Telegram-herald., 1891-04-02
THAT HASTY RECALL
BELIEVED 10 Be 4 BOLD BLUFF
Tue Crafty and WHY itaiisns Engineer.
lag n sehsms 10 fsssfy the WIia
beh sails opthe Ms6an LeAdsrs
In SICILY and Rome.


between the representative vi Italy
IN this country and Secretary
blame. Hereafter the state de-
partment viii be obliged To COM
munieate directly with the Italian
government at Rome. The bsrou's
letter has not been made public. Of
course, but 1t is reported that he in-
forms the secretary that as the United
states government has not given assur-
ances that the murderers of the Italian
subjects, acquitted by American
magistrates and murdered in prison
while under the immediate protee-
ton of the authorities Of New Or
leans, would be brought 70 justice. the
Italian government has found itself
under the painful necessity of showing
openly its dissatisfaction by recalling
the minister of his majesty King Hum
bert from . country where tue Italian
representative is unable to, obtain
sustice.
No such sensational incident in the
diplomatic life of the capital has been
experienced since Lord sackvilie- West.
the ambassador from England, was
handed his passports by Secre-
tary Bayard two years and half
ago. The president, the secretary Of
state and all other members of
the present administration were total
" unprepared for the sudden news.
President Harrison, according TO q
gentleman who called on him, could
with difficulty be convinced that the
news conveyed 10 him by Secretary
Blaine was authentic. He at first
thought that the secretary was ventur-
ing TO perpetrate IN April fools day
joke 1t seemed perfectly astound-
ing to him that such action could
be taken pending the trial of the citi-
zens of New Orleans who were mem
beers of the mob that murdered the
Italians When convinced that the
news was true the president ex-
pressed the greatest indignation, which
found an echo in the heart of Sec
rotary Blaine. These gentlemen at
once agreed that had Baron Fava de-
Inanded his passports it would possibly
have meant no more than that he was
personally aggrieved and insulted at
the failure of the secretary of state to
take active measure6 in the name of
: the United States government to secure
the redress asked for by Baron Fava
in his note to Secretary Blaine
on the day the shooting by the mob
took place. But TO have the Italian
government show it's iil-wili in such q
marked manner by withdrawing its
minister after Secretary Blaine had
urged that strict justice be done. was
regarded as most serious matter.
Whether Baron Fava's recall means
that Italy is willing TO threaten war
against the United States Is something
that the president and his advisers and
state department officials fear to dis
cuss. To be candid they are rompelled
to admit that to their eyes it looks very
much rs If Italy was in ef t train
ing the great guns of its superb navy
upon the harbor of New Orleans. This,
no doubt, is a very extreme view, but
it is the sort of talk that is being quiet
ly and secretly INDUCED in by many
persons who profess to know what the
administration is thinking on the
I subject. With one accord every
body connected with the admins
tration who could be seen re.
(, ga-ds the action of the Italian gov.
ernment as a foolish announcement OF
hostility TO the United States, which
was entirely unjustified by the circum'
stances surrounding the quarrel be-
tween the two countries. Secretary
Blaine had no intimation that any un
friendly steps would be taken
by Italy. He was expecting that
Baron Fava, who personally had
been quite content with Mr.
Blaine's course, would communicate
with him from time to time during the
progress of the court proceedings in
New Orleans. Mr.. Blaine will answer
Baron Fava's note at once, and ther
the opinions and purposes of the ad
ministration will be known. What will
/ be the outcome of the quarrel no one
/ in Washington seems able at this time
to predict. That 1t Is mos
annoying and serious one every one ad
mits.
The menacing action OF Italy ha'
| drawn direct attention to our defense.
| less seaboard, particularly among nava
| officers While our new navy Is emery
| ing from its decrepit condition, it !.
still in somewhat chaotic state. The
cities of New York, Charleston. Boe
ton. Portland and others along the At
lantic coast are particularly dc
fcnseless, as they have few effective
Notifications and no torpedo or othe
harbor projections such a. have beer
literally designed by congress, Blu
never executed. We have available Il
armored vessels, Is sinele-turreted mon
itors, 6 unarmored steel gunboats.
torpedo boats, dynamite cruiser,
torpedo cruiser. ! practice cruiser,
iron and wooden gunboats an
is wooden gunboats This con
stitutes our navy sfoat to-day
There are number Of othe
fire types Of war vessels being built
and these could be foated within
short time In case of emergency. Com
pared with the navy Of Italy our pres
sent feet Is considerably outrsnked
The Italian gunboats are not only NOR
enormous but more effective than ours
Three Of the Italian warships are tn
largest ones sfoat being each large
than anything in the British navy.
According TO the latest statistics q
hand Itsly's navy consisted ON Januar
p Of total a. 2ss vessels, Of which ]
were warships Of the first, iswsrshiPs c
the second and ~ warships OF the ihsr
class. These wsr.fips include IS iron
lads OF which 3 are built Of st<ei. Thei