The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-05
BERiNG SEA AGITATION.
Secretary Blaine Sends froposais-Ger-
many Interested An English Report.

Secretary Blaine sends froposais-t;er-
many Interested An English Report.
IoSDoS, Jan. Especial. lin diplo-
matte quarters a strong impression pre-
walls that Lincoln is the bearer OF ini-
portant proposals from Blaine for the set
tlemcnt of the Bering sealing question.
1t Is learned tonight that instructions have
been mailed to the commander of the
British North Pacific squadron. based
upon the assumption thatpycrt action viii
have to be taken early next season for the
protection of British and Canadian in
terests. These instructions have been
conhdentlally communicated to the Ger
man government, which has learned that
several German sealers are at this moment
being iltted for the opening of the season.
Early in the coming spring both German
and British war vessels will be cruising in
Bering sea aud there viii he something
like naval concentration at Vancouver.
NEW YORK, Jan. Especial. IA Heraid
Ottawa dispatch says: Sir George Baden
Poweli's report on the Bering sea seal
fisheries claims that seal life has not di-
minished since Canadian vessels began to
engage regularly in the fishing, and that
the present methods of marine sealing are
not wasteful or dangerous TO the perpettI-
ity of the industry. He deems il import
ant, however, that international regula-
tions be adopted for seal fisheries for the
waters through which the seals pass.
New YORK, Jan. I.--ISpeeial. IA Times
special from Annapolis, Md, says: COM
ment is aroused among many officers over
series of orders emanating from the navy
department within the past few weeks,
III
ships at San Francisco, and tile ordering
of various other cruisers TO Pacific waters.
Under the present orders no less than
eleven war ships and five revenue cutters
will soon be III commission in the Pacific
and ready for duty. II, in addition,
the r,lmored chartcring and arining
of seven steamers for revenue cutter duty
in Bering sea proves correct, the United
States naval force will number twenty
three ships against five British gunhoats
and one armorcd vessel al present prote,1-
ing Great Britain $ interests iii the North
Pacific. lit is now asserted that the lantic
viii be sent from New York To the Pacific.
This will increase the above force BY still
another vessel.
Orders sent ont from the navy depart
ment during the past few weeks have in
cluded the immediate sittiiig out of the
San Francisco; the transportation from
New York by rail OF 100 men for the san
Francisco; the ordering of the corvette
Swatara, just rotiIrlIcd from the Asiatlc
station, 10 join the Pacific sGuadron the
ordering in commission OF the coryettes
Marion and Alert. nov 1t san Francisco;
the ordering of the Omaha. ilagshsp of the
Asiatic squadron, TO proceed ut once to
San Francisco, the alleged reason being
that she needs repairs, and the ordering
of the Thetis to be fitted out for duty upon
an alleged assignment To surveying duty.
Aside from the above orders ii is pointed
out that no orders are being issued for the
cruisers Charleston or san. Francisco TO
leave the Pacinc coast. Already there are
six war ships at San Francisco-tlle
cruisers San Francisco, Charleston, Swa-
tara, Marion, Alert and Thctis. On the
Central American coast the Ranger Is
within call At Honolulu and Samoa,
ready to proceed TO San Franciseosa as soon
as ordered. are the coryettes Mohican and
Iroqrois. At Sitka, Alaska, is the Pinta.
Scattered along the paeinc coast and all
within reach of the telegraph, are
four revenue cutters. The Omaha left
China December IL for San Francisco. Size
is expected to arrive in February. Should
rumorcd. she would reach san Francisco
during the same month. Aside from the
Omaha and the Yantic it is calculated that
ten warships are now III position for mo-
bilization at San Francisco inside of forty
days. Six warships are ready Tor immedi-
ate use.
In view of the present Bering sea con-
troversy and the rumored cIiartering of
seven steamers for revenue cutter duty
the above disposition is deemed ominous,
as the hshing season does not begin earlier
than May. The concentration of twelycewar
ships can be effected before the revenue cut
tiers are ready 20 proceed to Berlng sea. lit
is believed that the whole United states
force III the Paciuc will then concentrate
off Port Townsends Concerning the
Omaha it is thought even If this vessel is
subjected 20 repairs in san Francisco she
can be got ready to join the Pacinc hcet in
the spring.
The strength of the American and Eng
lish forces in the North Pacii.c waters viii
be as follows: American Number ships,
10; number guns, 80; number men, 2.t2J.
British-Number ships. 8; number guns,
81; number men, .2z-ss Should the ril-
mored seven steamers be chartered, the
American force OF men will be increased TO
5000 and the number Of guns TO lis
Aside from the above it Is known that
the secretary of war has recently directed
reports Oh tiiS R1tNistiEt t-ttA i@4t - -
sent in at once. It is said the secretary Is
expressing anxiety to have the Natcryiiet
lathe ready for heavy gun work.
The Germans include all Asiatic and
PaciHc waters in one station. On that
station they have NJ present seven war
ships whose headquarters alternate be-
tween Hongkons ansi Singapore. Ihese
ports are chosen iB order 80
keep the German tleet always within
cable reach OF Berlin. the German
squadron in .bese waters contains in al
about 500 nen. TBo Of the vessels in
the aeet are arfnorei cgiiisers Trey would
prove more thana mateii tr he Fan FRAN
cisco and ChGrlestou. Iiic remaining yes
scls gre Nstnaien rnFNNiIle