The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-31
ECHOES OF THE WAR.
Condition of the Chilian Navy A
Friendly Feeling.

Condition OF the Chilian Navy - A
Friendly Feeling.
New YoRK. Jan. 3O.-The correspondent
of the Associated press at Santiago, Chilli
writing under date of Dec. 30, says it is the
general opinion of American naval officers
and others familiar with the subject, that
there is not ship in the Chilian navy fully
available for war purposes. All Of them
received ill usage during the war, and very
little since has been done to repair them.
1t is said the machinery Of all them is in
bad condition. Even the Ertazuriz, which
is new ship. and only arrived in Decem-
Der, is said to have her boilers burnt
out, and that it will be necessary to
send her to Europe for repairs. The
night she arrived she threw light all over
the bay in a supposed effort to ind the
United States cruiser Yorktown. Finally
the light was thrown across the forecastle
Of the American gunboat, and some of the
rays penetrated through the ports to the
berth deck, where tho watch below was
sleeping. The blue jackets were aroused
by the light. and q number of them went OF,
the forecastle and sang '"lho Star Span
gled Banner" until the illumination ceased.
Minister Egan WAS presented by refugees
who were sheltered in the legation with a
handsome gold card, bearing suitable in
scription. for generous asylum under the
protection of the greut republic.
An article appeared III La Democracia, in
Santiago. Dec. %, on the American compli-
cation, in an entirely different tone from
what was published i'll other papers. II
took tho government to task for its con-
duct i'll the affair and says tho government
at Washington did not, it thinks desire
anything more than prompt and expedi-
tious judicial investigation. so the guilty
might be punished and that there might be
an offer of equitable indemnity and an ex-
preston of regret. 1t refers to the judicial
proceedings as conducted apparently with
Il ''desire to surround this affair with
silence and mystery, invoking to this end
the ancient Spanish lnws on the summary
Another unfortunate circumstances, saws
the article, and which ought not to have
existed, is the conduct of the investigation
by Judge of Crimes Foster. He is son OF
Julio Foster, at present in the United
States. where he is making great outery
political party to which they belong.
Is it strange that the people
in the United States regard with
mistrust the result OF an inyestiga-
ton conducted by man so closely con
nected with Julio Foster7 The Article says
in regard to the foreign otfice's stand as to
the right of asylum it was far from CORE
spending with historical psecedents. 1t
refers to Matta's now famous dispatch as
the stupidity that eclipsed all previous ef-
forts. In closing, it says: at is frankly
beloved the question may be arranged in
peace: that the good will of the American
government and the magnnnimity Of the
American people are sufficient and repeat
ed proofs of both have already been given.
But it il necessary that men Of good feel
ing, patriotio men, put themselves to work,
and forgetting quarrels and passions, lend
their MD TO averting this great calamity.
Tho nation which gave Grant birth, the
mutton that was nourished by the lessons
of Washington, Franklin and Lincoln,
cannot but be magnanimous in tho treat
ment of u sister republic" Tho article
WAS written by Il man who was chief of the
cabinet under Balmnoeda. and at one time
Chilian minister in Washington.