Morning journal and courier., 1891-05-13
THE CHASE AFTER THE IrArA.

a .s q
 Her Coal Supply Believed to be Hum | ming Low-The Charleston,s Move-
 ments-Probabilityo Of Both Vessels .1 Having 10 Put Into Some Fort for
 Coal.
 WASHINGTON, May 12.-Up to the close
 of business no news was received at navy
 department of the movements of the
 Charleston and, so far as the officials there
 know, the Itata is still at liberty. Com
 modore Ramsey, acting secretary, said he
 did not know where the Charleston was
 and the only news the department had re-
 ceived was the arrival of the cruiser San
 Francisco at Iquique, in northern Chili. AS this vessel is to figure in the chase in case the Itata escapes the Charleston, her movements are of. some importance. As the days of the chase run along . new factor appears which will doubtless re- suit speedily in betraying the movements of the pursuer and the pursued. The 1tata started from San Diego last Wednesday evening-six days ago. and if pursued at her highest speed must be nearly out of coal, so that she must soon put into port somewhere to replenish her bunkers. The Charleston, like most swift cruisers, was obliged to sacrifice some coal carrying capacity for the sake of boiler and engine rooms and gun-carry- ing capacity. With full bunkers she. can carry 800 tons, but if she had been driven at full speed she must have burned 175 tons every twenty-four hours, which would give full steam power for but four and half days. She has now been out three days and half, and although it is known that she lay at anchor at least ono night her coal supply is probably run ming so low that it would be hazard ous for her-vessel without sail power ito continue much longer at sea. So that some news from one or both of the vessels may be expected very soon when they put into port for coal. This will probably be Mexican port and immedi- ately may be expected to arise an import ant question for the determination of the Mexican government and that is the status of the Itata. Some comment was caused among state department people by the tel egraphed statement that the Chilian insur- gent cruiser Esmeralds is now at Acupul- co. The fact that her presence in port is tolerated is regarded here by some officers as quasi recognition by the Mexican gov ernment of the insurgents as belligerents. If this recognition should take formal shape it might have important results for the insurgents for, under neutrality laws, their vessels would find an asylum in Mexican ports and might take supplies, not permitted to take aboard amunitions of war or make any port base of operations against Chili. This doctrine was thoroughly defined in the Alabama case, and it is said that, in addi- tion to the precedent set by Great Britain in recognizing the insurgents as beliiger- ents, the Mexican government has not the kindliest feelings toward the present Balmaceda administration in Chili.
 EXCAVATION, N. Y.. May 12.-Secre- tary of the Navy Tracy is in the city on private business. Talking to Republican reporter he secuted the idea of the United States cruiser Charleston being inferior to the Chilian insurgent war-ship Esmerslds. Sure the Esmeralds carried two nine-inch guns, while the Charleston's heaviest guns are only eight-inch, but the latter had larger number of six-inch guns, while her armament is four inches thick and the Els meralda's only one and a half inches. The Charleston was accordingly fully able to cope with the Esmeralds, as were two other United States cruisers now in the Pacific.
 The secretary stated definitely that the Charleston has orders to capture the 1tata wherever she may be found upon the high seas. This includes all waters outside the three mile limits or ports of foreign ooun- tries. He did not anticipate fight, but in case of resistance the American cruiser would carry out her orders at all hazards. He would not say definitely whether the cruiser San Francisco, now in Chilian waters, would be ordered to intercept the 1tata. The United States had maintained strictly neutral position in refusing to supply arms to the insurg- ents, and as the Itata had violated every rule of international law in breaking away from the custody of our government after seizure he would have to take the conse- quences. The secretary did not anticipate serious- trouble, but thought the matter would soon be settled peaceably and with honr to the United States