St. Paul daily globe., 1891-05-18
Uncle Sam Unable to Get
His Lorgnette on the
Wicked Boat,
But She Will Have to Put
Into Some Port For
Coal Soon.
Then the Charleston, Balti-
more or San Francisco
May Catch Her.
A General Refusal Along the
Coast to Violate Neu-
trality Laws.

WASHINGTON, May 17.-No inform
alton has been received at the navy de-
partment regarding the movements of
the Itata, nor nave any further orders
been sent to the Charleston directing
her future movements. The only tele-
gram received to-day was one from Cape
Kenny. saying the Charleston was still
at Acapulco. taking in coal, and that
nothing had been heard or seen of the
ltata. The Esmeralda was in port and
had been refused coal by the Mexican
authorities. An order was sent to-day
by Secretary Tracy to Commodore Nc
Cam. how Oh his flagship, the Balti-
more, at lquique. Chilli, placing
the Charleston under his immediate
command. So that in future the move
mentS of that vessel will be under his
direction instead of under orders from
the navy department, as she has been
since leaving San Francisco in search of
the ltata. This order will give Commo-
d0re McCann practically discretionary
powers regarding the future course the
Charleston shall pursue in her chase of
the insurgent vessel. AS there are now
two acting rear admiralS in Chilian
waters, Commodore McCann on the Bal
timore and Commodore Brown on the
San Francisco, command of the squad
ron will devolve upon Admiral McCann
as the senior officer, both admirals,
however, keeping their Individual COM
mands, and will in future
Act in Concert.
1t is not thought the order of the sec
retary to-day placing the Charleston
under the direction Of Commodore Nc
Cam will make any change in tie pol
icy to be pursued by the navy depart
ment relative to the pursuit of the ltata.
The order WAS issued because the Off
icials OF the navy department were of
opinion that the movements of the
Charleston, as well as those of the other
vessels of the Pacific squadron in search
of the Itata. could sbe~ better controlled
under orders OF Commodore McCann
than under orders from place as far
from the scene of action as Washing
ton. Secretary Tracy said tonight he
expected nothing new from the Charles
ton for at least twenty-fOur hours, and
the situation remains practically the
same as it was yesterday. Commodore
McCann, he said. would remain as the
senior officer in command of the naval
forces on the Pacific until the Chilian
difficulty was settled, and
Would Ultimately Return
to his command of the South Atlantic
station. when Commodore Brown would
assume command of the Pacific station.
1t is thought the Charleston will take at
least two days, and perhaps longer, to
coal, as ships of her class cannot load
fast, owing to the location of some of
the coal bins. This will depend, how
ever, entirely upon the quantity
of coal she needs to fill her
bunkers. By the time she has coaled,
some new light may be thrown
on the whereabouts of the Itata, but for
the next two days the Charleston will
likely remain at Acapulco, in the mean
time keeping lookout for the Itata and
watching her consort, the Esmeralda.
An official of the navy department said
tonight that it was not likely that the
Esmeralda would seek 10 procure coal
at any of the seacOast towns on tue Cen
tral American and Colombian coast, as
these countries would undoubtedly act
as Mexico has done in refusing to vio-
late the neutrality laws by aiding the
insurgents to replenish their coal sup
plies or procure munitions of war.