Morning journal and courier., 1891-12-29
From All Quarters.
TILE GILLIAN WAR SCARE
What the Naval Officials at
Washington Say.
DR.. GRAVES ON THE WITNESS STAND.
British Troops Capture a
Fort in India.
FOUL MURDER IN PHILADELPHIA.
A Southern Railroad Sys-
tenn Tied Up.
THE TROUBLE WITH CHILL.

Unusual Activity in Naval Circles-War
Rumors Denied at Washington -
How stories are Manufactured and
Sent Out The San Francisco
Eqipped for a Three Years, Cruise.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S.-Notwithstand-
ing the sign of official activity and the re-
ports that are printed of an unusual
amount of work at the navy yards, the
officials of the navy department. deny that
there is the least speck of a war cloud in
the diplomatic horison.
To those who know how news is manu-
featured in Washington, there is nothing
surprising in the contradictory character
of the dispatches about our CHILEAN rela-
tions sent from here within the last few
days. There is regularly organized
''war clique" who make it their business
to talk war and write war, with or without
pretext. There is another party whose
chief end in life is to make the first party,s
news the text for wholesale denial. The
unhappy public finds it hard to know
what to believe between these conflicting
elements in the news trade.
Assistant Secretary Solely says that he
has already expressed his views as to the
navy-yard work. When asked where the
San Francisco is bound he declined to give
definite answer, but when he was re-
minded that the last time che went out for
gun practice" as reported by the depart
ment, she had next been heard of at Val
paraiso, he said that the vessel had no or
ders for Chilli
At the war department neither Acting
Secretary Grant nor Major General Scho-
field, who would certainly be in a position
to know, had any information of an inten-
ton to appoint General Miles to command
the army in the case of war with Chill. In
fact, the only sign of war-like preparation
visible at the executive departments con-
sisted in an order issued Saturday for the
immediate preparation of the new 12-inch
gun just completed at the navy yard here,
for transportation to California, together
with $4,000 pounds of prismatio powder
and II 900 6-inch shells.
MoNTT CALLS ON BLAINE
It was impossible to get more than a
hint of what passed between Secretary
Blaine and Minister Mont during the in
terview, but that is probably sufficient to
warrant the supposition that matters are
not proceeding as satisfactorily to the gov
eminent as could be desired. Although
Secretary Blaine is now dealing almost en-
tirely directly with the CHILEAN minister,
instead of with his government through
the Intervention of Minister Egan, it does
not appear that the result has been saw
ing of time, and there is reason to suspect
the secretary is chatting under the delay he
encounters in securing a final response to
the representations made by this govern
ment concerning the attack upon the Balti-
more's men.
During the afternoon Representatives
Lodge and Rnutelle called at the navy de-
partment. They are both republican mem
beers of the committee, the chairman of
which, Representative Herbert, is absent.
Unless the house recurs to the old Randall
| rules the naval committee will retain in its
charge all matters relating to appropria-
tions for the naval service, while in the
senate the concurrent action of the COM
mittee on appropriations and committee
on naval affairs is usually necessary to Sc
cure provision for naval expenditures.
WHAT THE PREPARATIONS MEAN.
Secretary Tracy has been in communi-
| cation with members of each of those COM
mittees during the day, but with what pur-
pose is not definitely known. An officer
of the department, speaking of the con-
sultation, said: 1t means this: That
we are abiding by George Washington's
| maxim Gin 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
preparation it would be open to severe
criticism if hostilities should actually en-
sue. News reached the navy department
this afternoon that the cruiser San Fran
cisco had arrived at San Diego, Cal, and
was at anchor in the harbor. It was ru-
mored that she would await the Charleston
at that place and transfer to the latter YES
sci some ammunitions of war which she
carried from San Francisco.