The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-26
PROMPT ACTION.
Plain Talk in Naval and Ad-
miniStratiOn Circles.
The Brutal Assault on United States Sailors
at Valparaiso Denounced.
No Unnecessary Delay in ChileS Reply to
the Demand for ReparatiOn Should
Be Tolerated.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25- Not since the
complications with Italy last
spring has so much talk been heard in naval
and Administration circles as over the
brutal assault on our sailors at Valparaiso.
That the Administration is in earnest is
evinced by the peremptory instructions
cabled to Minister Egan on Friday even
Ing The Administration is not disposed
to act arbitrarily in demanding n speedy re-
reply from Chile. President Harrison APP
preciates the embarrassments Of such in-
quireS, but on the other hand he is deter
mined that there shall be no Necessary de-
lay. Congress will assemble six weeks
from tomorrow. By that date we shall
have four cruisers at Valparaiso, and If
necessary the number can be materially in
creased, if, in the meantime Chile has
failed to satisfy our demands. The
President will lay the matter be-
fore Congress, and like President Buchanan
on a similar noteworthy occasion ne will no
doubt request that the Executive shall have
authority TO use other than peaceable
MEANS" in the event that Chile declines to
make proper reparatiOn. 1t cannot be
doubted that this authority would be given
to him and that too, with all speed consis-
tent with so grave a matter. This being
done Chile must either come to terms or our
fleet will be ordered to shell the city of
Valparaiso. IL is quite propable, if so
extreme a course as this were necessary
that the monitor Miantonomah would be
Qu ckly dispatched to and kept at the scene
of trouble until battle-shipS were completed.
The MiantOnOmah will stand alone as the
most formidable fighting ship we have in
our navy. The Philadelphia, Kearsarge
and Concord, comprising RearAdmiral
Gherardl's squadron, the Chicago, At
lanta and Bennington. of Admiral
Walkers squadron. the Newark, fit
ting out at Boston for the South At
lantic, ard the Petrol at New York, could
all, If an emergency demanded, be sent
from the home station TO Valparaiso IN
ninety days. These, with the Baltimore al
ready at Valparaiso, the San Francisco at
Callao, the Boston and Yorktown en- route
to Valparaiso, the Yantic en- route to Monte
video, and the Thetis, Ranger and Mohlcan
at San Francisco. would give fleet of six
teen serviceable ships.
COMMENT OF THE LONDON TIMES.
LONDON. Oct. 25-The Times, referring
to the Baltimore affair at Valparaiso, says:
1t is clear that brutal outrage was COM
mittcd, ard the Washington Government
has good prima-face case to demand sat
isfaction. but the time has not yet come
when such a demand could properly be
pressed. II made now it would be made in
information. IL is not for great
and powerful nation like the United
States to deal in this high-hauded fashion
with weak neighbor. Arguing that Chile
IS recovering from the regime of a bad
Government the attack Oh the Baltimore's
sailors may be regarded as not in the same
drama, aud Americas strong aggressive
policy will tend TO enhance difficulties, the
Government having already found it hard
enough to maintain law and order.