The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-18
ORR ouARRkI WIN CHILL
TAe Navy 10 Fsshfsg Its Preparations with
Increased vIgor and Suegestiveress.


WARRINGTON Dec. 17.-Tho long lull in tn
controversy with Chilli is nearly over. ant
another serious stage in its development Il
at hand. The judicial investigation of tn,
outrage upon the crew OF the Baltimore. whicl
has been going on at Valparaiso. may now b'
concluded any day. II the decision OF judge
Foster 10 mhde the basis OF a suitable reply t.
the original request OF the United States fo
reparation. that may practically end the matter
Otherwise our Government will have to deter
mine what steps shall next be taken.
Apart from the question OF what a suitable
rcparation would be. there Is q preliminary
consideration. The President has informed
Congress that Chilli committed tho grave dis.
courtesy OF sending no proper answer to the
very moderate despatch OF our Government on
the subject. A reply did come. but it was 'in
an offensive tonc." so that Ito this no response
has been made" 1t is almost incredible that,
with sailors Of the United States killed and
maimed IN the streets Of Valparaiso because
they wore our uniform. no condemnation OF
this outrage should have been expressed by
the Santiago Government, in answer to the in
dignant protest of our own. There was an
outbprst Of mob violence not long ago in the
streets OF New Orleans. against which
Italy nrttested. It was not directed, like
the Clnllan outrage. against the SER
wants Of friendly Government, wearing
It's insignia and subject to its orders,
but against residents Of the town. believed to
be connected with the murder OF one OF its
officers. Yet tho President does not hesitate
to speak OF the New Orleans lynching as "a
most deplorable md discreditable incident"
as q crime" and as naturally evoking the in
dfgnation Of Italy. No such expressions appear
to have comefrom Chilli in regard to the murder
OF our sailors: and In that portion OF her reply
which was made public. although our Govern
ment had asked her for any facts which might
tend to relieve tho affair Of the appearance Of
public insult to the United States. there was
little II anything that read like disclaimer
or regret
The President accordingly declining to dis
cues with Chill her offensive despatch, has
told Congress that this country still awaits
some adequate and satisfactory response to
tho note BY which the attention Of Chill was
called to this incident" He expects this re-
sponse when the current judicial inquiry is
ended.
But suppose such a response does not come.
Suppose the reply palliates the affair. or re.
pudiates responsibility for it. Suppose that
nothing Is done. and the policy Of what the
President calls further needless delay" en-
sues. The President then is to send a special
message to Congress for such action as may
be NECESSARY.
Our navy therefore. is confronted with the
practical question Of what to do in the contin-
gency Just mentioned II the action Of Con-
Rress should make hostilities more probable.
ought these to be undertaken at the earliest
practicable date On this point an obvious con-
Is the relative degrees Of preparation
OF the two countries Chill has her naval force
hNm0 watQFq !,
Yorktown and Boston. is still to be concentrat-
cd there. The only Gillian vessel which our
navy needs to fear is the Captain Pratt. tho
armorclad now Mastering to
completion. Her other war ships. whether the
Esmeralda. or the Errazuriz and Pinto, or the
Lynch and Condell or the collection Of old
time ironclads. can be taken care of. But the
CAPTAIN Pratt, which is heavier than the Maine,
10. with her twelve inches Of steel armor her
10 knots speed and her four 0h-inch Canet
guns IN turrets. and eight 4t-inch guns be-
hind shields. a more formidable vessel than
ANY We now have ready. The question. there
Tore. arises whether. should hostilites become
inevitable. they ought not to be entered upon
since the Captain Pyat would not
thereafter be delivered up by France as long
10 hostilities might last Once delivered. and
manned and supplied. she might be
formidable against our ports and commerce as
veil as in contending with our war vessels at
Valparaiso.
The preparations remaining on our own side,
hough now comparatively few. would take
'everal weeks OF the new year for their COM
,letion. The San Francisco will probably
cave Mare Island for Chilli this week: the Bal
tmofe has still to be locked and cleaned
here. Tho Charleston. II not needing to be
looked. may proceed directly from Honolulu
o Gillian waters. to Join tho Yorktown and |
Boston. The Chicago. Atlanta. and Benning-
on have left ST. Thomas for St Lucia. thence |
o proceed to Montevideo. from which point |
hey can, II necessary, keep on to Valparaiso. |
The Philadelphia. Concord. and Kearsarge are |
n the West indies. ready for any service. and |
re to be Joined by the Newark. now being |
verhauled at Norfolk. These. with the Man.
onomoh. OF little speed. but having q battery |
elied upon. They carry more than hundred
lish-power rifled breeoh-loaders. and are all
MODERN steel ships. except the Kearsarge. the
onqusror Of the Alabama
II the dispute drags along. and a naval dem
Is deferred. other vessels now under
obstruction may 1e ready. such as the Mon
Grey. with its heavy armor and two 12-inch
nd two 10.inch guns. and the monitor Terror.
nth its four 10-inch guns which. In fact are
ow ready for her.
Besides tho question OF time there is that OF
no character Of the naval operations.
at Valparaiso is chiefly spoken
I: but the control of the nitrate region In the
orth OF Chilli is no less important since that
the chief source Of tho Governments in
ono. 1t involves less question OF damage to
ersons and property. could probably DO &C.
emphasized more speedily and at less cost. the
nore Notifications being Of little consequence.
nd would perhaps DO tho natural resort. In
by force I'm indemnity denied on de-
Iand.
Here point worth noting is that the San
francisco IL under sealed orders. not even her
being known: and further. that o
ost unusual step has been taken In forbid
ng the publication hereafter Of news Of the
ovements OF war ships.
Significant ~ are this latter order and the
oking after coal supplies at various points,
Is difficult to believe TINT the dispute can
I'VE any other than n peaceful termination,
rough the concession by Chill Of such repara-
.,,.t I,n l,t, L. |