The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-28
The CHILEAN SITUATION.
It is Hoped the New Administra-
ton will be, ConciIiatory.
ACTIVITY AT THE NAVY YARDS
The Diplomatic Controversy Has Not
Been Made Less Bitter by the Inter
change OF Social Courtesies-No Dis
patches From Santiago.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2s.--Nothing has i'm
tervened 20 raise the hopes of those who
are peacefully inclined or TO indicate a
precipitation of the crisis which many
still fear. No dispatches of any moment
have been received from Santiago, and
there is no evidence that any has been
sent to our representative there.
The dinner given Saturday night in
honor Of Secretary Blaine is acknowl-
edged TO have been simply social affair
without special political meaning. 1t
was courtesy extended by the Chilean
Minister, and that was all. Ii empha-
sized the cordial relations which have
been known 10 exist between the Chilean
Ambassador and the Secretary of State,
but 10 possessed no broader or deeper sig
nificance.
The diplomatic controversy has not been
rendered less acute by this interchange OF
the way has not been paved for mutual
understanding which shall bring the two
Governments now gazing at each other
with suspicious eyes, into conditions of
closer harmony. Everything depends on
the attitude TO be assumed by the new
administration in Chile, and upon whether
within the next week or ten days IL shall
indicate a willingness TO treat the question
under discussion in broader and more
conciliatory spirit than has been exhibited
by its predecessor.
The administration devoutly hopes that
this will be the case, but as yet it has no
intimation that il will and until some
intimation has been received there will be
no abandonment of the position which
President Harrison has seen fit TO take.
There is apparently no cessation in the
preparations which have been going on in
the navy yards and in the direction of
mobolizing our fieeet.
Whatever the cause may be there is not
the slightest question that our navy is
being placed upon war footing as rapidly
as possible. There is no outward proof, to
be sure, that Valparaiso is the object in
view, but whether the new ships now
under full sail to the South are ultimately
destined for the Chilean coast or not, the
facts is patent to any observer that they
are approaching those stations from which
in case of need they might be most easily
ordered TO that particular division of the
hemisphere. All this is in accordance
with the plan outlined by Secretary Tracy
away back in October.
He then determined TO send Admiral
Gherardi with his fleet to the West Indies,
which is the suthernmost bound of the
North Atlantic station, and Admiral
Walker with the remains of the White
Squadron TO the South Atlantic station.
These fleets could hardy go further south
with propriety unless war had actually
been declared The fact that they had
been ordered TO the southernmost limit of
their stations can have no other signifi-
canoe than that they are wanted where
they are likely To be of most use, and
where they will be most readily called
upon. Beginning with to-day the EN-
ployees in tie ordnance shops at the Wash
ington Navy Yard work ten hours "a day
-. n
in turning out proiectiles, and for some
reason or other the department believes
that this branch of the work should be
FASTENED TO this extent.