Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-28
NO WAR WITH CHILE.
That Country Only Blufing at the
United States, While Preparing
FOR TROUBLE WITH ARGENTINE.
Torpedo Boats to Play Prominent Part
in the Next South American War.
INCREASED DORDERs ISSUED FOR POWDER

So many conflicting reports about wal
with Chile have been circulated in the last
few weeks that the people would be glad
for definite information one way or the
other. DR.. Stephen H. Emmens, the in
| ventor of emmensite and galbite or smoke
less powder, was seen at the Baltimore and
Ohio depot yesterday afternoon on his
way to West Virginia to look into the
copper and nickel deposits of the State. II
was the doctor who furnished the Chilean
, insurgents with the smokeless powder,
which opened the way for them to gain g
signal, but bloody victory over the forces Of
| Balmaceda.
"Have you received any orders for pow
der recently from Chile?" was asked.
NO." he replied, "but expect a COM
munication sub rosa in the near future. In
the event of war with Chile you would hear
of some torpedoes doing destructive work
with emmensite, but not against our coun-
try, my boy. Chile arrayed against the
United States is different from Chileans
fighting among themselves.
Harmony Expected to Reign.
"But my latest advices are that the
present strained relations between the two
countries will soon be harmonized. I can
give you a pointer that will be a
great item of news and will throw
considerable light on the Chilean
muddle. Chile's belligerent attitude
against the United States is easily ex-
planned. 1t is not us, but the Argentine
Republic that they are after. Theal
Spanish-Indiaps as we call them, are play
ing very shrewd game, and completely
hoodwinking everybody. Trouble is brew
ing between the two South American Re-
publics. Under the cover of the war-like
talk against the Yankees, the Chileans are
quietly preparing their vessels for action.
1t will be given out when they move that
their battle ships have gone north along the
Pacific to harrass the California coast. In.
stead of that the navy will move south. and
suddenly appear in the harbor of Buenos
Ayres. Thus taken by surprise, they hope
to teach the Argentine States a valuable
lesson"
"Do you get your information direct from
the Chilean Government"
"No matter about that" the Doctor re-
piled, "this is what 1 mean when say that
1 expect to receive further orders for en-
mensite and smokeless powder from Chile
shortly"
"Has Uncle Sam increased his orders for
powder lately?"
Increased Orders for Powder.
seYes, to considerable extent, but take
it that it will be used entirely for expert
mental purposes. The Government NAV
need larger quantities, you know. Still
I am not in position to answer
the question. The powder may be
purchased in anticipation of trouble with
Chile, and certainly what has been bought
for experiments could be stored and used in
the event of war. I take no stock in the
reports published this morning that we
have been negotiating with Peru, and that
the latter country would help us against
their old enemy. The Peruvians have no
love for the United States. They feel that
if the Americans had been friendly at the
right time in theft struggle with Chile that
they never would have been defeated and
lost the valuable nitrate beds The Peru
vians are as much afraid of the Yankees as
they are of the IChileans.
''But what could we do if we went to war
with Chile. She has six armored battle
ships; we have only one finished. If good
sized shell from one of their vessels struck
one of our unarmored ships, it would be
sure to sink it. One of Chlle's battle ships
is a match for our whole navy, and could
wipe it cut. The Chileans know this, and
it explains their stubbornness to very
large extent. What could prevent them
from appearing along the California coast
and levying an indemnity on the people?
Pay up now, or We will destroy your prop
erty. We talk about making demonstra-
tion of force in South American
VI Ipsr 10 T. {oI
The Americans have themselves to blame
for the present condition of their navy
The Chileans may, if after investigation
they discover they have done wrong, &C
knowledge it, and gracefully back down.
Our Commerce Destroyers.
'True, the Americans are now building
never intended to fight naval battles.
They were built to destroy commerce,
and they are we'll adapted for that
purpose. All our vessels are supplied with
the best guns and equipments, but the boats
can't stand hot shot. AS for
we couldn't use them successfully
against hostile feet. We haven't the
necessary materials and apparatus prepared,
and it would take time to make them.
New York is better off than any
of our coast towns. Submarine tunnels
have been built in the bay and along the
shores for the reception Of torpedoes. Gen.
eral Abbott, who is in charge at New York,
suggests for coast defenses that sunken bat
teries be located on the shore, each battery
to be supplied with II mortars.
''These guns would be below the surface
and would fire into the air. 1t would be
easy to train them on a ship five or six
miles out. The Generals idea is to fire all |
the batteries at one time, throwing into the |
air for mile or moIe bouquet of deadly |
Shells He figures that some of them would |
be sure to fall on hostile ships and destroy |
them. Our position is humiliating at pres
ent. but we will have to stand it until it is !
remedied %