New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-04
THE SINKING OF THE BLANCO ENCALADA
REPORT OF ADMIRAL MCANN-THE VESSEL
TAKEN BY SURPRISE.

Washington, June "A report to the Navy Depart
ment from Admiral McCann contains the first Official
information received the Department Of the sinking
of the Blanco Encalada. 1t says In part:
ON the 18th Of April the Government torpedo cruisers
Almirante Lynch and Almrante Condell, accompanied
by the transport Imperial. sailed from valparaiso On
the morning Of the 23d OF APRIL aDout a. "a e S ."
torpedo cruisers entered the harbor OF Calde ana az
tackled the BiaacQ Enealada. The Insurgents had
occupied this port few days before ana "ere lSEcns
on Copapo. The morning Of the attack was perfectly
clear th light i'm the lighthouse burning brightly, and
the ship lights perfectly visible. so that the TORPEDO
torped6es were discharged al the Blanco Encalada,
and it probable that at least two Of them took enee'
nearly anlidshps she sank In five or ak minutes
neers After the sinking OF the Banco Encsiha' sns
c"nntered the insrtent transport Aconcagua which
vessel they Immediately attacked AFTER soEae tins
G %a Pe or aern Where the gun mounted in the
of the Aconcagua could not reach taem, %heh 70
warpe came IN n sight snf S9 .esa1 made
of With the greatest rapidly. Both the TORPEDO
cruisers have returned here here the SSnde 6avng 4S
some injury but sufficient to prevent her return
ing by herself The Warspte then entered the aarOoF
in fathoms of water, with only her mastheads SHOW"
Ing dcsteton Of the Blanco Encaada has developed
no new feature whatever in the art OF naval warire
Vas surprise pure ana 81 mP St,I IH Ta%Son *
the Warspte admits that he alone was to blame lot ''
German naval force, consisting Of five ships has
been ordered TO this coast from China, % come via te
Goth Of june. The French flagship Dubourdieu Is az
Panama waiting for the admiral TO relieve Ilear
Admiral De Premesnil. The Volta left on the 20 Oh
April for the northern ports -
on the cath of April transferred my flag and PEI;
sOnal staff to the Baltimore. This fact have nohnsu
10 the Department BY telegraph. The arrival OF me
Baltimore on this station has attracted great deal "
attention and has also had very good effect a.
Tile Naval force I'm the South Pacific remains ~
was a week ago. The only report from that secuoaa
received this week Is the communication whch
reached Washington bv mail today from Admiral NC.
Cam The state Department has received report
rom the United states Consul at Acapulco where tno
Esmeralda was still lying. He states that accou,hB
10 the CHILEAN Officers the Itata has gone 70 Atstrhs,
and he also reports that he Is Informed that the arms
and munitions Of war carried by the ltaa were trss.
ferred TO the Esmeralda on May To- snght cre1e,ce
is plareA in the Australian course OF the ltsta nsa
ho arms been tran sferred tO the Esmerada the lta
main purpose would have been fulfilled ana sne eoa
we'll be Surrendered proceeding thar IS looked ut
in view OF the assurances given TO Minister rem d,
paris by representatives OF the Gillian Provsi"a
Government II the United states ahheres 70 ,us
present position, the Itata will be taEcn when sne
rrturrS from airy trip 10 the Antipodes when enss
NAV have entered upon. Her flight 10 Austranan ara
therefore English, waters would avail the party con-
trolling her no more than surrender OF the vessel
The opinion Of the Department officials is that tns
Australian course Of the Itata is announced as rus,
Pending the receipt cf information more definite tne
naval vessels at Chill will remain there TO intecep
the Itata.