The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-01-17
STILL TALKING WAR
Members Of the House Foreign
Committee See Blaine.
HE DOES NOT MENTION CHILL
Congressman Awaiting the Publication Of the
CorrespOndence-Defe Of the Golden
Gate They Are Very Good.


the House committee on foreign affairs
called at the department of state and paid
thei" respects to Secretary Blaine to-day
They expected the secretary to touch upon
the strained relations between this country
and Chilli, but no direct illusions to the
matter were made. He did Call the atten-
ton OF the committee o the necessity for
speedy action by Congress upon the Ncara-
qua canal pl oiect. Very fuently he de-
scribed the political Importance of the
canal and the advantages to accrue from
the retention of its management and con-
troll In American hands. Inciden tally, it
was made clear to the committee the pos
session OF such waterway between the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans would be of
enormous strategetic advantage if it should
be necessary to transfer our naval vessels
from one side of the country to the other.
Ii cannot be learned that any communi-
cations have passed this morning between
the state department and Minister Egan,
nor was the Cnilian minister at the depart
ment. Several Senators and Representa-
tlVes called upon Secretary Blaine in the
forenoon. One of the former said he heard
nothing directly from the secretary relat-
ing to Chill but he knew this country
should now assert its dignity and spank
the bumptlous little South American re-
public.
1t is reported the preparations of the
Gillian government for war, though lack
ing official confirmation in all it's details as
yet, are viewed with deep concern at the
navy department. II is reported the dis
datchlng of fleet of three cruisers and a
torpedo boat from Valparaiso under sealed
orders, which was reported from Chill
through private sources yesterday, is
fhTt1
guarding the Straits of Magellan
which are regarded to a certain extent as
the gateway to Chilli. A comparatively
small number of well-armed vessels, ad-
vantageously placed in the straits, could,
in the opinion of naval experts hold that
important passage against large fleet. To
be sure this would not necessarily prevent
the ultimate rounding of Cape Horn by an
American squadron bound for Chill, as
two days steaming would almost carry the
ships into the Pacific by the outside route.
The theory is, however, that it is the de-
sire of the Gillian government to afford
ample protection to its import and coal
supply station at Port Cabello, in the
straits. The capture of this station would
be q serious blow to Chill, and might ulti-
mately be made the object of a campaign
in southern waters in case of hostilities
Secretary Tracy was in his office all the
morning, seeing members of Congress and
other callers. The navy department was
IN constanC telegraph communication-With
the navy yards anG nayEl stations in all
parts of the country for several hours last
night.
Members of Congress are awaiting with
interest the publication of the Gillian cor
respondence. There is belief entertained
by some members that peaceful solution
will be found, and while the situation is
grave, war will not result. 1t is under
stood the position assumed by the United
States is that
AN APOLOGY MUST BE MADE BY CHILL
and there will then follow the question of
indemnity. Some fear is entertained Chilli
in asserting her independence and freedom
from outside pressure may, by procrastina-
ton, bring about state of things which
will terminate in rupture Of the relations
between the two countries and hostilities
may then ensue, though this latter is
regarded as unlikely and improbable.
Members who express themselves in pa
citic manner also intimate very plainly,
however, that they will not be backward
in upholding the administration in all steps
necessary to the maintenance of national
dignity and self respect. One Senator
called attention to the intense national
pride of the Gillian people as accounting
for the delay of the government in making
reparation. He said President Montt was
in position beset with difficulties. No
doubt his disposition was to
MAKE AMENDS FOR THE BALTIMORE OUTRAGE,
but to do so without cautiously leading his
people to believe he was not sacrificing the
national dignity would bring down on his
administration the wrath of sensitive and
excited people and might cause another
revolution. They have to talk to the gal
leries down there just as we do here,n said
the Senator.
Diligent inquiry at the war department
fails to disclose any War-like preparations
on the part of the army. Men are at work
on the Notifications around San Francisco,
but this work was begun last spring before
any suggestions OF war with Chill, for the
comfort of the Californians who have been
represented as defenceless. 1t may be
stated on the authority of ordinance officers
that the
GOLDEN GATE IS DEFENDED
by some 15-inch guns which, though smooth
bores, are yet most formidable weapons.
Experiment mace at Sandy Hook with guns
of this size have shown the powder charge
may be largely increased compared with
what was regarded as safe charges during
the war. Improvements in slow burning
powder have made this possible and now a
15-inch smooth bore with charge of
100 pounds of powder will throw a
a proiectile weighing $50 ponds distance
of nearly four miles. At one hundred
yards, the usual naval fighting distance,
this heavy shot will penetrate ten inches
of armor and the Chilians have as yet no
vessel that could withstand such proiec
tiles
A curious outcome of the present agita-
ton was the publication by the war de-
partment to-day of convention framed as
long ago as 1864, to which the United
States and Chill have since signified their
adhesion. In view of the allegations made
to the effect that the Chilians practice
INHUMAN BARBARITIEs IN WAR,
such as massacreing prisoners and wounded
men and mutilating dead bodies, it may be
reassuring to our soldiers to know this
convention is ''for the amelioration of the
wounded in armies in the field" By some
oversight, the convention was never be-
fore officially published 1t guarantees
neutrality and protection to an ambulance
and hospital corps and provides that
wounded or sick soldiers shall be taken
care of without regard to nationality. 1t
also contains ample provisions for the sue
coring of wounded or wrecked sailors and
in brief throws around com batants every
guarantee of humane treatment in the
event OF being wounded or captured
Getting Monitors Ready.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 16.-Orders were
received at the League Island navy yard to
put in proper condition and get ready for
sea the monitor Montauk, which has been
laid up in the Delaware river front since