The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-30
WAITING FOR CHILE.
An Answer Expected Soon
From Santiago.
Sudden SubSldeHCe Of the Warlike Ru-
- mOTS at The Nations Capital
Congress May Not Pass The appropriation
Ellis Needed-The Ordnance for
The Cruiser Monterey.
Special to THE MoRN1Ss GAIT

scopic and instantaneous IN their nature,
and go from one extreme to the other. To-
day the departments are comparatively de-
serted. and one would imagine from APP
pearances that the possibilities of war are
very remote. Yesterday tie corridors and
antereoms were well filled with states
men and diplomates; to-day there were
not enough around to prevent the
place from bearing an almost de-
serted look. OF news there was none,
although something was promised from the
. State Department later in the day, while
the rumors were almost as scarce. Senator
Allison of the Appropriation Committee.
Representative Lodge Of the House Naval
Committee and Representative Brewer of
North Carolina were Secretary Tracy's only
visitors before the Cabinet met, while Sec
retary Blaine had none at all aside from
department officials 1t is generally under
stood about the State Department that on
Cabinet days the Secretary will see no one
except by previous engagement. so flat the
callers on those days are infreQuent.
sUBsIDENCE OF WAR TALK.
Around the Navy Department 1t was
hinted that the cause of the sudden SUBJ
sidence of war talk was due to the fact that
Congress could not be depended on for sup
plying the necessary funds TO carry on the
campaign against Chile; that, in fact, it
probably would not give its consent 10 a
declaration of hostilities against that coun-
try. What authority existed for this opinion
was not stated. The Cabinet meeting to-
day, at which all the members were present
a II
long, and it is understood that Chilean
affairs formed the principal topic of dis
cnssion. If any change Of policy or view
occurred in the light of the latest informa-
tion received from Valparaiso it has not
transpired.
WAITING FOR CHILE's REPLY.
. An official said to-day: There is no ma
terial development in Chilean affairs, When
It is said that the most serious outcome of
trouble is expected, and that this country is
merely waiting an official announcement by
the Chilean Government as to the result of
the investigation of the Baltimore outrage,
which unofficially is understood to be unsat-
isfactory y, The whole situation is set forth.
WILL NOT APOLOGIZE.
Thine, of course, must be given 10 the
Chileans TO make up their minds what to do
in the matter, but Ii is entirely probable
that they know now whether or not they
Will offer any reparation fOT the outrage,
and the whole matter depends upon that.
No one appears to be in position to declare
with knowledge that an apology will not be
offered, but all indicat ons by which tkis
country can judge of the attitude OF the
Chile an Government tend to the conclusion
that the arrogance and defiance which have
been displayed up to this time will not be
abated."
WAR PREPARATIONS PROCEEDING.
The military aud naval preparations for
hostilities are in active progress. and the
fact that every effort is being made in the
interest of peace and to allay public appre-
hension does not lessen the seriousness of
the situation. The question at issue is not
ore, it IS asserted, that can be submitted to
arbitration. 1t resolves itself merely into
thr ee possbilities-an apology from Chile,
a backdown by the United States, OF a fight
There does not appear to be R spirit of apol-
Ogy IN the Chilean disposition al this time
nnd II Is hardly to be supposed that the
United States Will be content to maintain
peace at loss of dignity.
A vEXATIoUs DELAY.
There has absolutely been no incident to-
day that could be said To point to warlike
preparation. Such unofficial advices as
have been received are to the effect that the
legal authorities Of Valparaiso have not
completed their revision Of the formal pro-
ceedings of Justice Foster. Just how long
those legal formalities may be protracted
before they may be regarded as causing
further needless delay" is, of course,
determinable only by President Harrison,
but there IS reason to believe that there has
been brought to his attention the difficulties
that have surrounded President MOntt in
tile formation of his new Cabinet and he is
also desrous of avoiding the appearance of
e0deavOring to interfere with the due pro-
cess of law in Chile. If there is any reason
hi
process Is being followed. These consid-
eratiOns have doubtless led him to adopt the
course OF patient waiting to the utmost ex-
tTeme consistent with due regard to the
dignity of the United States, and as far as
can be learned, it is probable that no de-
fore the reassembling of Congress, unless a
further communication from the Chilean
Government should give a different aspect
10 the situation.
PEACE IN THE BUREAUS.
II the heads of the bureaus in the Navy
Department are to be believed, no extra
ordinary efforts are being made to put the
naval vessels in condition for active hos
tilitles. In the Construction Bureau the
officers in charge say positively that no or
dsrs have gone forward 10 San Francisco to
hurry up work on the Monterey. As a
matter of fact fewer orders are passing
through the bureau al present than during
the past three months.
ORDNANCE FOR THE MONTERREY.
e In the Ordnance Bureau it is learned that
the turret armer for the Monterey is ready
for shipment TO San Francisco at any time.
Her great guns are also ready, and the
Pennsylvania Railway has undertaken to
transport them across the continent The
task is one of magnitude, as a Pinch rifle
without carriage weighs 56 tons and the
carriage weighs % tons. Specially con-
structed cars will be necessary for the
transportation of these great masses of
metal and much nice calculation respecting
curves, tunnels and strength of many
bridges between the Washington and Cali
fornia nayy-yards have been made to in
sure the sale delivery of the guns. These
guns are not only fntrinsically valuable, but
their loss at the present time would be a
serious calamity, as many months would ba
consumed In making guns to replace them.
TESTING THE ToRPEDoES
Satisfactory progress is being made Iu the
production oil armor and torped0eS, but it
Is insisted by the ordnance officers that
neither the arnIor plates nor the torpedoes
have been or will be accepted until they
have been thoroughly tested. A lot of
Howell torpedoes, about forty, are practi-
eally ready for use. ana the first installment
OF the Whitehead, the English pattern tor
pedOes, made in the United States, will
soon be delivered. improvements have
been made in the Howell torpedo, which is
essentially an American invention, that viii!
place it in the front rank of automobile
weapons, and 1t is promised that the tor
pedOes delivered to the Government will
exceed the contract requirements in speed
and accuracy. According to the statements
. of the naval ordnance officers, all these
things are being done without reference to
immediate war, and 1t Is said they are SIM
ply the satisfactory results ef the energetic
policy of naval rehabilitation adopted by
Secretary Tracy long ago. In the War De-
parlnent matters were very quiet, and even
the Mexican frontier disturbance failed to
furnish an item of news.
CHILE DOES NOT WANT TO FIGHT.
Senator Stewart OF Nevada is an intimate
friend of Senor Montt, the Chilean Minister
10 this country. He called upon the latter
to-day and had long talk concerning the
trounle between the two countries. Sem
aior Stewart, when seen tonight. was retl-