The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-07

SaAef NiaA sSo3, certain changes having been
made
On ordinance establishments, the secre-
tary says the development of the gun fac
tory continued during the year and many
improvements were made. There were
growing demands for the naval defense of
the Pacific coast, and the great expense
entaiied by the transportation of heavy
ordnance treights across the continent
point TO the absolute necessity of establish
ing In the near future an ordnance factory
at some point in that neighborhood. Such
establishment should be under the general
control of the war and navy department.
and should do the work of both. There 3
no reason, says the secrerary, why such
establishment should not duplicate the
success which has been achieved at Wash
ington City.
The past twelve months have given the
vessels OF the navy more active employment
than they have seen for many years,
especially in the Pacific. The demands on
the fleet have been numerous and con-
slant The secretary details the work of
the various vessels now in commission.
Coming down to the assault on the Bal
tlmore's men in Valparaiso. the secretary
details the story as it has already been
told IN TINS country, and says:
The sailors, during the attack, were without
arms, and therefore defenseless. OF the men ar
rested and examined all were discharged there
being no proof of any violation of peace on
their part The judicial investigation into tho
conduct OF the men failed to show a single one
found drunk or dlsorderly. IL is clear that thei-
only offense lay in wearing the uniform of the
country to which they belonged. Whether the
attacks upon the seamen of the Baltimore vera
-4,.ar ~ -.
be found in the bitter hostility of the Chileans
towards the United States. The feeling is
largely due to false and malicious actions,
which have been put forth at Iquique and later
at Valparaiso in reference to the action of tha
navy of the United States during the progress O Z
the revolution 1t is due TO the navy to state
that so far from having given cause for such
feeling, its conduct under instructions from the
department in every respect has been fair, just
and temperate.
The secretary then gives the COPY of
letter of instructions sent March 10Th last
to Admiral McCann and afterward to Ad-
miral Brown, after receiving, through the
state department, advices, from Balma-
ceda's government representative in Wash
ington City, of the revolt of a division of the
Chilean navy, declaring it outlawed, etc.
This letter of instructions declared in part
as follows:
The insurgents vessels. although outlawed by
the Chilean government are not pirates, unless
committing acts of piracy. Observe strict neu-
trality. Take no part in the troubles, further
than to protect American interests, take what
ever measures are necessary to prevent
injury by the insurgent vessels
to lives or property of American citizens,
including American telegraph cables. En-
deavor to delay bombardment by the insurgents
until American citizens and property re-
moved, using force, If necessary, only as a last
resort, and when serious injury is threatened.
American vessels seized by insurgents without
satisfactory compensation are liable to be
covered, but you should investigate the matter
fully before taking extreme measures, and use
every precaution to avoid such measures If pos
sible.
The instructions continue at much
length to define the course to be pursued
by the admirals. Enlarging on the points
mentioned above, on the point of neutral
ity they are told to abstain from any pro-
ceedings which shall be in the nature of
assistance to either party in the present
disturbance, or from which sympathy
with either party could be inferred. As to
granting asylum to political refugees, the
instructions say:
The obligation to receive political refugees
and afford them asylum is, in general, one OF
pure humanity. 1t should not be continued
beyond the urgent necessities OF the situation,
and should in no case become the means
whereby plans of contending factions or their
leaders are facilitated. You are not to invite or
encourage such refugees to come on board your
ship, but should they apply to you your action
will be governed by considerations of humanity
and the exigsncies of the service upon which you
are engaged. When, however, political refugee
has embarked in the territory of third
hoo A .~s.. D.
ger for the purpose of innocent transit, and it
appears upon the entry of such ship into terri
torial that his life is in danger, ii is your
duty to extend him offer of asylum. In all
cases where 1t becomes necessary to take forci-
BILE measures force will only be used as a last
resort aud thea only to an extent necessary to
effect the object in view.
The report continues:
These instructions, which were prepared IN
the navy department and carefully considered
by the cabinet, shows conclusively that the
naval officers in command were directed to
preserve an attitude of absolute fairness and
impartality. SO strongly did this disposition
prevail among the officers themselves that be-
fore instructions were issued Admiral McCann
had already, upon his arrival at the station,
published general order enjoining the officers
and men to maintain the strictest neutrality, to
abstain from discussing criticising the pres
ent unfortunate state OF affairs ia Chile. and IN
no way to express any sentiments or opinions,
either favorable or unfavorable, to either side.
With such spirit animating the commander in
chief, there is no doubt that the instructions of
the department were carried out To the letter In
these instruction an implied assumption by the
Chilean government that fusurgent vessels
should be regarded as outlaws was repudiated.
strict neutrality was commanded. so careful
was the department 70 prevent any erroneous
conclusions that might be drawn by ths
81. .,sa Of ffa-u. 10
that it expressly revised aud corrected Its regu-
lations for treatment OF ships OF war acting
without regular commission.
Touching on the Itata incident the sec
retary quotes the letter of Foreign Secre-
tary Errazuriz, of tie Chilean junta, to
Admiral Brown, Mays, five days after the
Itata slipped away, deploring the action
of that vessel, and saying that she would
be given up upon her arrival with cargo.
The report says:
II was thus that the Iquique government
itself, within Eve days OF the occurrence, dis
avowei the act OF the ltsta, and stated is inLen-
tion to Put her. with the arms she had on board,
st the disposition Of the United states The
want OF elearness In reference to the arms 10 DO
stored led 20 a brief correspondence, and as soon
a. this int settled, no time was lost by tho
navy department ia Tevoking the Charleston's
orders message from Admiral Brown To senior
Errazuriz expressed the qualification of the
United States government at learning that thoss
for whom the Itata acted disApproved OF her
conduct
The secretary touches briefly on the in
cident of the cutting and splicing Of the
American company's cable which was in
no way the act of the United States gov
ernment but Of the cable company in the
execution of It's lawful right 10 protect and
make available for use It's own property.