The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-27
Rumors ofImpending War Dispelled by
Officials of the Navy Department
Secretary Tracy and His Assistant Deny that
transports Have Been Engaged or that Any
Warlike Preparations Are Under Way.
Departure of the San Francisco to Meet
the Charleston at Acapulco.
Sailors and Marines Said 10 Have Been Ship
ped South on Pacific Mail Steamer-Mill-
ers Provided with q War Vessel.
The Navy Department Has Hired No Tug
and Is Not Sending ships TO Chilli

NOT PREPARING FOR WAR
The Navy Department Has Hired No rugs,
and Is Not Sending ships tn Chill
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26-There is the high.
est authority for the statement that the
Department of State has received from
Official sources. though informally. assur-
ances that the Chilian government will
make proper reparation for the assault
upon the sailors of the Baltimore in VAL
paraiso. This knowledge has been COM
municated to the Navy Department. ana.
as q result Secretary Tracy and Assistant
Secretary Soley spent yesterday at the de-
partment, Notwithstanding that il was
Christmas. in preparing fresh orders 10
United States war vessels IN Valparaiso har-
bor or American ports.
The statements telegraphed from Wash
ington of late in regard 10 the alleged
mobilization of q feet of merchant vessels
to act as transports have caused only
amusement in the higher circles of the
Navy Department. but in view of certain
dispatches from California, which seemed
in measure to substantiate these reports.
Secretary Tracy has deemed it advisable
to make an authoritative denial This oeo-
laration was made last night by Assistant
Secretary Soley. who said:
'The Secretary has read these reports.
and has not regarded them as worth deny
ing until the publication of q telegram
miral Brown had chartered a large
ocean-going tug capable of carry
ing several guns and of being
used in the transportation of supplies. etc.
in case of war with Chill. There is abso-
Inn fal m rd nf N IN thu Tho
department has not authorized Admiral
Brown or anyone else to charter such tug
or any tug for such q purpose. As q matter
of fact Admiral Brown has done nothing of
the sort, and the story 10 pure invention.
Equally baseless is the statement that the
United States government 10 arranging TO
charter merchant vessels for transports
and other purposes. No vessels have been
chartered. and no lists of vessels have been
prepared for use In any such connection.
make this statement without reservation.
and trust that il will not be misunderstood.
Let me add broader aud moro impor-
tant declaration. There is not single yes
sci of the United States now under orders
for Chilian waters. There are two ships al
present in Valparaiso barbor-the York
town and the Boston. The latter arrived
there Yesterday. and has been promptly or
dered To san Francisco. In word, you
may say authoritatively that not q single
step of any description is being taken by
the United States looking toward a aconfict
with the Chllian government. No war
like demonstration is being prepared. and
there is no present intention on the part Of
this government 10 make any snch demon
etraton. In view of the false reports which
have gained currency of late the depart
ment considers that this statement should
be made"
There can be no doubt of the desire of the
officers of the State and Navy Departments
TO allay any apprehensions of war between
the United States and Chill. Secretary
Tracy this morning said: The talk of war
Is all In the newspapers" The Secretary
iteration of warlike stories. and said en-
phatically that they were without FONDA
tion. and there WAS nothing q In the situation
to warrant their acceptance. he also said
that the Boston. which had arrived at Nal-
paraiso. had sailed promptly for San Fran
cisco. and repeated what Assistant sccre-
tary Soley had previously said, that not
a single vessel of the navy 10 now under
orders to proceed TO Chill"
Mr.. Soley was subsequently asked TO ex-
plain the departure of the Charleston from
Honolulu 10 Valparaison on the 18th, as re-
proted from the Hawaiian islands. In re-
ply he said that he did not believe the
Charleston had taken any such course. and
that he was sure she was not going TO Chili.
The officials at the State Department were
non communicative of news. bat took such
an optimistic view of the situation as 20
warrant belief strengthened by the fact
that Secretaries Blaine and Tracy have been
to-day in consultation with the President,
that some news of most reassuring char
acter has been received from the American
N Chin.
The San Francisco Sails for Acapulco.
SAN Francisco. Dec. 26.-The cruiser
San Francisco. flagship OF the Pacific
squadron, with Rear Admiral George
Brown on board. put to sea from this port.
this afternoon. II was stated that the
cruiser might put into Monterey bay for
gun practice. but the fact that the cruiser
has an unusually large quantity of guns
and ammunition aboard, added to the fact
that a number of sailors and marines left
here on the Pacific Mail Company's steamer
San Jose. last Wednesday, for Acapulco.
where, IL is understood: they will be
drafted into the cruiser Charleston's crew.
when she arrives from Honolulu. leads to
the belief that the San Francisco 10 on her
way TO join the Charleston at Acapulco,
whence both vessels will proceed to Chilli
Views of Brirsshers.
LONDON. Dec. 26.-This weeks Valparaiso
and Washington advices have caused the
apprehension of war between the United
of the army is said 20 have remarked on
Friday that the United States cannot avoid
fighting without mourning the imputation
of cowardice. and that Chill could not apol-
ogize without humiliation. This - the
feeling in both the army and navy, as ex-
pressed at the clubs. Public opinion Is AL
most unanimous that war means the reduc-
ton of Chilli to a second place among the
South American nations. and the United
States. whatever might De the varying
fortune of events TO begin with. would not
stay its hand until Chill was compelled.
like Mexico, TO acknowledge the conqueror.
WILL CARRY FLOUR TO RUSSIA.
Secretary Tracy VIII Permit the Miiiers %
Use the War ship Constellation.