The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-29
Secretary Blaine COnfers with Minister Montt,
but the Result Is Not Believed to Have
Been of Satisfactory Nature.
More Denials from officials that Prep.
aratiOns Are Being Made for War.
Consultations at the Navy Department-The
San Francisco in HsrbOr at San Diego
Two Alleged Chilian Spies Arrested
NOT GOING TO WAR,
But the Navy Department Is Preparing

But the Navy Department Is Preparing for
Emergencies-Conferen of Ohicia,s
WASHINGTON. Dec. 2S.-All government
officials when spoken to on the subject.
hOot at the possibility of war with Chilli,
and say no preparations with that end in
view have been made. There is, however.
On air of secrecy in the Navy. War and
State Departments that is felt by all in
quirers after Chilian news and movements
of war ships. at the Department of State
to day matters moved along in the usual
serene fashion. and there was not trace
of wariike excitement. The officials say
that nothing has been heard from Minister
Egan since the 23d inst. Why he did not
attend President Months Inauguration on
Saturday the officials did not know, and
doubted the correctness of the report to
that effect.
Senor Montt, the Chilan minister, called
at the Department of State Mt noon. He
was Immediately shown into Secretary
Blaine's private Office. and had an inter-
view with him lasting half an hour. 1t Is
impossible TO get more than hint of what
passed between the Secretary and the min
lister during the interview. but that is
probably sufficient to warrant the supposi-
tiOn that matters are not proceeding in
manner as satisfactory to the governments
of the United States as could be desired.
Notwithstanding the fact that Secretary
Blaine is now dealing almost entirely di-
rectly with the Chilian minister instead of
with his government through the inter
ventlon of Minister Egan, it does not ap-
pear that the result has been q saving of
time, and there Is reason to suspect that
the Secretary IS chafng at the delay he en-
counters in securing a final response to the
representations made by this government
concerning the attack upon the Baltimore's
men.
Secretary Tracy's office presented
a busy scene this morning With
in an hour be saw Senator
Allison. chairman of the Senate committee
on appropriations; Senator Cameron. chair
man OF the committee on naval affairs;
Senator Butler. q member of the same COM
mittee; Senator'S Frye and Hale. chief con-
structOr Wilson, chief engineer Manville
Captain Phillips. who is to command the
new cruiser New York; Lieutenant Mason,
executive officer of the same vessel; Com
modore Folger. chief of the Ordinance Bu-
reau;, Commander Chadwick, and lastly
Charles Cramp, the ship-builder. Not
withstanding this sign of Official activity
and the reports that are printed of unusual
work at the navy-yards, the officials OF the
Navy Department deny that there ls the
least speck of war cloud in the diplomat
ic horizon. Assistant Secretary Soley says
that he has already expressed his views as
to the navy-yard work. When asked where
the San Francisco is bonnd he declined to
give definite answer, but when he was
reminded that the last time she went out
for gun practice" as reported by the de-
partment. she had next been heard of at
Valparaiso, he said that the vessel had no
orders for Chilli.
Commodore Folger chief of the Ordnance
Bureau added to the general denials by
saying that there was no unusual activity
at 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 Will
son. the chief constructor. had gone over
to Philadelphia to inspect the progress of
the naval work, and on Saturday had not
found O single man. in the three thousand
employees. at work. Moreover, Nj. Cramp
did not believe that half OF his force was
at work to-day. as they were keeping the
holiday season,
At the War Department, neither acting
Secretary Grant nor MajOr-general Scho-
field, who would certainly be IN position to
to appoint General Miles to command the
army in the event of war with Chilli. In
fact the only sign Of warlike preparation
visible at the executive departments con.
sisted in an order issued Saturday for the
immediate preparation of the new twelve
inch gun, just completed at the navy-yard
here, for Transportation to California. to-
gether with 42 goo pounds of prismatic pow
der and IL 600 six-inch shells.
During the afternoon Representatives.
Lodge and Boutelle called at the Navy De-
partment. They are both Republican MEM
bers of the House committee on naval at
fairs, the chairman of which. Representa-
tive Herbert, is bsent from the city. Un-
less the House of Representatives recurs to
the old Randall rules, the naval committee
will retain in its charge oil matters relat-
ing to appropriations for the naval service,
while in the Senate the concurrent action
of the committee on appropriations and
committee OH naval affairs Is usually nee
essary to secure provision FOR any naval
expenditures Secretary Tracy has been
In communication with members OF each of
those committees during the day. but with
what purpose is not definitely known. An
officer of the department. speaking of the
consultations. said: 1T means inst this:
That are abiding by George Washing
toms maxim-in time of peace prepare 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 prcpara-
ton it would be open TO severe criticism il
hostilities actually ensue.o
News reached the Navy Department this
afternoon that the cruiser San Francisco
had arrived at San Diego. CAL, and " as at
anchor in the harb0r. 1t was rumored that
che would await the Charleston at that
place, and transfer to the latter vessel GER
tain munitions of war which she carried
from San Francisco.
An officer of the State Department said
tonight that. so far as he was aware.
nothing had been received from Minister
Egan since the Inauguration of President
Montt The CHILEAN minister also remains
unOfficially advised Of any thing pertaining
to the inauguration.
The San Francisco at San Diego.
SAN DIEGO. Cal, Dec. 2s.-The cruiser
San Francisco. which left San Francisco on
Saturday. arrived here this morning and
entered the port The trip was made d.
rect. without stopping at Monterey, as ex-
pected. Rear Admiral Brown said: Il
shall stay here in San Diego harbor until
the Secretary of the Navy orders me away.
We are ready to sail on three hours notice.
but may remain three weeks. All depends
on our orders from Washington. The ship
is equipped for three years cruise. and