The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-02-03
READY FOR WAR
The Governments Preparations
to Ba tile with Chile.
What Has Been Done by the
War and Navy Departments.

attack on sailors belonging to the United
States warship Baltimore In the streets Of ,
Valparaiso, and the unsatisfactory condition
Of affairs which followed the demand Of our
Government for reparation, prompted the
Army and Navy Departments at Washing
ton to prepare for the most serious outcome
Of the pending negotiations. A Washington
special outlined the preparations made and
the plan Of campaign as follows:
If Secretary Tracy sees hope Of a peaceful
settlement Of the Chilean trouble, he has NOT
relaxed in any way the preparations he has
been making. An entire plan Of campaign
has been mapped, so far as 1t Is possible 90
do so in advance Of possible settlement
The publication Of any Of the details would
be manifestly improper, as 1t would fnrnish
valuable aid to the Chileans, and would en-;
able them to map ont a hne OF defense.
1t may be said, however, that those who
have hoped for ''short, sharp, and do
cisive" campaign, and peace In a few weskx,
will in all probability be disappointed. No
unnecessary time will be lost, but the e1-
treme distance at which operations must be
carried on will, in itself, be, a serious OBJ
stacle. The plan Of the department, con-
templates an attack in force when the proper
time comes, and that cannot be made until
the ships have been concentrated. As theyt
are now widely separated, some at San
Francisco some at San Diego. some at
Montevideo, some In the West Indies, and
still others at New York and Norfolk, much
time will necessarily elapse before they can
all be gathered In the neighborhood Of VAL
paraiso.
Another reason for delaying the decisivs
attack as long as possible Is the lack of arr
mored ships and The desire to get the Mon
terey ready. as early as possible. II there y
collision In Chile, much viii be expected
from her, as she Is superior to the Mian-
tonomoh' not only In battery power. but IN I
speed as well. Then there Il the matter of
supplying the feet with coal and all kinds of
provisions. For this work q large number
Of merchant steamers must be chartered
and time will be required for thus. +:
The destination of the Chilean feet whtch
Commander Evans reported 10 be under
sealed orders to sail from Valparaiso on
Wednesday, is still mystery at the Navy
Department. It is possible that the intention
may be to threaten San Francisco. but this
Is not very probable 1t is much moro likely
that the vessels win 60 south 10 the Straits
Of Magellan. II they should 60 up 10 6ans
Francisco, however, they would find that
port much better protected than .it Is gem
orally supposed to be- The army has not
been idle, and IN addition to the gurs hi thaS
forts, the channels are well planted with
torpedos and submarine mines. X s.s
Ma War Departunent has thus Ear con-
f,nad its war nreparations to pushing for
ward the works of defens, at San Nancisco.
Thera viii be no ,immediate work Tor the
army n the field and no sssRa have yes been
The work Of the army In the war win he
principally to :ccupy and hold the points
captured By the navy. Troops WIN not be
required for this serveice until some timos
after the naval operations have commenced.
and it has not been necessary. therefore.
todo more than prepare ia a general way
the plans for eduippinH and mpb1Hzing tho