Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-17
WILL WAR RESULT !?
The Chilean Situation Discussed In All
It's Bearings
UNCLE M'SPOSITION.
The Bump,ious south Americans Must
Apeiogizs--Chrls Actively Preparing
for HostIlities--How We Stand.
tBy telegraph to the lnspssch.l

lBy telegraph 10 the ihspatcn.j
WASHINGTON, January 16.-Five of the
members Of the House Committee on For
eign Affairs called at the Department OF
State just before noon to-day to nay their
respects to Secretary Blaine. This visit
was IN pursuance Of q ong-established
custom whereby. at the beginning OF each
Congress, the committee OF the House
which has to do with foreign relations calls
upon the Secretary of State. Usually these
visits are purely formal, and particularly
Is this true when tho majority OF the
House is politically opposed to the Secre-
tary. But the call made by the committee
to-day was awaited with much interest.
for il was expected that the strained rela-
tons between this country and Chile
would be touched upon by the Secretary.
The FIVE members of the committee were
Chairman Biount, and Messrs. Hooker,
Geary. O'Donnell, and Hammer, and ac-
cording to their statements Secretary
Blaine did not make q single direct aiiu-
sion to our relations with Chile.
YBE NICARAGUA cAsALi
To the surprise of the committee be did
call TO their attention the necessity for
speedy action by Congress upon the Mica
fuily equipped with facts and figures to
support his reasoning and very fiuently
he described the political importance or
the canal. the volume of traffic which
would probably pass through 1T. and the
advantages to accrue from retention OF
its management and control in American
hands. Incidentally it was made clear, TO
the committee that the position OF such
waterway between the. Atlantic ana the
In nf
strategic advantage If il should be neces-
sary 10 transfer our naval vessels from one
side Of the country TO the other. But OF
Chilean troubles the Secretary said not
word directly.
"cHrLH SHOULD BIZ SPANKED" FORTHWITH
II cannot be learned that any communi-
cations have passed this morning between
the State Department and Minister Egan.
nor was Seuor Montt. the Chilean Minister.
AT the department. Several Senators and
Representatives called upon Secretary
Blaine during the forenoon. One OF the
former, who is from an interior western
State said that he had heard nothing
directly from the Secretary relating TO
Chile, but be did feel that the country
should now assert Its dignity and spank
the bumptious little South American
republic.
CHILES ACTIVE PREPARATIONS.
The reported preparations of the Chilean
Government for war, though lacking OH
cial confirmation in oil its details as yet. is
viewed with deep concern at the Navy De-
partment. The reported shipment OF tor
pedoes through Montevideo TO Chile has
had the effect of warning the naval Off
GERS that IN the event of war they are TO
be met by a foe armed with the latest
modern weapons.
Other unmistakable preparations are to
be discerned. it is said, such as the re-
ported dispatching OF fleet OF three
cruisers and torpedo-boat from Vaipa-
raiso under sealed orders, which was re-
ported from Chile through private sources
Yesterday. 1t is the prevailing opinion at
the Navy Department that this feet Is
bound for the Straits of Magellan, which
NAV be regarded TO certain extent as the
gateway to Chile.
TO HOLD THE STRAITS OF MAGELLAN.
A comparatively small number OF we'll
armed vessels advantageouslv placed IN
these straits could, in the opinion of naval
experts, hold that important passage
against large fleet. To be sure, this
would not necessarily prevent the ultimate
rounding of Cape Horn by on American
squadron bound for Chile, as two days
steaming OF most would carry the ships
into the Pacific by an outside route. The
theory is, however. that 1T is the desire OF
the Chilean Government to afford ample
protection TO its important coal and sup
ply station at Porto Cabello, in the straits.
The CAPTURE of this station would be a
serious blow TO Chile. and might ultimate
ly be made an object of campaign In
southern waters in case of hostillties
UNITED STATES VESSELS IN THE SOUTH.
- h1 Gh,toatn uaccalo- cnnnnGinn
the straits to be their destination-can
easily reach that point before Admiral
Walker, who is now at Monteyideo with
the Chicago. Atlanta, and Bennington.
The Concord is also on her way to Monte
video. Other vessels on the Pacific are
stationed as follows: The Yorktown is 1t
Valparaiso, the Boston is at Callao. Peru;
the Charleston and the San Francisco at
San Diego. and the Baltimore at San Fran
cisco. Besides these new ships there are
the Essex and the Yantic at Montevideo.
Secretary Tracy was in his Office all the
morning seeing members of Congress and
other callers. The Navy Department was
in constant telegraphic communication
with the navv-yards and naval stations IN
all parts of the country for several hours
last night.
MODERN GUNS AVAILABLE.
There are now completed at the Wash
ineton gun foundry twenty 6-lnch rifles
and sixteen of the s. and 10-inch calibres,
making present stock of thirty-six guns
of the most modern patterns that are
practically available for immediate use. II
usually takes about fifty days OF eight
hours each to make 6-inch gun, but
when .he twenty-four-hour system is put
into operation this period can be cat
down to about seventeen days.
The 12-inch gun recently completed at
the navy-yard for the Monterey cost SAG
900, according to the final reports received
ut the Navy Department. The labor on 1t
cost but $1,000. The gun weighs 100000
pounds, and thus cost about forty cents
hound, or nearly half the average cost OF
guns of the same size abroad. This is re-
garded as an excellent showing for the
foundry.
VISITORS NOT EXCLUDED PROM THE NAvY-YARD.
1t is denied at the Navy Department that
any order has been issued tn exclude visit
ors from the Washing ton hayward. Such
an order would be issued only in the event
of a war, when it would be necessary 20
protect the plant.
POSITION OF THE UNITED STATES.
WASHINGTON, January 16.-Members of
Congress are awaiting with considerable
interest the publication of the Chilean cor
respondence. The members of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee have followed
the matter closely. but generally with lit
tie to guide them In forming conclusions
except the publications III the newspapers.
There is belief entertained by some
members who have watched the develop
ments with more than ordinary closeness
and interest that peaceful solution of
the trouble will be found, and that while
the situation Is grave war will not result.
II is understood at the Capitol that the
position assumed by the United States IS
that an apology must he made by Chile.
and that there will then follow the Ques-
ton of indemnity TO the sailors injured III
the attack on the crew of the Baltimore
and to the kin of those killed in that at
tack. Ii ls believed bv many representa-
tiyes that Chile viii acknowledge the
wrong done the United States by making
an apology, and that the reason for her
delay in this respect is to be found in the
disproportion in the strength OF the two
countries.
CHILE. 1T IS THOUGHT. WILL MAKE AMENDS.
II is expected that Chile, after asserting
her dignity by q sufficient delay to show
that though an unequal comoatant in the
event Of war she viii not be hurriedly
forced into giving way. will make the
amends due to the United States. Then
will arise the question of indemnity, aud
arbitration is looked forward to IS the
IL II. 90 HE nh ~ the A