The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1890-08-05
BEHRTNG SEA.
Interview with the Rear-AdmiraI of
the British North-Pacifc Squadron.

u llA- 81 = II. ". >. w al lJIiO6, Ont
flagship of the North Pacific squad
ron. with Rear-Admiral Hotham
aboard, arrived this afternoon. The
Admiral was received with a salute
fred by II. N. S. Champion. He
was seen on board the flag ship by
an Associated Press correspondent,
who interviewed HIM, chiefly in re-
gard TO the suggested movement of
war-ships to protect Canadian YES
sells in the Behring Sea- The Adj
miral has not yet had an opportu-
nifty TO complete the perusal of a
mass of correspondent that await
ed him here, but he stated en-
Dhaticailv that he had, as yet, re
ceived no instructions to send any
Of the feet TO the north to protect
British vessels from seizure by
American cutters or to retake any
that might be seized in Behring
Sea.
He considered the matter, prin-
cipally from what he had read of it
II the press, purely one for diplo-
matte negotiation. and he had yet to
learn what new phase had present
ed itself that would suggest the
possibility of war ships being re-
CURED to take hand in the adjust
s mt Of the difficulty. He could
hardly see how the United States
could establish tenable claim to
close the Behring Sea, and thought
that Canadian interests must win
ID the diplomatic fight now pro-
crossing.
The latest naval orders, so far as
he knew, were those of two years
ago, in which it was stated that
, Tarships might be required to pat
rol the Behring Strait. No ship
was ever sent to do this work, but
N the event of one being required,
there were plenty at Esquimalt now
ready TO leave at once. On taking
command Of the squadron, 1T was
only natural for him to want to see
a. many of the ships as possible at
The summer headquarters at Esqui-
malt. This was the only reason he
could give for the presence of so
many ships in port. Only two were
wanted to complete the list, the
Acorn and the store-ship, both of
which are now at Honolulu.
While his information on the
subject and on the points Of inter
national law would not justify an
opinion, he thought 1t somewhat
strange that the Sealers that had
,een seized had been stripped Of
their contents, the sealsllins being
removed 10 cutters, and then APP
parently allowed to escape. When
! prize crew was put on board of
SLAYER seized in a similar fashion, the
slaves were not taken off, but went
with the seized boat to the nearest
"A re port, there to have their case
al iudicated upon. 1t certainly
looked like a strange proceeding to
remove the salable cargo Of the
seaiers and then 90 through the
farce Of sending them to a prize
Is with crew of one in charge.
Had England any intention of
sending one of the feet to Behring
Sea this year to prevent the seizure
rf :. -hooners flying the English flag
wss presumed that orders would
bave eame long ago. Now if one
lid 80 If wop,'d be practically too
late III the season TO accomplish the
md sought. He certainly should
make no move in the matpSr with
out ample instructions so to do, ana
he had not received these instrtc-
tons Yet. although be did not know
what his present mail might con-
tain.
This was ali that was said in re-
gard to the sealing question, and
sfter referring briefly to the pleas
1res of his long trip and paying a
warm compliment to the attractions
II the scenery and climate presented
by British Columbia, to whose
shores the present was his first
visit. the admiral closed the inter-
new by saying be had not a knowl.
edge of the future movements OF
50 Of the ships The first thing
now would be inspection. and then
tR allotment of each of the fleet to
rs destination.
The New Admiral" as the ma
iority of persons here naturally
enough term him, is the youngest
man in the British navy holding the
rank of Rear Admiral. He is re-
rarded as a brave and skillful OIL
Ger, and is said to be great f~vor-
re with those under his authority.