The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-25
Warships for Berinr Sea.

VICTORIA, B. c.. March 24-It is an
nounced that Rear-AdmiraI Hotham,
commander of the British Pacific naval
squadron, has cabled for orders to Esqui-
matt as the warships Melpomene, Cham
pion and Warspite will reach Esquimait
May l, two months earlier than previ-
ously arranged. The sudden change in
the disposition of the ships IS taken to in
dicate serious phase of the Bering sea
dispute.
WASHINGTON Cry, March 24.-Instruc-
tions to the naval officers assigned to ves-
seis intended for the protection of seals
are not yet wholly complete, but it is evil
dent that the operations of the vessels
Will this year be extended not only to
Bering sea, but also to waters within the
three-mile limit along the entire Alaskan
coast from latitude 65 to Unimak pass, south
of Bering sea. In these waters the seal
herds are usually found on the way to the
rookeries on Pribilof Islands, and will be
pro.ected along the entire course usually
followed by poachers. Nearly 25.000 seals
were caught in these waters last year.
The revenue vessels Corwin and Albatross
have already gone to Alaskan waters, and
will soon be followed by the Rush and
Bear and several naval vessels.
SAN FRaYcIsco, March 2f.-Rear-Ad-
miral Belknap deprecatss the idea that
any serious international trouble is i'm
minent as the result of the Bering sea
difficulty. He said:
1t is hardly probable that two great countries
would become involved in war, CT even in ssri-
Gus complication, over few fishing vessels in
Berlng Think the whole mater viii ts
arranged with more or less amicability. Thsie
may be come little friction, but it win
hardly be attended with momentous conse
quenees. The United States and England, as eso
Russia, thoroughly appreciated the situation,
and recognized the TACT that their mutual in
terests neeessItated diplomatic adjustment Of
the controversy. l think that the settlement,
whether it is made sooner or later, will Ia
peaceful, and that no belligerent action OF
either side may be apprehended. -
General Thomas A. Ruger said:
have had no official intimation of any call
upon the military forces, and with regard 10 the
situation on Bering can only give an indi
vidual opinion, and that is that they have not
got through the talking part OF the business yet.
War between the United States aud
England would be without doubt
the greatest military problem the world
Of modern times has ever known. Look at the
immense mutual interests existing between the
two nations, to which the whole scaling 1ues-
ton is but us q drop in the bucket and think
you must be convinced that the uttermOst and
last thought OF resort would be a declaration of
wse. 1t is true that England's navy is the
largest and the strongest in the world,
but in the event OF hostilities breaking out, the
United States has command OF money suffcien.
to make her own navy nearly equal to that of
Great Britsin at short notice. As fla the army,
] think we are more than equal 70 any army she
can put into the field. think that any trouble
OF this nature is very fa- offaud very unlikely to
happen over the Bering sea question.