Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-12-31
WAR RUMORS.
Conflicting Reports From WASH
ington Concerning Chill.
BLAINE AND MONTT CONSULT.
The Interview Said to BE Unsatisfactory -
Onclals Deny That Anything Unusual
Has Occurred -Apprehensions
Nevertheless.


Has Occurred approximations
Nevertheless.
WASHINGTON, De-. 30. Secretary
| Tracy's office presented busy scene
this morning. Within an hour he aw
Senator Al lIison, chairman OF the SEN
ate committee on appropriations; SEN
| ator Cameron, chairman of the commit
tee on naval affairs; Senator Butler, a
member of the same committee; Sem
ators Frye and Hale, Chief Constructor
| Wilson, Chief Engineer Melville, Capt.
Phillips, who is TO command the new
cruiser New York; Lieut.. Mason, ex-
ecutive officer of the same vessel;
Commodore Folger, chief of the
ordnance bureau; Commander Chad
wick, and lastly, Charles Cramp, the
ship builder.
Notwithstanding this sign of official
activity and the reports thatare printed
Of unusual work at the navy yards the
officials Of the navy department deny
that there is the least speck of war
cloud on the diplomatic horizon. AS
si,tant Secretary Solely says that he has
already expressed his views as to the
navy yard work When asked where
the San Francisco was bound he de-
cined to give definite answer, but
when he was reminded that the last
time she went out for gun practice, as
reported by the department, she had
next been heard OF at Valparaiso, he
said that the vessel had no orders for
Chilli
A naval officer who should know,
when asked IL the cruiser was bound
for Acapulco, replied that she would not
go as far south as Mexico. He also
stated that the Baltimore was now
probably north of Panama on her way
TO San Francisco
Commodore Folger chief of the ord
nance bureau, added the general denials
by saying that there was no unusual
activity in the naval gun factory.
Mr.. Cramp also insisted that his force
was not working faster nor longer than
usual He said that he had received no
instructions from the department to
hurry the work on naval vessels now
at his works. Commodore Wilson, the
chief constructor had gone TO Phila-
delphia to inspect the progress of naval
work and on Saturday had not found a
single man of the 3,00J employees at
work Moreover Mr.. Cramp did not
believe that half of his force was at
work to-day as they were keeping the
holiday season
At the department of state mat
ters moved along in the usual serene
fashion and there was not trace OF
warlike excitement. The officials say
that nothing has been heard from
Minister Egan since the Esd instant,
Why he did not attend President Months
Inauguration Saturday they did not
know and doubted the correctness of
report to that effect
At the war department Acting Secre-
tary Grant or Maj. Gen. Schofeld, who
would certainly be in a position to
know had no information of an inten-
ton to appoint Gen. Miles to command
the army in the event Of war with
Chill
In fact the only sign of warlike
preparations visible at the executive de-
Saturday for the immediate prepara-
ton Of the new l2-inch gun Just com
pleted at the navy yard here for trans.
portation TO California, together with
AZ, 900 pounds Of prismatic powder and
/ / 900 6-inch shells.
Senior Montt the Chilian minister
called at the department OF state at
noon. lie was Immediately shown into
Secretary Blaine's private office and
had an interview with him lasting half
an hour. 1t was impossible togct more
than a hint Of what passed, but it is
probably sufficient to warrant the sup
position that matters are not proceed
ing as satisfactorily as could be de-
sired
Secretary Tracy has been in commu-
nication with members of each of the /
house and senate naval committees /
during the day, but with what purpose /
is not definitely known. An officer Of /
the department. speaking of the CON /
said. "lt means just this. /
That we are abiding by George Wash
ington's maxim in time of peace pre- /
pare for war. We do not believe there /
will be war, but if the administration |
failed to exercise all of its power in the |
matter Of preparation it would be open |
10 severe criticism if hostilities should |
actually ensue."
An officer Of the state department /
said that so far as he was aware moth ]
ing had been received from Minister I
Egan since the Inauguration of Presi-
dent Montt The Chilian minister also
remains unadvised Of anything pertain
ng 10 the Inauguration.
Secretary Tracy said that the United
States steamship San Francisco. whi.h
arrived at San Diego. Cal, was there
ior the purpose of engaging in target
practice lie said further that no other
,rders had been issued u her com
nander.