons, with her battery OF
eight guns, mostly smooth-bore.
| As far as known the Olga is the mos
formidable of the German vessels at Apia
She is an unarmored and unprotected
single decked cruiser of 1900 tons dis
placement, and was built in 1880. He
principal battery consists of eight 6-inci
Krupp rifles and number of Hotchkis
revolving cannon. 1t is thought at thu
navy department. that she carrie
about half a dozen Schwartzkoff torpe
does, which are similar to the Whitehead
torpedoes, in that they are prof from
tubes beneath the water line. The speed
of the Olga is somewhat superior to tina
of the Vandalia, her maximum speed hav
ing been IA knots.
The Germans also have in Samoan
waters the Adler and Eber, which are no
as large or as strong as the Olga, the Able
carrying four and the Eber three Krupl
rifles.
The great strength of the German flee
lies in its possession of torpedoes. In tn
United States navy there is not torpedo
except few of the "Spar torpedoes,
which are regarded by naval experts
practically useless.
The German navy consists Eof abou
seventy five vessls. while twenty-five NOR
are in course of construction. They ar
all vessels of the most formidable type
heavily armored, many of them arme'
with plate and carrying superior TORPEDO
outfits.
About twenty-five ancient vessels and
few modern cruisers not ready for servic
represents the American naval strength
They are generally armed with smooth
borss and widely distributed over the fac
of the globe. The monitors are moon
plete. In the event of war they must forr
our chief reliance, but it would take man
months to put on their turrets and max
their guns.