The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-22
ADMIRAL HorHAm ON DECK.
His Squadron Mt Esquimault Not Larger
than Heneage's.
Nav York Stn

His Squadron at Esquimault Not Larger
than Heneage's.
New York Sun.
Rear Admiral Charles Frederick Hotham,
G. B., is to have charge. this year, of the
Pacific. which last summer was under the
command Of Rear Admiral Algernon G.
Fieschi Heneage But the change from
Heneage to Hotham implies no change in
British policy regarding Behring sea; and
even the list of vessels in the feet, which is
causing so much satisfaction in Ottawa re-
veals no noticeable increase of strength as
compared with the feet OF twelve months
ago.
There was at Esquimanlt on the LIST of
July, the Amphion, OF 4,3o0 tons and ten
guns, with $50 horsepower and about 16
knots. and the Champion, of very nearly
the same class and dimensions. Admiral
Hotbam will add to these his flagship, the
Warsplte. an armorclad of $500 tons. ten
guns and $1,000 horsepower; the Espiegle.
l ,1S0 tons aud ten guns, and the Nymphe
and Daphne, eight guns each. Comparing
this with Admiral Heneage's force of last
year. we note that the Amphion. the
Champion and the Espiegle were in the
former feet, while the Caroline, of LAO
tons and fourteen guns; the Icarus, of
eight guns, and the Cormoranr of six held
the place now occupied by the Nynlphe
and Daphne. Finally, Admiral Heneage's
flagship was the Swiftsure, an armorclad
of nearly 1000 tons displacement and ten
guns.
II is clear, therefore, that the British
strength now in Pacific waters is about
equivalent to last years, and that any ex-
pectations raised in Victoria and Ottawa of
the great things John Bull is about to do,
based on the supposition that Admiral
Hotham's feet is unusually strong, are un-
founded. Why should there he anv in
crease of force? Ii the British flag officer
has orders to do battle with American yes-
Sells. and to recapture British sailing
6thooners seizsd by the Rush, the Bear, or
the Corwin, single ship like the Swif,sure
or Warspite could overhaul ana sink all
these unpretentious revenue cutters. and
also the numbering old Thetis and the little
Pinta. the contributions of the American
navy to Ala kan waters. which are armed
only with few howitzsrs or machine guns.
But it is pure assumption that Admiral
Hotham has received any such belligerent
orders; in fact, there is good reason for
surprising that his instructions are OF quite
another sort. Nothing has occurrel to
change the situation In Behring sea from
that of o year ago. when the British feet
was conspicuous for carefully ignoring the
dealings of the Rush with the British Col
umba sealers. 1t would be most extra
ordinary proceeding, while friendly nego-
tiations are going on for settlement of the
Behring sea dispute by diplomatic corre-
spondence and conference, to suddenly re-
sort to war. Mr.. Blaine and Sir Julian
Pauncefote are so deeply immersed in this
conference that the latter has even i'm
timated that they are likely to go on with
it during their vacation, which they are to
10 q m nv tho
coast OF Maine and the minister on the
north shore OF Massachusetts, BAY Adj
miral Hotham will hardly take the con-
troversy from their hands and proceed to
settle it by military means.
The status which both parties could al
low to be maintained without loss of dig.
nifty or of reserved rights, is one In which
the laws of the United States are enforced
against British sealing vessels in Behring
sea. That being the fact, it is no disturb
ance OF the status for the Rush to go on
with seizures and confiscations as last wear;
and last year, although Great Britain had
protested against this policy, the British
squadron in the Pacific received noinstru
tons to attack the Rush. or TO impede th
vessel in the exercise of her duties 1t was
perfectly understood that the United
States government was continuii
this policy at its own risk, and TIA.
If either through agreement or arbitra-
should be reached, it might have to paw
damages to the British seaiers. That Is
the situation now. The case is analogous
to what is seen here on the Atlantic. Our
New England fishermen have much 10
complain of, but our war ships do not on
that account attempt to prevent the Do
minion revenue vessels from carving out
their instructions pending the diplomatic
controversy.
OF course the American government NAV
think 1t expedient 10 suspend the strict en-
forcement of its sealing laws during nego-
tiations. especially If these negotiations are
approaching q conclusion. 1t may not de-
sire to risk additional claims for damages:
or, on the other hand, ii may be so success
full in its diplomacy that temporary lenitv
will appear wise. But whether it contin-
ues its seizures. as last year, or intermits
them. as year before last, British war ships
may be expected not to interfere with its
instructions 10 its revenue cutters.