New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-25
THE NAVY IN CHILL.
ADMIRAL BROWNS STRAIGHTFORWARD
AND HONORABLE CONDUCT.


AND HONORABLE CONDUCT
THE TROUBLE ABOUT THE cABLE-LANDING OF
THE ooNGREs:a OVAL TRooPs-REFUGEEs
ON TIE MEN-oFwAR-THE VAL
PARAIso RIOT.
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: While thanking you for the insertion Oh
my previous letter. must again beg you to allow
me space in your columns with the object OF
making a plain statement of facts regarding the
conduct of Admiral Brown and his subordinates
during the troublous times of the late Gillian
revolution can speak positively on this matter,
as have been in almost daily contact with Admiral
Brown and the officers under his command
Let me here state at the very outset that tneir
conduct under these very trying crcums Sanceo mas
been a credit to the United States Navy FROM Tue
beginning, their task was most dimcuit one
taking into consideration the circumstances under
which they arrived ip Chiilan waters, and the
bitterness of the struggle between Balmacedas
Government aud the Opposition. The fensacola
was the first American manof-war that
arrived in Valparaiso after the revoiu-
ton. Admiral Mccain and his suoordi
mates were the recipients of much attention on
the part of the naval authorities, then represented
"
ChiIi's delegate at the late international Maritime
Conference in Washington. Admiral Viel is wet
known in the American Navy, he having made
several visits to this country, always cultivating
the most friendly intercourse with the United
States Naval officers. and there is no doubt his
affable character made him most popular among
them.
The Baltimore the next United States man
of-war that arrived She was much visited, being
new cruiser with the latest improvements Captain
Schley and his officers as fine a naval men as
ever walked deck, had the same eourteses eA-
tended them as their comrades of the Pensacola a
great many of these officers speak Spanish huently
and this accounts for their having received more
invitations from GILLIAN families than their COM
rades of the English, French and German men-of-
war.
Given all these circumstances, there is no doubt
that from the outset the United States Naval OH
GERS had made themselves immensely popular i'll
Valparaiso. Courteous and unassdming, discreet ana
observant, they never once under very trying cir
cunstances made the slightest statement that could
be construed into the smallest intraction of neutral
ity, always strictly observed by them. Throughout
the struggle between Balmaceda and Congress
they refrained from giving any opinion whatever
when questioned. In this they only followed the
dictates of common-sense, and the example set Dy
their admiral and commanding officers.
The first occurrence that really seemed TO preJu-
dice the Opposition people against Americans IN gene
raj and the United States Navy in particular was the
Itata affair Everyone knows that there were
ample grounds for the seizure of that vessel there
fore it would be useless TO dwell any further on this
matter
But what increased the prejudice of the Oppo-
sition against the United States was the cutting
~ xric oabl la
in Iquique. At that time Admiral Brown was in
command of the United States men-of-war stationed
in that port and it became necessary to adopt GER
tain measures which though completely justified.
greatly incensed the Opposition party and con.
tributed perhaps even more than the ltata affair
10 augment the prejudice OF the Opposition party
against the United States. The Central and South
American Telegraph Company hold concession
from the CHILEAN Government for a cable which
runs north from Valparaiso to lquique, and thence
through Peruvian waters up to Callao. In the
first part of this year the cable was completed.
Iquique being occupied by the Opposition forces.
Balmaceda's Government wishing TO obtain direct
communication with Callao Peru, without OF
course, touching Iquque, appealed to the company
which. as is well known, is in American hands, TO
cut the wire in Iquique and join with the Valpa-
raise cable, thus giving direct communication
between CallaO and Valparaiso.
The Central and South American Telegraph Com
pany acceded to the request made by Balmaceda's
Government, from whom they held their conces-
sion and notified the Opposition authorities In
Iouque that they must cut off their cable cOmlnu-
ncations there The Opposition authorities refused
TO allow the Central Company to cut the cable.
alleging that they the legitimate Government
of Chill and would annGl the concession if the COM
pany persisted in this course
Now it must he known that the Congressional
authorities would lose nothing whatever by the
cutting of the Central and South American Tele-
graph Company's cable in Iquique In that same
port there is another cable company, an English
one The West Coast of America Telegraph Com
Many. Limited, whose cable runs TO Peru. 1t is
Therefore clear that the real object of the OPPOSE
ton was to throw all sorts of difficulties IN the
way of Balmacedas communications by cable.
This of course is nothing but war, in which one
Marty tries TO do the other Us much harm as
possible.
The Central Company on several other occasions
requested the permission of the Iquique authorities
to cut the cable and Join it with the Valparaiso
one, and the answer was in every case nat
refusal. IL is even said they threatened to
Impede by force the companys steamer Relay.
in cutting the cable and there no other course
left but to apply TO the Unite1 States Government
through the proper channels for prompt redress.
| am ignorant of what communications came
from the United States Department of State on
this subject, but it is a fact that shortly after
ward the Iquique authorities were notified that
the Relay woi.G cut the cable and be protected by
whatever war vessels of the United States Navy
were then stationed in Iquique Bay.
The giving of these orders for the protection oil
the interests Of an American corporation, and after
ptoper instructions from the necessary channel.