River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-12-31
THE GILLIAN SITUATION.
Despite All DenIals, the United states
Government Is Preparing for War. Unless
An Apology Is Promptly Made by the
Little Snutn American Renuhlic.

Despite All DcnIaIs. the United states
Government Is Preparing for War, Unless
An Apology Is Promptly Made by the
Little south American Republic.
WASHINGTON. Dee. 29.-Chili must ex-
press her regrets for the assault upon
the sailors of the Baltimore and pay To
the families of the murdered seamen a
snug indemnity. She must do this
within two weeks. Her refusal will
mean war with the United States.
The Gillian man-of-war Captain
Pratt, now at Toulon. will not be rer-
mitted to leave that port unit this
difficulty has been settled. An officer
of the navy is now watching the
Captain Pratt, and he reports TO
this government every stroke
of work which puts that
formidable cruiser nearer sea service.
In safe time, before it is possible to
place the Pratt in commission, the
United States will declare wa if at
that time the demand for apology and
indemnity made by this government on
the authorities at Santiago shall re-
main uncomplied with
The United States is preparing for
war because preparations under the
circumstances is the prudent thing to
do and because Chilis knowledge of
the preparations may help to convince
the Santiago government that tlis
country is in earnest and not 10 be
trifled with. Within few days it is
hoped a communication will be re-
ceived from the Gillian govern.
ment which. if not entirely salts
factory, will form a basis for salts
factory settlement of the difficulty. In
other words, the United States have
taken their stand and now occupy po-
sition from which they cannot nor will
not retreat Chilli is not only by words.
but by actions. which speak louder
than words, being informed that re-
sponsibility for war or peace rests with
her, and that this is a responsibility
which she must quickly assume and
make decision upon.
The foregoing paragraphs contain
the essence of the Gillian situation as
il exists. The statements made are
based upon high authority. Meanwhile
the air is full of rumors. 1t is exceed
ingly difficult to obtain trustworthy in
formation, as the lips of officials are
sealed, and only hints and remarks
from which differences may be taken
are dropped.
While the department officials con.
tinue to deny vociferously that there
are any preparations making for pos
sible hostilities with Chilli it becomes
hourly more evident that their state
ments must. to use very moderate
expression, he accepted with great
caution. The fact is, everybody here
recognizes that preparations are be
| ing made, and are being pushed to the
utmost capacity of every department
| Assistant Soley's denial of any unusual
activity at the Washington navy yard
/ is met by the fact that work was done
| there Sunday and that all the shop:
were running over time. II
guns have just been shipped tC
| San Francisco to be mounted on the
old monitor Comanche, now at Mare
/ island. The new 12-inch gun has been
| shipped to San Francisco without re
naming at the Indian head proving
grounds for the statutory tesla most
unusual circumstance. The department
| has ordered a shipment of ~ 600 pounds
of prismatic powder and II 900 6-iDcf
| shells from the League island navy
yard. Philadelphia, TO San Francisco.
| 1t is believed that Admiral Gherar1
win assume command of the entire
| fleet when 1T assemblies in CHILEAN
waters. The news that Gen. Miles is
on his way to Washington from
Chicago is interpreted here to mean
that Gen. Miles viii be placed in com
mand of the land forces. Despite
all denial every order of the war de-
partment shows how recruits are being
hurried from the east to western
points To replace troops who will be
shipped to Chilli, if necessary
These troops, it IS expected, will
leave the United States from sew
eral points The majority of them, OF
| course, will embark from San Fran.
cisco, while others can be shipped from
Galveston and Key West. Fortunate
| ", our treaty stipulations with the
United States of Colombia permit us tc
/ forward troops and munitions of wal
over the Panama railway, which ex
tends from Aspinwall on the Atlantic
! side to the ancient city of Panama or
the Pacific side.
Chilli has not yet asked for arbitra
ton, but it is known here that it is
| likely to do so. II arbitration of the
/ differences of the two countries is
asked for, the Gillian advisers argue
shrewedly that the United States con
gress will never allow war to be de-
clared because Chilli has refused tC
comply with the demand of President
Harrison for an apology and indemnity
| for the Baltimore affair.