The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-01-22
CRISIS POSTPONED.
Blaine's Illness Delays the Pres
ident's Chill Message.
Z FLEET ORDERED TO VALPARAISO.

The First Warlike Move on Uncle Sans
Part-startiing Rumor Regarding the
.Premier's" Indisposition-An Alleged
Serious Break with the President
Tracy's Department in Fighting Trim
Two Conflicting Reports to Chill
ian Feeiing-Latest Developments of
the I'm acknowledgements Still for War.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20.-Orders were is
sued from the navy department yesterday
to concentrate the squadrons under Adj
miral Gherardi and Admiral Walker at
Valparaiso, Chilli. This is the first strictly
wirlike move yet taken by the United
States, and is thought to be necessary, as
the day for sending message to congress
draws near and there are no satisfactory
indications of the peaceful intent of the
CHILEAN government. Admiral Gherardi
will be placed in command of the feet and
Admiral Walker win be second in COM
mand. The Philadelphia has already
started on her trip and will be followed at
once by the Concord and perhaps the
Kearsarge.
Strength of the American Fleet.
The combined squadrons Of Admirals
Gherardi and Walker will meet at Val
paraiso, making a feet Of nine vessels,
three of which are the most powerful in
the United States navy. The Chicago car
ries fourteen breech-loading rifles as its
main battery, the Boston eight, the At
lanta eight, the Philadelphia twelve, the
Bennington six, the Kearsarge fourteen
guns, the Concord six and the Charleston
eight, making in all seventy-six first-class
guns, besides the secondary batteries. The
average number of men on each vessel, in
GLIDING officers, marines and sailors, is
about $50 men, making in all about 800
men that will soon be on the Pacific sta
ton under the command of Admiral Cher
ardi.
The news that the vessels in the Atlantic
had been ordered around the Horn for SER
vice in Pacific waters was not entirely un-
expected. 1t was known that such an
order might come Mt any moment. The
assignment of Admiral Ghert,rdi to the
chief command of naval forces in Gillian
waters was received with satisfaction on
all sides, his well known fighting abilities
and his popularity with officers and men
alike, eminently fitting him for that posi-
ton. 1t was stated last night that six Of
the swiftest vessels in the American mer-
chant marine are practically ready to be
fitted out as transports in the event of war.
They will be armed with and 6-inch
rifles with which the government is plenti
fully supplied
Tracy Ready for Emergencies.
Secretary Tracy finds himself with every
prospect of a naval war on hand. He is
prepared for it, however; has all the avail
able ships in excellent fighting condition
and has all the details of a campaign
mapped out. Minister Montt received all
newspaper correspondents graciously last
night and in the same manner informed
them that he had no news to impart. To
questions in regard to the movements of
the CHILEAN war vessels, if Chill has asked
England to act as arbitrator for the two
countries, and other questions of a like
nature, the minister was automatically
silent.
Startling Rumor AS to Blaine.
A startling rumor prevailed in the city
last night to the effect that the sudden de-
parture of Secretary Blaine from the cabi-
net meeting yesterday was the result of
serious difference of opinion which arose
between the president and himself. The
rumor further says that the secretary's
absence from the state dinner was for the
same reason. Blaine was in consultation
with personal friends all the afternoon
and evening, and this fact lends color TO
the reported disagreement.
Nothing to Fear from the Prat.
1t is said that Secretary Tracy received a
dispatch yesterday from Toulon, France,
stating that the CHILEAN warship Captain
Pratt, which is being built at that port and
now nearly completed, will not be
ready for service before April 1. This in
formation will undoubtedly relieve the
minds of many people, as the Pratt is re-
Rarded in some circles as about the most
formidable man-of-war ever built, and
able to cope with the best fighting vessel
of any of the great powers.
The Presidents Special Message.
There will be about 125, 600 words in the
message and correspondence which the
president will submit to congress Secre-
tary Elkins in an interview last evening
said the situation was very serious and
that war must come unless Chill made
ample reparation. The whole matter, he
added, was in the hands Of the president
and Secretaries Blaine and Tracy. The
cabinet was in full accord with them, and
whatever they decided upon would meet
with the approval of the ether members of
the cabinet.