Evening journal., 1891-05-12

The News At Washington.
WASHINGTON, May ia-It IS reported
that the government has Information to
warrant the belief that the ltata win next
be heard Of touching At a Mexican port,
and it is probable that the Charleston will
make her first stop about half way down
the west coast Of Mexico, not in the hope
OF finding her prey there, but Of picking
up hints as 20 its whereabouts.
To Destroy tho Rebel Fleet.
Ex-Mnister A. M Soteldo, OF Venezuela.
who is fully posted on Chilian matters,
has just received a report that the fleet Of
the government has started IN pursuit OF
the rebel squadron To destroy or capture
IL He says the rebel feet Is In a very bad
condition for want Of repairs, supplies
and even fuel, so that il "a expected that
when there is an encounter the rebels will
have TO succnmb. He says the government
vessels are of the best character and very
complete IN equipment. The cruisers Ad-
miral Lynch, Admiral Condell and two
vessels OF the torpedo class compose the
government fleet. Four other vessels OF
the first class arc expected momentarly.
Mr.. Soteldo says the reports favoring the
rebels cause which come from Paris are
not true.
HalmaCeda Can whip Them.
President Balmaceda, he says, has all
the means necessary TO bring the war to a
successful end The object Of the reports
from Europe favorable TO the rebels is, he
says, TO establish a credit for them II possi-
BILE, but this they have not been able to
obtain, because all the rebel stories from
that source have been proved to be mis-
leading. In regard 20 the ltata affair, he
says;
"The Itata is clearly a runaway from the
custody Of the marshal Of tho United States
and without a legal clearance. As such
she can be pursued and captured on the
high seas. The United States government
will consider itself bound to prevent arms
from falling into the hands Of rebels
against friendly government, and there
is no doubt that the state and navy depart
ments will do all within their power to re-
cover the ground already lost and show the
world that the United States cannot be
trifed with. The attention of the United
States had been called to the breach Of in
ternational law by the Itata and the vessel
was seized. Escape does not give her any
new rights, nor does IL prevent the United
States vessels from pursuit
The EsmeraIda wan Fight.
II is not definitely known that the Chill
ian cruiser Esmeralda Is in port at Aca-
pulco, which probably explains why the
navy department was so secretiye regard
ing the Charleston's orders Had the or
ders to Captain Remy been made public the
representatives Of the Chilian insurgents
would have promptly advised the Esmer-
aida Of the intention Of the American
government to seize the Itata II is now
deemed probable that the Esmeralda will
cruise north toward San Francisco in the
hope Of falling in with the Itata before the
Charleston can arrive and to protect her
from seizure. In the event Of the three
vessels meeting it will require fine man
agement to prevent a conflict The orders
TO Captain Remy are, it is thought, TO cap
ture the Itata in any event. while on the
other hand it is believed that the Esmer.
aida will fight if she reaches the scene in
time, as she has much at stake. The lat
ter vessels commander, portion Of her
crew and part OF her secondary battery
are on board the ltata, which will act as
strong incentive TO prevent the conveying
of the Itave to American waters.
About Evenly Matched.
The Charleston and Esmeralda are evenly
matched in fighting strength, the latter
having a little heavier armament but this
is thought to be offset by the fact that the
Charleston is the swifter ship and has
splendid crew and fighting commander.
Would BE Perfectly Legal.
Lawyers here agree that the capture OF
sinking of the Itata by the Charleston viii
be legal, as the vessel is not the represen-
tative Of any constituted authority. Bal
maceda is still the head Of the Chilian gov
ernment, and he alone is recognized By
foreign governments. In the event Of the
Esmeralda interfering with the capture of
the Itata, she can also be considered in ths'
same category as the Itata.
Collector Phelps said he thought CON
demnation proceedings would be brought
against the schooner Robert and Minnis
in the southern district. Her offense is.
that she carried arms knowingly, to aid
the insurgents against the recognized gov.
ernment OF a friendly power