The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-22
STILL PREPARING FOR WAR.


TIE NAVY DEPARTMENT GETTING
READY FOR any EMERGENCY.
President Harrison Criticised for HIS Delay
in Sending the Correspondence 70 Con.
gress-secretary Blaine Said to be Re.
sponsibie for the Deiay-Five Monitors
Beine Fitted out-secrctary Tracy also
Arranging Tor Transportntiono OF Supplies
WASHINGTON. Jan. 21.-Both Houses OF Con-
gress having adjourned over until Monday. no
message from the President can be sont in for
three days at least. The knowledge Of this
fact hos served to lessen the excitement about
Chilian affairs. and to cause the talk OF war to
rapidly subside. There have been absolutely
no developments In the controversy to-day.
No cable dispatches have been received. and
no conference held. There were few outward
signs OF excitement At the Navy Department.
but those VINO had knowledge OF what
was going on behind closed doors as
serted that the authorities had relaxed
in no degree from the position OF expectation
and preparation which 1t has held for the past
week. An officer who secs great deal OF tho
Secretary OF the Navy. and Is in at all the con-
ferences and secret meetings that are held In
Mr.. Tracy's private office. is authority for tho
statement that the preparations for war with
Chill go on in not only equal measure as dur
ing the past few days. but that they have been
in fact redoubled. The action OF tho Navy De-
pur,ment in continuing its efforts is the
strongest proof that the peaceful aspect
Of the situation may DO disturbed at any mo-
ment. The Administration Is hopeful that
some assurance OF apology will BIO forthcom-
ing from Santiago within q day or two.
The action Of the President in delaying the
sending Of his message is criticised severely
both by those adhercnts Of Mr. Blaine who are
not friendly to Mr.. Harrison and by the warm
supporters and defenders OF the President 1t
was stated several days ago by more than ono
member Of the Cabinet who expected his
words to be published. that the message would
be sent to Congress not later than to-day.
and yet nothing has been received to alter the
situation or make the insult OF the Chilans
less aggravatiug. There Is a general feeling
that in pursuing a course Of vacilation and
delay the President is weakenin: his hereto
fore strong and popular position in the contro-
versy In all that is said on the subject OF de-
lay the name OF Blaine is mixed up. and it
seems to be very generally agreed that the
Secretary OF State has successfully opposed
tho composition OF q warlike message
and even the formal submission to Con-
gress OF the CHILEAN correspondence.
There is. and has been all along. concealed
criticism OF what some OF the other Cabinet
officers regard as Mr. Blaine's Interference.
Mr.. Harrison. according to a conndant OF tho
President. finds himself in tho delicate posi-
ton OF playing into Baine's hands or acting
on the dictates Of his own wisdom. which is to
send the message and correspondence without
further delay. and thereby invite the enmity
Of Mr. Blaine and his many friends.
hntn fnn m Va n fhaA m nF,I
sensational features Of personal and political
intriguing. but there are. it must he admitted.
sage should not be sent in TOMORROW. AMI
why it may not go in for week. The deposit
ti2ns are not all in from san Francisco
the Baltimore's seamen from the AmeIi-
Gan sHsandpoi1ntt hSs s,, been CONDUCTED BY
It Is essential to the more uerfest understand
ing OF the affair which has brought about the
controversy between the two countries. that
we're concerned in the attack. directly and in
directly should be carefully read. and the ma:
sent in; The Secretary OF the Navy has
Ss Hap ssh aeS The %cea nr
officer OF tho vessel to proceed to this city. and
it is understood that they are already on their
them any detail; Of the attack on the sailors
ut Valparaiso which may appear to DO ncces-
ssS ali % ressrdns skt ch WHEN
Es11a out ssmpaisn Tiep MeGrs as wa IS
vessel during the inquiry made by the CHILEAN
authorities. and on that occasion acted Us the
real i did extract from the witnesses is Of
nertinence in the, present Investigation. since
the Gillian authorities haye represented
baltimore another. McCrea was also the
intelligence officer Of tho ship. and his princi-
a hn c :" Of naHs
the language Of the Chilians. and is under
would be valuable additions to the tempora
about him IL the preparation Vi a, form OF at;
tack on Chill when tho time shall come. II it
Mr.. Clement A. Griscom, tho manager Of the
International Steamship line. has been in tho
city for several DAYS. and has had frequent
a ess 'esrn.y have BEEN
perfected with this company for the use of
four of its steamers as TRANSPORTS in the event
course kept secret. but It Is rimored that they
call for the incorporation into tho navy
H 1Gr 5%o nd iSrSse and 1 H IKE
department has perfected ARRANGEMENTS for
the Increased transportation overland which
dent ltob:rt. Of the Pennsylvania Railroad
was with the Secretary on this business early
The force of monitors which It has been con-
templated to prepare for service will be in
creased in numerical strength by tho Wyan-
dotte. one Of tho old singls-turret monitors.
which has been lying at Richmond for a num-
her q years. Orders We're issued to-day to
have tho ship taken to Norfolk forthcoming and
fitting for sea. This gives n total monitor
force OF Ave. ms the Comnnche Is being fitted
out Mt san Francisco the Montauk at League
island. tho Nantucket mt Now York. and tho
lilssaic ut Norfolk. These formidable ships
will he rcndy for service ia about three
l5-inch smo1tl-bore guns and would
defence Of this country il my disturbance
should require our more modern vessels in
foreign parts. II the force Of nm antagonist
should le sufficient to compel tho increase OF
the regular nav force sent out from our
navy yards. 1t is the intention Of the ordnance
officers to 1T these monitors with eight-inch
breech-oading rihes, mounted on proper. car
riagos. and they will probably form quite a
feature In our force.
Among those who hive been summoned to
washington BY the Secretary d, tie, Navy is
works. who arrived hCre to-day and had
talk with the Secretary. In the
event Of war with -CEili tho present
ships at the command Of the department will
PROBABLY suffice for all purposes of attack. I'M
loss the strength Of the opponent shoul uneX.
prctcdiy materially develop and hen he naval
work pending will have to he rushed to u COM
DlatiOn y n nj icinatp pNnu thaSn CaInOtn