The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-19
RUMOR Or WAR.
Reported Attack On the York
town.
Ihs Chil8a1S Said to Have Taken The
First Aggressive Step.
EashlngC1 OGclaIs Refuse to Confirm or
Deny the Report-Ac.iYiy al
The NaYg-YaTdS.
Speeis to THF NoRNINs CALI


were made on the Associated Press to ascer-
tain if there was any truth in it. When the
story was reported to Secretary Tracy he
treated il very lightly. and he added had no
news TO communicate TO the press tonight.
TThe Yorktown relieved the Baltimore
when the latter vessel came 10 san Fran
cisco. The refugees who have been pro-
tpctcd the United States Legation at San
tiagO were transferred To the 0rkt0wn I'M
der the personal care of United States Min
iseg EEan, but the Chilean officers refused
to guarantee their safety from arrest If
placed on board any of the coastwlse steam
ers stopping al Chilean ports. Commander
Evans telegHPh-d O. the IVY Department
for instructions and Secretary Tracy notified
him 10 proceed to CaliaO, Peru, and land the
refugees az that place, leaving 10 his d'scre-
tio1 tie time Of taking his departure. Com
nander Evans also notified tile Amer an
Minister To Inform the Chilean Minister Of
Foreign Affairs that he was res pODsl0le only
10 bis own Government for his action IN
sa.utlng the Spanish Minister, who visited
his vessel, which was objected 10 by the
Chilean Mlulster.l
AN UNCONFIBNED RUNoR-
rum0r circulated to the effect that the
Chilean Minister has notified this Govern
ment that an apology from Chile Will he
forthcoming could not be confirmed. Col
oueI Bemey, the Naval Judge Advocate
General. who has been conducting the in
vestigatlon into the Baltimore case at San
Francisco, is expected to return to this city
tomorrow or Wednesday with the couclud-
Ing portion Of tie testimony.
ACTIVITY OF THE NAVY.
The Navy Department to-day is still a
scene OF great activity. Secretary Tracy
had frequent consultations with his bureau
chiefs. and outward signs denote a great
deal of work being done He has sent
cabegram 10 Coz mmaud-r Evans Of the
Yorktown, ordering him TO proceed to Cal
lao, Peru, and land the Chilean refugees al
that ace
He was also instructed to use his discre-
tion as to tie time Of departure. The de
parture Of the YORKTOWN from Valparaiso
would leave the United States without e
single vessel IN Chilean waters. the Boston
being at CallaO. The Yorktown could
hardly make tie trip and return IN less than
aWeek.
PROTECTING THE MINISTER.
As Captain Evans is vested wich full dis
erection. it is l0l regarded Gs likely that he
viii cave Va pa-aIs0 until he is relieved By
another vessel or is thoroughly satisfied
tha. t.e c0udi,i Of affairs In Chile viii JUS
uly him 10 leaving the United States Min
lister without the means Of getting out Of
that country in the event thatcIrcums stances
Ill aGe it desirable or necessary to do so.
7 therefore, if is regarded as probable that
tie Boston VIII be sent TO Valparaiso, a.
though st the Navy Department il is asserted
that 10 orders bearing on this subject have
been sent.
COLLECTING INFORMATION.
The greatest activity prevails IN the Bu-
Teau Cf Naval Intelligence, the agents Of
which are said TO have been at work on the
plan for a possible campaign, besides col
Letting all imaginable information from
abroad. Through this bureau the Secre-
tary las kept himself thoroughly Informed
on the movements Of the agents OF Chile,
who, 1t is TumOTed, for some time have
been TanssCking Europe for war material
The comprehensive operations now con-
Quoted by the department are largely for
the purpose OF asceTtaInlng just what the
naval system can accomplish IN the event
OF LCstItIes.
THE CHILEAN TORPEDOEs,
George Asta-Bunaga, Charge d'AfaiTes
Of tie Chilean Legation IN Washington
during Balmacedas administration, states
that the tOTpedOes shipped TO Chile which
Admiral Walker cabled from MOntevIdeO
were on their way 10 their destination, were
ordered by Balmaceda during his suprem-
acy and paid for by money shipped from
Chile n a British man Of war. They
were Intended for operations against the
insurgents, and not against the United
States.
CHILE WILL FIGHT.
While be deprecates war, he says the
Chileaus viii fight 10 the last extremity if
h0stlitjes once begin, English and German
influence he thinks, viii be brought to bear
strongly or Chile in the interest OF peace.
The statement that this lot Of tOTpedOes
was ordered before the trouble with this
nation arose IS COTTOhOTsted by prominent
official a. the War Department, who says
sufficient time has not elapsed since the be-
ginning Of the Uupleasautness TO allow OF a
contract for so many tOrpedOes t. be closed
and the goods to be finished and shipped.
M0NTT ADVISES CAUTION.
Senior Nou;t tonight sent to the Minis
ter Of Foreign Affairs a dispatch Of
several hundred words advising Pc
Teiga Of the determination OF tie United
States and the waTlike feeling which
peTvadcs every department Of he Govern
ment. aud strongly urging him 10 make
some definite advances which might serve
10 allay the bitter feeling at Washington.
BLOCBADING THE STRAIT
NEW I YOEK. Jan18-The Wall-street Jour
nal says: Adyices have been received here
by officials Of one Of the leading steamship
companies doing business with South
America that three Of Chilo's largest ships
sailed tor the Strait # Magellan Saturday
from Valparaiso evidently TO re-enIorce
the Admiral COChTaue, now lying there,
Che's most powerful vessel The purpose
IS taken to he TO blockade the strait and
prevent the Tassage Of our ships 20 the
west coast This would necessitate a naval
battle at the strait as the first result Of the
declaration Of war. These steamship officials
say war is very probable il Chiie's move
ments are ANY indication.
An ATTACK EXPECTED.
A Washington dispatch printed here
states that Captain Evans has reported to
the Navy Department that four Of the best
cruisers in the Chilean navy viii leave Val
parais0 January goth for the Straits Of
Magellan, with a toTpedo-b3at, besides
From an officer comes the additional in
formation that the captain Of one Of the
English ships Of war in those waters said
the Chilean commander Informed him that
the fleet was going on a special
mission. You may be astOnished be-
fore long" he said. This news is
Interpreted to mean that Admiral Walkers
feet may be halted there and directed to
turn back or risk fight. This is the most
serious indication Of Cblie's hostile inteu-
tiOns the Navy Department has received
Naval officers say 10 can only mean one
thing which is that Chile intends opening
the ball herself. The vessels to 60 are said
TO be tie Esmeralda, Almrante COchrane,
Pinto a new unarmOTed cruiser whose sail
ing rare is nineteen knots, aud the COndel,
the torDcdo-boat that blew up the Blaneo
Encalada.
ADMIRAL wALKE8's DANGER.
Admiral Walker, in has flagship Chicago,
arrived at Monteyideo January I1tn. lie
was to-day Informed OF what might await
him, and warned to make ready for it.
For the first tine there Is real alarm
here at the threatened danger to Admiral
Walker. His squadron is not equipped with
tOTptdoes and the Chicago might get blown
mp IN spite Of the utmost vigilance. 1t would
be a daring and plucky attempt, but so
was the successful attempt on the Blanco
Encslada. Captain Evans also informed
the department he is taking the most cx-
tFeme precautions on account of what he