Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-03
Senior Pedro Mont Called and
Laughed With Our People.
GETTING READY ALL THE SAME
A Number of Big Guns Ready for San Fran
cisco and San Diego Defense.
Work is Being Pushed on a Number of Our
War Vessels, and Those Ready for
Business Receive Orders to Move.
Rontt Goes to New Orleans.
Some Speculationg.

| Special to the Gazette
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2.-War is not yet de-
clared and no fresh cause for bloodshed is
yet in sight. The premier of the present
administration has discovered that he was
| premature in his preparation for arousing
the patriotic spirit of the country so as to
affect the November elections. Had he
waited and made his war-talk to-day in
stead of on Saturday, he might have accom-
plished something in the way of a sensa-
ton. 1t was simply impossible to keep up
the tension so long, and to-day, the very
day before the balioting, the atmos-
phere is pervaded with the
tamest of peace sentiment. Senior
Montt has been calling at the state de-
partment wearing q face wreathed with
good feeling As he arrived at the depart
ment too early to catch Blaine at his desk
he made friendly call on Secretary Tracy
in the latter's private Office. The two gen
tleman seemed to be in a very genial frame
of mind the sound of animated conversation
and laughter fioated out from time to time.
When the door was opened at the end of the
visit, Tracy walked over with Senior Montt
to the rooms of the secretary of state The
good spirits of the Gillian minister and the
observed cordially of his treat
ment at both departments led to a
report that he was the bearer
of good news and this rumor was accentu-
ated by the fact that both at the navy head
quarters, as well as those of the department
of state, none of the official functionaries
could be induced to talk about war as one of
the possibilities. All profess to believe to-
day the troubles would soon be at an end
Meanwhile, the war scare has set the navy
department to thinking of what could be
done in certain emergencies. The opinion
there as to the course of the ChilianS in case
the present difficulties cannot be settled
with fair words, does not favor the idea
that they will attempt to move up the
coast and lombard any of our Paci-
fic ports. 1t is believed that they will
feel that they have all they can do to take
care of their own coast defense. They had
little brush with Spain once, which made
them very cautious about leaving their own
waters, for Spain's first thought was to lay
Valparaiso in ruins. After that experience
1t is not considered likely Chilli would at
tempt to do anything in the way of
distant incursions, as this would leave her
coast country exposed to the operations
of her foes, and the coast country is the
larger part of Chill. Moreover, Chill has
no ships which would venture on long
cruise except the Esmeralda. which our
navy would not be at all 10Th to tackle.
Indeed there is not much doubt in the
minds of our best officers that Capt. Schley
could fight the Esmeralda with the Balti-
more if necessary. Should the Chilians
in flight of rashness decide to take the risk
of sending her fighting ships of first class
up the coast, the navy department has
ten guns of ten, twelve and
eight inch caliber already in advance
to be used, which could be turned over to
the department, if necessary, for use on
land for the defense of San Francisco and
san Diego. We are also exchanging with
Powell and Whitehead torpedoes, and al
though since torpedoes cost about 5000
apiece, we have taken good while to
make up our mind just what we
want. we could decide in very sh1rJ
order indeed, If the alternative were being
caught unprepared for war. The torpe-
does finally bought would be shipped across
the continent and fleet of swift sailing
yachts would be drafted into service as tor
pedo boats. The risk to life and limb for
the men who were elected to handle these
little crafts would be immense, but let the
secretary of the navy say: Gentlemen,
success means new pair of epaulettes,'
and the younger group of officers would |
fairly tumble over each other in their haste |
to volunteer on this ''forlorn hope duty |
However, the chances that we shall |
have to avail ourselves of these qualities in
the present instance are growing hourly |
less. In spite of the inspired denials that |
Minister Egan is to be withdrawn from |
Santiago, all indications point to his recall |
as soon as the danger of its being accepted |
by the country as a confession of error on |
the part of the administration. |
When this is dissipated he will
be retained, for effect purely, |
a few days longer and then withdrawal |
comes. The Chilians will accept it as a
sign that we are not ill-disposed toward
them, as some like to make it appear.
AT the state department it is announced |
that there will be no more news for publ
cation for three or four days at least. This
is significant.