Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-26
The CHILEAN SITUATION.
War Believed 90 He Inevitable In Army and
Navy Circles,

1 navy C1rclee>
| TIE PRESIDENT AND CABINET AZ WELL Al fHE
CHILEAN MINISTER HIRE THOUGHT TO BE Ne
prLaISe IN GAME OF coRprALIrY To ALIAY
PUBLIC APPREHESsIoS AND TO GAIN TINE.
War with Chile seems to be inevitable in army
and navy circles. In spite Of all impressions
| TO the contrary that may be given out from
! Official Sources it is fact that the President
and his cabinet do not now see any way BY
which hostiiities can DO prevented with honor
to this country.
Preparations are being made in both the navy
and the army to meet the exigencies Of the
| case. Should Chile reconsider and apologize
! at tho last moment such action on her part
| would be received with satisfaction, but it 10
| not expected.
TRYING 10 GAIN TIME.
Unless the United States government Is
greatly deceived a. to the attitude Of Chile the
officials there and their minister are merely
! trying to gain time until the Captain Pratt
which is now building. can be completed and
] fully equipped for active service
" course. 1t 10 the desire Of the President
ana ms cabinet to a. far as possible a]lay pub
lie apprehension until such time as o public
announcement becomes necessary.
There are very good reasons for believing
| that the State Department and Senior Montt
are engaged in the diplomatic game of cor
diality more for the purpose Of allnying public
apprehension than with any hope Of success in
| the efforts to promote peace.
The attitude of the Chilean government in
we'll known to be hostile and defiant to such
degree as to make Il almost absurd to indulge
the hope that an apology or any sort Of
amends will be offered for the outrage upon
Ameslcan sailors.
THE CAPTAIN PRAT.
1t is regarded by naval officers as very i'm
portant that the situation should be officially
proclaimed in time for request to the French
government, as q neutral power, to cease the
work OF hitting up the Captain Pratt for naval
This vessel, properly equipped and well
manned, would be more than a match for any
vessel In the United States navy, and perhaps
Tor any two Of them.
rely on Is the superiority Of the personnel of
our navy. Ii the Captain Pratt is permitted
be completed and put into ssry.
ice the chances are that she will
do considerable damage in spite of the best
efforts OF our navy. II her equipment can be
prevented the importance of prompt action to
that end may readily be appreciated.
THE PRESIDENTS PROBABLE ACTION.
There lie strong probability that the Presi-
NSAs "AA' NV acAoy Aous SOnBre5s EcsaS-
ssmbles in laying the whole case before the
two houses with q strong recommendation.
This Is a matter in which partisanship will
not Inquire Once assured that the situation is
one that demands vigorous action the demo-
cratic House and the republican Senate may be
alike relied on to sustain the administration
fully and the question Of cost will not enter
deeply into the matter.
CHILK's NEW PRESIDENT.
This is the day on which Senior Jorge Mont
will be inaugurated as president Of Chile, but
so far as can be learned no news of the event
has yet been received from Minister Egan
There can be no doubt of the desire of the
officers Of the State and Navy Departments to
allay any apprehensions Of war between the
United States and Chile that may have been
caused by alarming newspaper publications.
SECRETARY rkAcY's STATEMENTS,
Secretary Tracy this morning said: THE talk
OF war Is all in the newspapers" The Secre-
tary further showed some impotence a, tho re-
iteration Of warlike stories, and said emphati-
cally that they were without foundation, and
that there was nothing in the situation
to warrant their acceptance. He called
attention to the fact that the U. s. S.
Boston, which had just arrived at Valparaiso
had sailed promptly for San Francisco and re-
peated what Assistant Secretary Solely had pre-
vlously said: ''Ihat not a single vessel of the
navy is now under orders to proceed to
Chile"
Mr.. Solely was subsequently asked to explain
the departure of the Charleston from Honolulu
Tor Valparaiso on the 18th, as reported from the
Hawaiian Islands In reply he said that he did
not believe that the Charleston had taken any
such course and ne was sure she was not going
to Chile.
At THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
The officials at the State De partment were
NJ lint fool oh
optimistic view of the situation as to warrant
a belief strengthened by the fact that Secre-
taries Blaine and Tracy have been today in
consultation with the Presideut) that some
news OF most reassuring character has been
received from the American representatives in
Chile.
MINISTER EGANs LAST DISPATCH.
The last dispatch from Minister Egan was re-
ceived at the State Department on the 3d. Its
nature has not yet been developed and proba-
by will not DO until the complete cor
respondencc is sent. to Congress by the
President The greatest possible secrecy is
maintained as to these dispatches and ali the
officials at the State Department profess the
most total ignorance on all subjects relating to
Chile.
1t is not anticipated that any OF the CORE
| spondence will be submitted until the final re-
ply Of the Chilean government has been re-
ceived.
That there have been some developments in
Chile not generally known outside of diplo-
matte mat circles is evidenced by the fact that
twice In comparatively quick succession,
on the 18th and again on the
23d. Rates to Valparaiso are sufficiently high
to force a conclusion that whatever may have
been the events chronicled by the minister in
his messages they have an important bearing
on the matters at issue.
TWO PHASES OF THE QUESTION.
There arc really two phases to what is
known as the Chilean question:" the one
relating to the assault on the sailors of
the baltimore and the other to the treatment
OF Mr.. Egan and the refugees within
his legation house by the Chilean authorities.
The former IL the more important and formed
the main burden Of the Presidents remarks in
his message. The latter serves 10 reinforce the
American attitude Of resentment
The climax Of the case is expected to occur
when the Chilean government presents its dip
iomatic conclusions, drawn from the report Of
tho judge Of crimes who investigated tho VAL
paraiso riot.
Census Burroughs Expected.
On the Let Of January there will be about 100
clerks in the census Office furloughed without
pay for thirty or sixty days, and ON
the 18th there will be 100 more