The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-12-29

WASHINGTON, D. G., Dec. 2S.-The cor.
respondent OF the Now York Herald tclc.
graphs that paper us follows concerning
tho developments in the Chilean i'm.
broglio:
Ihave obtained the most valuable in
formation that has yet been made pub
lie regarding the Chilean affair. There
is no question that tho administration
fully expects refusal OF Chile to COM
ply with tho demand for an apology
and indemnity and is ready to ask
Congress for power to declare war, for
which preparations have been and arc
still being made. Chile, feeling that
she is in the right, is determined not to
apologize, even at the cannon's mouth.
Such is the situation upon the diplo.
matte cheas board.\
Chile hasnot yet asked Tor arbitra.
ton, but it is knownto the cabinet and
TO the correspondent that she is likely
10 do so. Minister M[ontt, the Chilean
minister hero, has, al along, seriously
doubted the eintention of this Govern
ment to declare war in event OF Chilc's
refusal to acccdc to our demands To-
day, however, he realized his mistake,
and the result was that he cablcd to
President Montt that the situation here
was very serious; that this government
meant fight, and that the navy was rap
idly being placed on q war footing.
This IN itself is startling news, and
here is more OF it. Not only has the
navy been made available in event OF
hostilitics, but great activity has taken
place in tho army, and both depart
mcnts arc now ready to act on i mo-
mcnts notice. have it that Admiral
Gherardi will be placed in command of
the naval forces. 1t is also pretty
definitely settled that General Miles
will have command OF the land forces.
The plans have already been made to
promptly move 10000 troops. The men
have been selected, tho transports pro-
vided and all.is ready to place the force
on Chilean soil very soon after war is
formally declared. Its proposed 10 take
these troops from the regular service.
The western forts which they will leave
will be garrisoned by militia and vol
untcer frontiersmcn. New York aud
other large cities where troops are not
needed will also be drawn on. These
troops, as planned, will leavc.tho United
States from several points. someswill
embark at San francisco, others at Gal
weston, New Orleans, Key West and
other southern points. Of course n
proposition to arbitrate would seriously
Interfere with Ill this.
Minister Montt, who is an exceed
ingly cautious man, and who knows the
difficulties of.advising the homo govern,
mentwhen it is not believed that this
government means war, has at last sug-
gested to President Monttthc propricty
and the adyisability OF asking this gov
ernment to lay all the facts in connec-
tion with the Baltimore case before Il
board of arbitration. am told that
there is considerable doubt as to Just
how this suggestion will be received.
The Post to-day asserts positively that,
despite the deniNls OF navy yard off,
cials, an unusual activity exists at that
important gun factory. Some OF the
employees We're at work yesterday, and
gas-iittcrs have been employed for a
week or moro arranging gas fixtures, SO
that work may continue at night
The men are under orders to work
twelve hours per day. Commander
O'Neill, inspector OF ordnance, who is
in chargc OF tho yard, said that they
were always busy at the yard when a
new shipwas ordered, and the ordnance
department kept ahead OF the construc-
tion, SO that when the ships would be
completed the armament could be
ready.