Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-20

PROMISE, But TEk GENERAL IMPRESSION n
THAT IT 10 TO GAIN TIME--How THINGS ARE
GOING on At THE NAVY pEPARTNkxT.
There was q decided fall in the war market
around the Navy Department this morning.
II was quito evident that the bears had taken
hold Of the Chilean situation and the effect was
that more peaceful feeling prevailed. Sec
Rotary Tracy had q comparatively quiet morn
ing, though he found plenty to occupy him.
Yesterday afternoon he saw Senators Stanford.
stockbridge, Hale, Gibson of Louisiana. Chand-
Ter and Blackburn Of the Senate naval COM
mittee. This morning he had calls from Sens-
tors Cameron and MePhcrson. the two men,
bers OF the committee who did not put in an
appearance yesterday.
II Is understood that the Secretary laid
before the committee n statement of the er-
penditures he has recently incurred in his
preparations Tor naval demonstration against
chile, and asked that when his estimates FOR
appropriations should be submitted he receive
tue support OF the committee. A week ago,
he Is alleged to have said. these preparations
seemed to be absolutely necessary but now he
peieves that there will be no war. 1t is further
understood that the Secretary received the
surances OF the committee that he would be
supported In every proper and necessary ex-
pense involved in his precautionary move
ments.
POSSIBLE PEACEFUL SOLUTION.
This expression on the part of the Secretary
Of a belief that the crisis has been passed is
taken as indication that the overtures Of the
Chilean government, mentioned in connection
with yesterdays cabinet meeting, are regarded
| as paving the way to an ultimate act of repara-
ton on the part Of Chile. At all events IL is
quite certain that the entire tone Of affairs
around the Navy Department, which is the
most active branch of the government Just at
present in this affair, has been considerably
modified. No single step has been taken however.
| to undo all that has been so hurrIedly done by
| the department daring the past few weeks to
put this country on fighting basis. There 10
no less activity m the navigation bureau an the
preparation ana translation of cipher dis
patches and it is evident that the department
is spending quite as much money as ever in the
transmission Of intelligence over the wires
CHILE WANTS TO GAIN TIME.
Though the peaceful rumors have q very
general effect the majority OF naval officers re-
fuse to place much credcIce in them, alleging
that Chile is but making show at relenting in
order to gain time for her own preparations.
The departure Of an armed feet of vessels from
Valparaiso is being quoted on every hand to
| show that Chile, though she knows that she 10
| in no danger OF attack If she does what the
| United States has asked, is making efforts to
| place herself on a war basis by protecting her
most important supply station, in the Straits OF
Magellan. There are very many who believe
that Chile's real attitude has not changed in
| the least, but that she is endeavoring to main
tain peace either until Great Britain shall have
interfered or until she herself shall be in q
| position to fight.
A very accurate index Of the popular senti-
ment is obtained through the letters that pour
| III upon Secretary Tracy from all parts OF the
country. Whereas ten days ago these indicated
\ the DEVELOPMENT of decided war spirit today
there seems to have been a change in the tone.
! and there is u growing disposition to urge the
| Secretary to a conclliatory course.
APRoMlsE FROM CHILE.
There is no doubt that Chile has made an at
tempt to clog the wheels Of the warlik move
ment In this country by throwing out bait in
the form OF a promise. The dispa, ches that
| were laid before the cabinet yesterday by Sec
Rotary Blaine, just before he was taken ILL., I'M
| doubtedly had a peaceful or at any rate q
modifying tendency. Their nature has been
surmised in all possible lights for the past
| twenty-four hours, until 1t is difficult to esti-
| mate their true character. Such q thing OBJ
| subject is impossible, as every scrap OF dipio-
matte correspondence is now being jealousy
guarded and saved for use in the budget OF
news that the President il going to send to
| Congress.
The surmise reported in last evenings STAR
is unquestionably true. that the propositions
involved an offer to withdraw the Malta note,
yet there were probably other advances made.
| 1t has been ascertained that the conditions OF
| the offer to disayow the note were to q certain
| extent ridiculous, it was proposed TO with
draw the note only from the Chilean legation
in this city.
| SENIOR MONTHS ZEAL
| Senior Mont has been unusually jealous dur
| ing the last few hours in an effort to check the
hostile feeling OF the administration in WASH
\ ington toward his own country. He has made
| several verbal assurances to Secretary Blaine
| that Chile would soon take a definite move in
| the line of an answer to President Harrison 9
demands, but as yet there is nothing on which
| the administration can base Withdrawal from
its high ground OF the last few days.
No CHANGE IN THE SITUATION.
Chairman Herbert Of the House naval COM
mittee called on Secretary Tracy this morning.
| He said on leaving that there was apparently
no change in the Chilean situation. The Sec
rotary had no news, he added, and there
| seemed to be no reason for any change ofy.ews
on the subject
A DELAY OF THE coRREsPoSDEycE.
II is quite apparent that Congress will not be
enlightened on the Chilean controversy for at
least two or three days, for the announcement
| is made at the State Department that the cor
| respondence will not be sent in tomorrow. No
message and the documents. and this indicates
| that the President has decided not to send the
correspondence to the Capitol as soon as he
| first intended.
SECRETARY BLAINE AT WORK.
Secretary Blaine was sufficiently recovered
| this morning from his attack Of illness In the
cabinet meeting yesterday to do considerable
| work on State Department matters and receive
several callers, among whom were Vice Prcsi-
| dent Morton and Secretary Elkins. One of the
officers Of the department said that the Secre-
tary was las clipper as a lark, and that the
fine weather Of today has aided him wonder
fully in his recovery.
THE cArITAy PnAr.
The Navy Department has been informed by
an official correspondent at Toulon, France,
that the Chilean battle ship, Captain Pratt,
building there for the Chilean government,
cannot possibly be made ready for sea service
| before April /. This is about the date on which
| the Monterey. which has been frequently COM
pared with tho Prat, might be made ready il
| she were pushed to the utmost.
ADMIRAIs GlERARDI AND wALKrR.
Dar oh. 70 .beR -