Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-28
TWO CENTS.

| ting foothold. and meanwhile he intimates to
the United States that ho cannot possibly
apologize under pressure. He suggests that If
this government should haul in its horns and
stop talking war he will be in position 10 Sc
cure favorable reply TO Its demands. Other
wise he cannot answer for the consequences.
That is the theory. This government secs
the wisdom OF the suggestion. and. while going
ahead with the measures of caution. makes an
endeavor to choke of the the tone of belliger-
ence that has suddcrly been heard from the
whole country. 1 can see no other reason"
IN SECRETARY rRacr's OFFICE.
Secretary Tracy's Office presented q busy
scene this morning. Within an hour hetsaw
Senator Allison, chairman Of the Senate COM
mittee on appropriations: Senator Cameron
chairman OF the committee on naval affairs;
Senator Butler, member OF the same commit
tee; Sens Frye and Hale. q Chief Con-
structor Wilson. Chief Engineer Mel
VILE. Capt Phillips, who is to COM
mand the new cruiser New York; Lieut.
Mason. executive officer Of the same vessel;
Commodore Folger, chief of the ordnance bu-
reau; Commander Chadwick, and lastly Mr.
Chas. Cramp, the shipbuilder. Notwithstanding
this sign OF official activity and the reports
that are printed of unusual work at the navy
yards. the officials Of the Navy Department
deny that there is the least speck Of a wa
cloud in sigh:
Assistant Secretary Soley says that he has
already expressed his views as to the navy yard
work. When asked where the San Francisco is
bound he declined to give definite answer.
but when he reminded that the last time
she went out for 'gun practice" as reported
by the department, she had turned up at VAL
para:so, he said that the vessel had no orders
for Chile.
A naval officer who should know. when asked
hOnnn fnrA Aea iaA
that she would not go as far south Mexico.
lie also stated that the Baltimore was now prob
ably north Of Panama Oh her way to San Fran
cisco. The chief of the ordnance bureau added
to the general deniais by saying that there was
no unusual activity at the naval gun factory
MIR. Cramp also insisted that his force was not
working faster or longer than usual. He said
that he had received no instructions from
the department TO hurry up the work on
the naval vessels now building 1t his
yards Commodore Wilson, the chief con-
structor, had gone over to Philadelphia
Saturday to inspect the progress OF the naval
work and had not found a single man OF the
5,O0o employees at work. Moreover, Mr.. Cramp
did not believe that half of his force was at
work today as they were keeping the holiday
season.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT..
At the Department of State matters moved
along in the usual serene fashion, and there
officials say that nothing has been heard from
Minister Egan since the 23d instant
NO IMPORTATION AT THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
At the War Department. neither Acting Sec
retary Grant nor Maj. Gen. Schoield, who
would certainly be in a position to know, had
any information OF an intention to appoint
Gen. Miles to command the army in the event
OF war with Chile. In fact the only
sign OF warIke preparation visible at the
executive departments consisted in an order
issued Saturday for the immediate preparation
Of the new twelve-inch gun just completed at
the navy yard here. for transportation to Cali
fornia, togethe- with 1900 pounds of pris-
matte powder and II, 600 six-inch shells.
SENIOR MoNTT SEES SECRETARY BLAINE.
Senor Montt the Chilean minister. called at
the Department of State at noon. He was i'm
mediately shown into Secretary Blaines private
Office and had an interview with the Secretary,
lasting half an hour,