The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-18
BEHRING SEA.
Interview With the Rtar-Admifal Of the
British NOrth-PaCifC Squadron.

VICTORIA, July r7.-H. NJ. S. Warsprite,
the flagship of the NOrth-Pacific squadron,
with Rear-Admiral Hotham aboard, arrived
this afternoon. The Admiral was received
with salute fired by Ii. NJ. S. Champion.
He was seen on board the flagship by an
Associated Press correspondent, who inter-
viewed him, chiefly in regard to the sug-
gested movement Of war-ships to protect
Canadian vessels in the Behring Sea.
The Admiral has not yet had an
opportunity to complete the perusal of
mass Of corresp ondence that awaited him
here, but he stated emphatlcally that he
had, as vet, received no Instructions to send
any of the fleet to the north to protect Brit
isb vessels from seizure by American cut
tiers or to retake any that might be seized
in Behring Sea.
he considered the matter, principally
from what he had read of it in the press,
purely one for diplomatic negotiation. and
he had yet to learn what new phase had
presented itself that would suggest the
possibility OF war-ships being required
to take hand in the adjustment of the
difficulty. He could hardly see how the
United States could establish a tenable
claim to close the Behring Sea aud thought
that Canadian interests must win in the
diplomatic fight now progressing.
The latest naval orders, so far as he
knew, were those of two years ago, in
which it was stated that warships might
be required to patrol the Behring
Strait. No ship was ever sent to do
this work, but in the event of one
being required, there were plenty at
Esquimalt now ready to leave at once. On
taking command of the squadron, it was
only natural for him to Want to see as many
of the ships as possible at the summer head
quarters at Esquimalt. 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 tile
store-ship, both Of which are now at
Honolulu.
While his information on the subject and
on the points of international law would
not justify an opinion, he thought 1t s0me-
what strange that the sealerS that had been
seized had been stripped of their con-
tents, the sealskins being removed to
cutters, aud then apparently allowed to es-
cape. When prize crew was put on
board OF a SLAYER seized in a similar fash
Ion. the slaves we're not taken OF. but went
with the seized boat TO the nearest prize port
there to have their eSsdiudicated upon.
1t certainly looked like strange proceed
ing to remove the salable cargo of the
sealers and then go through the farce Of
sending them to prize port with crew of
one In charge.
Had England any intention of sending
one of the fleet to Behring Sea this year TO
prevent the seizure OF schooners flying the
LnSloH uaS ~ Wdo piCouLuCu Ludt OIutES
would have come long ago. Now if one
did so it would be practically too
late in the season to accomplish the end
sought. He certainly should make no move
in the matter without ample instructions so
to do. and he had not received these in
structions yet, although he did not know
what his present mail might contain.
This was all that was said in regard to
the sealing question, and after referring
briefly to the pleasures of his long trip and
paying a warm compliment to the attrac-
tiOns of the scenery and climate pre-
sented by British Columbia, to
whose shores the present was his
first visit, the Admiral closed the inter-
view by saying he had not a knowledge of
the future movements of any of the ships.
The first thing now would be inspection,
and then the allotment of each of the fleet
TO its destination.
''The New Admiral" as tile majority of
persons here naturally enough term him, is
the youngest man in the British navy hold
ing the rank of Rear-Admiral. He is re-
garded as brave and skillful officer. and
is said to be great favorite with those un-
der his authority.