The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-26

Tho northwnrd movement of the naval
Yorces of Rear Admiral HoTHAM is sug-
gestive Mt this critical stage OF the Behring
Sea controversy.
The Champion. ~! n was expected to re-
main In Gillian waters this su.1mcr. seems
to have left Valparaiso for Esquimault.
while the Melpomen is already north OF
Acapulco, also on her way to Vancouver
Island. The N ymphc and Garnet are for
the present left on the Chila, station. but
the flagship Warspite. which was at Santa
Barbara early this week. is also said to
have started north. and the Daphne is
already at Victoria.
Three months. however. may elapse before
important naval operations in Behring
Sea are looked for. Not until the latter
part Of June or the first OF July do the
Canadian schooners follow the seal herd
north Of the Aeutian archipelago. Our rev.
enue cutters take station earlier IN order
to be ready for the marauders. and this
year there are rumors Of On intention to
protect tho seals also within marine league
OF our shores outside Of Behring Sea. The
Corwin and Abatross are spoken OF as al
,, ready OF. moving northward. and tho Rush
, and Bear will duly follow. The revenue YES
OoA0 VIII uuuOOOtou1y NO olucu Ill ponce
duties by the wooden war ships Adams and
Ranger. Of which the former has just been
7, put into commission for the purpose at Mare
Island. The Thetls and tho Mohican or tho
Iroquois can help. as could the Alert and
Marion Of the Asiaho station. which were so
employed last year.
We have available. therefore. more than
enough vessels for patrol duty: and next
~ have enough others to back them up
There is nothing very formidable in Rear
Admiral HoTHAM's squadron. The single
vsssel Of decided consequence in it is tho
Warspite. She has two features that our best
kOruisers now In the Pacific lack. one being
\ 10-inch belt Of armor and tho other q set
lsof four eInch guns. besides her six 6-inch.
/ As an offset We have three vessels. the Bal
Etimore. San Francisco. and Charleston. each
moro than match for any other vessel in
Admiral HoTHAMs squadron. Taking out
ths Warspite. our available force just now
Ne greatly superior In speed. size. and bat
&ery power.
( Directly available are the Baltimore. 1900
Ions. carrying four 8-inoh and six G-inch
gums; the Charleston. 1910 tons, two s-inch
1hnd six 6-inch: the San Francisco, 4.0s3 tons.
Ekwelve e-inch: the Boston. s.1ss tons. two g.
Nlnch and six 6-inoh; the Yorktown. loo
tons. six 6-inoh. The speed Of those vessels
averages much better than that Of the Brit
1sh. the Melpomene being the only one OF
the latter that compares with the Baltimore
and the San Francisco. These are at least
Two knots faster than the Warspite: while
che armor OF tho latter is practically only
smidships. not covering over half herlength.
Admiral HoTHAM can be strongly re-
enforced from the British China station;
but lying at Montevideo we have the Chi
cago. $500 tons. carrying the exceptional
battery OF four s-inch. eight G-inch. and two
6-inch guns; the Atlanta. $3.50 tons. two s.
inch and six G-inch tho Bennington. LOO
tons. six G-inch guns.
Altogether. there Is nothing for lis to
worry about ut present in tho relative
strength of tho naval forces in the Pacific.