Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-12-29
WAR PREPARATIONS
b Narrily On In the Navy Depart
ment Though StOutly
DFyIED BY ALL THE OFFICIALS.
.g.r O.. Those Who Called a. the Navy Depart
nan, Yesteriay-Nr CrauR the Ship
Builder Was Among Ih@ Reasons
for the Tone Of the Conm,nica1ons
Sen. BY President <
....,, r.,.nran to tas Rsgs.sr.

.Ss zone OF the Navy Department OIL
.-,r, continued very peaceiu, but all
.b4 signs indicated clearly the;e was no
.E,-sment in the preparatiOnSfOr war.
n was a busy day about tie Navy
r.rsrtment. 4 stream Of callers
s.Ted I'm and out of Secretary
r-,.v's room all day. Even the casual
g,.t9r could see that the buste was
,-r,ual, aud that something out q the
culinary was in the wind.
Within an hour he saw Senator Alli-
ann Chairman of the Senate Com
-.,,se on Appropriations; Senator
-,wcrou. Chairman of the Com
-i--se on Naval Affairs; Senator Bat
AZ member Of the same con-
~,r,ee; Senators Hale and Free, Chisf
--rsrructor Wilson, Chief Engineer
Melville, and Charles Cramp, the ship
,r.,der. Notwithstanding this sign Of
.Hrisl activity and the reports that
,-s rriDted OF an unusual work at the
NV wards. the officials OF the Navy
15Dsrtment deny that there is the least
,,srk of 4 war cloud in the diplomatic
Commodore Folger, chief Of the ord
,,ocs bureau, added TO the general de-
s-sI, bv saving that there was no unu-
.lsl activity at the naval gun factory.
Mr.. Cramp said that he mad received no
,r,,ructions from the department to
srrry the work on the naval vessels
now building at his yards.
But these denials carried no weight
r.rb them, for the evidence to the con-
,srv is too strong. 1t is as certain
,saD7thing &c can be that everything IS
tsfug done on the theory that war Will
cone. This, Of course, Is the sale
course TO pursue, and the one most like
.y 70 secure peace.
This morning 1900 employees in the
ordnance Department OF the Washing
ION Navy Yard were notified that until
nrthsr orders they would be expected
% work two hours extra each day.
These employees are engaged in turning
g-. prOjectlles.
SOME FURTHER INDICATIONS.
Asa further indication OF the prepa-
a,ious being made by the Navy Depart
-e1ti tits learned that the Bureau OF
Equipment has contracted Tor a large
number of additional uniforms, the
Charleston has been ordered from Hon
o.r.u 10 Acapulco, and the San Fran
cisco is now on her way 70 the South
Pacific. In the face of all these facts
The declarations OF officials, that no
-rsYaratIons for war are being made,
ore absurd
The State Department is keeping an
eve on the new Chilean war ship, the
ravta.n Pratt, which has been built
abroad. and is now about ready for arm
suegt. This vessel, when completed,
vil probably outclass any vessel in the
United States Navy, not excluding the
50ub.e-turreted monitor MiantOnomah.
However, as the Captain Pratt has not
Sc, been armed, in the event OF war
this government could prevent Chile
from getting an equipment for the yes
sal in any foreign country. As Chile
has no facilities for constructing vessels
or manufacturing ordnance, that coun-
i .ry, even in 10 intends to provoke
ight, will probably delay it until there
is time TO strengthen her hayy.
To the meantime the government is
getting It's naval establishments on a
war footing. The American naval OIL
GERS are extremely anxious for conflict
and hope to hear i'm short time the
merry hum of shells instead OF the pop
. ping Of champagne cOrks between the
diplomats at Washington.
There is no question that the admin
I Nratiou fully expects 4 refusal OF
. Chile 20 comply with the demands for
al apology and indemnity and - ready
10 ask Congress for power 10 declare
var, for which preparations have been
'ad are still being made. Chile, feeling
That She is I'm the right, is determined
DO, 90 apologize, even at the cannon'S
mouth Such IS the situation upon the
diplomatic chess board.
HNs NOT ASKED ARBITRATION.
This in itself is startling news, and
lere is more OF it. Not only has the
navy been made available in event OF
aoSt.,Jies, but great activity has taken
.ace In the army, and both depart
reuts are now ready 10 act on n mo-
neaJ'S notice. ] have it that Admira
EeIardi will be placed in command oi
1a naval forces 10 is also pretty deh
l,ely settled that Gen. Miles will have
9umand Of the land forces.
The plans have already been made &c
I'0mptly move 10000 troops. The mel
lave been selected, the transports pro-
01ei and all is ready 10 place this force
DO Ohilean soil very soon after war /;
ormally declared. II is proposed tC
axe these troops from the regular ser
Wee. The Western forts which they
'Ail leave will be garrisOned by militia
and volunteer frontiersmen. New NorH
'nd other large cities where troops are
% needed will also be drawn on
.nese troops, as planned. will leave th'
lited States from several points. Some
VII embark at San Francisco, others a.
ia.yeStOn, New Orleans, Key West
.ld other southern points. OF course 1
opposition 10 abitrate would seriouSl!
atertere with all this.
Minister Montt, who is an exceeding
cautious man, and who knows thC
-AcuiteS OF advising the nome GOV
lment when it is not believed tha
4ls Government means war, has at las
-sgested TO President MOntt the pro
'ety and the adyisability Of askins
-S Government to lay all the facts il
'anecti0n with the Baltimore case be
'fe board of arbitration.
y the Chileans see we will not b
Tiled with, and arein shape to enforc
'r demands, they will be mucl
lOrs likely TO make amends, or at leas
aSk that the question at issue be re
FRED to arbitration. In speaking O
80 vigorous denials made here by
"Sasas officials Of the reports Of pres