The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-24
Washington Navy-Iard Working Day
and Night Turning Out Projectiles.
Ominous Silence of 0Mcials-Another Band of
Mexicans Chased Out of Texas-Details of
the Battle with Garza's Men.
PREPARING FOR WAR.


Troops Being Hurried TO the Pacific Coast
for Transportation to Chill.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WAsHINGToN. Dec. 23.-The talk of pos
sible trouble with Chill, although wholly
unofficial and unauthorized. has at no time
been so general as it is tonight. Among
officers of the army and navy, moreover.
this gossip is given color by no little ex-
ternal evidence. 1t is known, for example.
that the State Department is quite we'll IN
Chilli, based upon the finding of the
judicial inquiry into the Baltimore
outrage, and that this reply Will not be
satisfactory. Then here are some slgnifi-
cant facts: The War Department is for
wardIng recruits in squads of forty or fifty
as rapidly as possible to fill the complement
of regiments in the far West and ON the
Pacific coast. General Schofeld has said
that ten thousand men were available to
send out of the country. but that no
more could be spared from the regular
army. Gun carriages are being shipped to
San Francisco in sections and guns will fol.
low at an early date. Three 1O-inch guns
will probably be shipped early in January.
The first twelve-inch rifle has just been
tested at the Indian Head proving grounds
with satisfactory results. The whole force
at the Washington navy-yard is at work
turning out proiectiles and the men are
kept at work day and night. The Navy
Department has just ordered twelve Black
man range-tinders. although they have
never yet been officially approved by any
official board, O proceeding very unusual.
The entire harbor of San Francisco is being
buoyed, so that the range Of every war
vessel will be accurately known, as the re-
suit of experimental firing.
HOW TROOPS MAY BE RAISED.
General Schofield has been twice sum-
moned before the Cabinet and has given it
as his opinion that if ten Thousand men are
sent out of this country it will be quite
possible to fill their places in the regular
army at home by temporary enlistments
from the militia, certain quota regularly
equipped for actual service at the army
posts to be called for from each
State. In case the ten thousand men
transported to Chill should not be enough
it is reported that the President may call
for 20. 0C0 volunteers for year. Add to all
~
standing that the President will insist up
on immediate and full reparation by Chilli,
and that several of Spreckelss steamers in
the Australian and Hawaiian trade have
been conditionally chartered, and the war
talk SO current here tonight seems to have
some apparent foundation.
United Press dispatch says: An omin-
GUS silence is maintained In official circles
respecting the news from Chilli. 1t Is
every where conceded that important dis
patches have been received from Minister
Egan, but it Is impossible to learn their
contents, SO close mouthed are the officials
who are in a position to know what they are.
Chlli's provisional government. which still
has control of affairs. and is RESPONSE
bic for the events leading up to the
present condition of things has an exist
ence limited to only about ten days longer,
and it is not believed that this govern
ment, unless forced by extraordinary
events not now foreseen or anticipated,
will precipitate q crisis with it. Nothing
has recently been received from Valparaiso.
it may confidently be asserted. indicating
any worse treatment or more insulting de-
meanor than the United States representa-
tive and those under his protection have
already previously received. and which has
been made public.
The administration. while not disposed
to rush matters, in view of the speedy
change, is closely watching the progress Of
events and making preparations to prompt
ly meet any emergency which may arise.
When the new Cabinet Is announced there
may bo Foreign Minister who will pursue
q different policy from that of the present
Minister, and with whom satisfactory
settlement may be made without resort to
unpleasant measures. But it is only fair
to say that not much hope exists that the
new government Will be any more pacific
ally inclined than the present one. On the
other hand. the feeling prevails that Chilli
is inclined to be tractiOus and that 1t Will
be necessary for the United States to ad-
minister forcible rebuke.