Evening journal., 1890-07-11
John BULLS EYES OPEN.
S.z Of Eis War Vessels Arc at
Victoria, B. c. !
ENGLISH OFFICERS RETIcnNr.

They Look solemn, nut say Nothing
About the Behring Sea Trouble-Each
Of Their ships Could Blow Three like
the Rush Out OF Water
VICTORIA, B. G., July 11.-Whatever NAV
be the implied significance Of the advent
OF many British war ships in Esouimalt
harbor cannot shut my eyes to the fact
that in reality the occurrence is one that
cnn very reasonably be accounted for by
other reasons than the one Of attempted
intimidation or worse. A new admiral in
the regular course of events has been ap-
pointed to this Northern Pacific station.
and It has been the custom for many years
when such an advent has transpired for
the whole squadron TO assemble at Vic
toria and welcome him and the new flag
ship, Admiral Heneage has served his full
time, and this month is the correct date FOR
the arrival Of his successor, Admiral Hoth-
am who, with bis ship, the Warsprite, will
be here in few days.
A stroke Of GeneralshIp.
But apart from this explanation it can
not be denied that it may be nothing more
than skillful stroke OF generalship that
has planned the arrival Of these vessels Of
the squadron at this particular crisis. I
visited every vessel in port, and after mi
nutely probing the officers aud men came
10 the conclusion that not even one Of the
commanders now here knows the least
thing about what they are 20 do. though
when Behring sea is mentioned they knit
their hrows and look portentiously solemn
and grave
The stolid Naval Onlcer.
II there is one man aware Of the inten-
tions Of the British government in the
matter 1t is Sir Julian Pauncefote at
Washington, and have no doubt that as
soon as Admiral Hotham reaches here he
viii know as much. Indeed there is a big
packet of official documents waiting here
for him now from Washington.
Speaking with United States Consul
Myers day or two ago he gave his opinion
Of British naval officers. Said he:
II never heard Of or realized before this
what an admirable specimen Of stolidity
on all matters official the British naval
officer really is But for all that the dis
cipline Of navy that teaches It's officers
and men before anything else to keep their
mouths shut is nothing short Of admirable
and one well worthy Of imitation by other
navies.
The vessels are just finishing coaling,
and when the flagship reaches here they
will do one Of two things-they will either
start at once for the south on a downward
cruise, leaving the Warsprite and perhaps
the Champion in harbor, or else three Of
them will remain in the harbor and the
other three proceed slowly north until they
reach Behring sea
In that event I should Judge that the
three vessels 70 go north will be the
Champion, Espiegle and Nymph--the
three smallest-for any one of the six
would be ample force TO protect our sealers,
and the smallest Of all Of them, the Nymph,
could blow the Bear, Alert and Rush out
of the water together. One thing is GER
tain--in no case will the Warsprite 20 to
sea. It would even be folly TO send the
Amphion, for it would simply mean
waste Of coal
The Seal Pirates Already az Work.
II Is safe TO say that at the present date
every sealing schooner that sailed from
here and the rest Of the coast this year has
now entered the sea, the general date for
entry through the Oornanak Pass being
the 4th Of July Then the vessels gener-
ally proceed along slowly round the chain
Of the Aleutian group, sealing and hunting
the ntfpF