The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-12-31
IT LOOKS OMNIBUS.
PREPARATIONS FOR WAR STEADILY
GOING ON.
Inc Dan Francisco Now at San Diego Loaded
with Ammunition for Other Vessels
Awaiting Orders to Sail
From Washington.

i" iloh Munster Egan since
the Z3d lnstant,nor why he did not at
tend President Months Inauguration
Saturday. They did not know and
doubted the correctness of the report.
AT the war department neither A CT
ing Secretary Grant nor Major Gen.
eral Schofield have had any informa-
tion to appoint General Miles to the
command of the army in the event of
war with Chile.
Chilean Minister Montt called at the
department of the state at noon and
was Immediately shown into Secre-
tary Blaine's private office and had
an interview OF half an hour.
1t was impossible to get more than
a mint OF what passed between the
secretary and minister during the
interview, but that is probably sutfi-
Gent to warrant the supposition that
matters are not proceeding in a man.
ner as satisfactory to the government
OF the United States as could be de.
sired. Notwithstanding the fact that
Secretary Blaine is now dealing AL
most directly with the Chilean minis
ter instead of with his government
through the intervention of Minister
Egan, it does not appear that the re-
suit has been q saving of time, and
there Is reason to suspect that
the secretary is chatting at the delay
ne encounters in securing a final re-
Spouse to the representations made
by this government concerning the
attack upon the Baltimore's men.
Secretary Tracy has been in COM
munication with the members of both
the House and Senate committees on
naval affairs during the day but with
what purpose is not definitely known.
An officer of the department. speak
ing of the consultations said
ut means just this: We are abiding
by George Washington's maxim, In
the time of peace prepare for war;
We do not believe there will be war,
but if the administration failed to ex-
ercise all it's power in the matter of
preparation it would be open to Sc
we're criticism if hostilities actually
ensue."
SAN FRANCISCO AT SAN DIEGO.
SAN DIEGO, CAL, Dec 28.-The
United States steamer San Francisco,
which left San Francisco Saturday,
arrived here this morning. Rear Ad-
miral Brown said:
81 shall stay in San Diego harbor
until the secretary of the navy orders
us away. We are ready to sail on
three bour's notice, but may remain
three weeks. All depends on our
orders from Washington. The ship is
equipped for three years cruise and
we have one hundred rounds of anu
milton for each gun. Besides this we
have 300 or 400 for other ships.n
"What other ships2n was asi<ea.
N--'''W ely, we may meet some otheI
ships that will want some ammunl
| tion,U was the only answer.
1t is inferred that the Charleston,
now on her way from Honolulu to Ac-
apulco, is to meet the San Francisco
here and get extra ammunition. The
Baltimore is also coming north from
Chilean waters and may want ammu-
milton.
Commodore Wilson, the chief con-
structor, had gone over to Philadel-
phia to inspect the progress of the
naval work, and on Saturday had not
found single man of the 5000 en-
ployes at work. Moreover, Mr.. Cramp
did not believe that half of his force
was at work today, as they were
keeping the holiday season.
AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
At the department of state matters
moved along in the usual serene fash
ion, and there was not trace of war
like excitement. The officials say
that nothing has been heard from
Minister Egan since the 23d inst.
Why he did not attend President
Months Inauguration Saturday they
did not know and doubted the cor
rectness of the report to that effect.
AT THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
At the war department neither act
ing Secretary Grant nor Major Cen
eral Schofield, who would certainly
be in position to know, had any in
formation of the intention to appoint
Gen. Miles TO command the army in
the event ola war with Chile. In
fact the only sign of war like
preparations visible at the executive
departments consisted of an order is
sued Saturday for the immediate prep
aration of the new twelve-inch gun
lust completed at the navy yard here
for trans portation to California, to-
gether with $4,000 pounds of prismatic
powder and II 900 six-inch shells.
An officer of the state department
said tonight that so far as he was
aware nothing had been received from
Minister Egan since the Inauguration
of President Montt. The Chilean mir
lister also remains unofficially advised
of anything pertaining to the inaugu-
ton.
Secretary Tracy said tonight that
the United States steamer San Fran
cisco, which arrived at San Diego,
Cal, was there for the purpose of en-
gaging in target practice. He SAID
further that other orders had been Is
sued to her commander.
SECRETARY TRACY BUSY.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S.-Secretary
Tracy's office presented busy scene
this morning. Within an hour he saw
Senator Allison, chairman of senate
committee on appropriations, Senator
Cameron, chairman of the committee
ON naval affairs, Senator Butler,
member of the same comml tee, Sena-