Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-25
MORE DELAY.
Several Days WIN Eiap-e Before Chile WIN
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PRESIDENT Moxfr n ABSENT Ynox sASrrlao-A
SIGNIFICANT REMARK FROM NAVAL OFFICER
THE ARMY ALWAYS REApY-wAR FEELING IN
coNaREss-TRE MESSAGE APpIAupEp.
The State Department today received Q
cablegram from Minister Egan TO the effec.
that President Montt was absent from
Santiago at the baths, . summer resor.
in the mountains, and that Senior Periera,
the minister Of foreign affairs, had requested
delay Of day or two before answering the de-
mands Of the United States for indemnity and
an apology. This was for the purpose OF com
municating with President Montt, and will
preclude the possibility of any answer to Pres
ident Harrison's ultmatum for several days to
come
THE PHILADILPHIA's TRIP.
Naval news at this juncture is an exceedingly
scarce commodity. This morning the stories
about tho Philadelphia going to Gibraltar to
head of the Chilean cruiser Captain Pratt
which were extensively printed yesterday.
were the subject Of grave discussion among
naval officers. and il was universally voted
that whether they were true or not
| the movement indicated would be
asvssd There has tesa strong S soud bs
story from Secretary Tracy. yet on all sides is
heard the comment that il would be very I'M
| natural II he should not deny. for in time OF
war nothing can be admitted that will throw
! any light on proposed campaign.
chief OF bureau talking with q STAR re-
| porter mis- morning said that the run from the
Barbadoes to the Straits is 100 miles, or
couple OF hundred more miles than from New
York to Liverpool, and he added these signili-
cant words:
He will stop at the MADEIRA Islands. The
ship. will make the run as quickly as any vessel
can"
THE ARMY ALWAYS READY.
During all the preliminary talk Of hostilities
with Chile tho navy has received vast deal Of
public attention. while the army has been COM
PEELED for the time being to take a back seat
In conversation with STAR reporter this morn
ing an army officer Of high rank said that this
state of affairs was just about as it should be.
Tho reason" said he, for the manifest
difference between the activity in the navy and
in the army is a simple one. The armyi is ready
at all times and the navy is not. Almost every
year FOR the past quarter of a century the army
has been occupied with Indian troubles in the
west, and as q result may be said to be always
on war footing. With the navy it is a differ
emit matter entirely. They are building and
fitting out q number of new aud untried war
vessels and must of necessity be moving all the
time to get matters in astate of preparation New
guns and improved ornaments must DO tried
and tested"
But in the event OF trouble with a remote
country like Chile would the army be in a po-
sition to play prominent partY'
Most assuredly. With the assistance Of
necessary transports it would be compare
lighting trim right at the seat of hostilities.
AN ARMY OF 10000 MEN.
'How many men? Why, 10000 without call
ing upon the militia Of the District Of Column
bia and the various states. You see our mill
tary tradition has been to maintain standing
army only sufficiently large for our immediate
needs in the way Of coast defenses and for
Indian service. As fixed upon by law
the army consists of $4,000 men, but
as skeletons, and these could be
filed out 80 as to double the size of the army
| without affecting its organization. A good
part OF The artillery would have to be kept
at home duty for coast defense, but
the light artillery and all the cavalry
eign service, for their place could be
taken by the militia. It woud not
be a difficult matter to send properly equipped
regular army Of 10000 men to Chile in case of
| an emergency. The militia, you know, can
only he called upon for home duty, but they
| would take the place Of the regular army and
in the event Of a war Congress would
call for volunteers and army of
100 600 men. all properly drilled
tionaI Guard and placed in the field without.
much difficulty. We are not on the lookout Cor
serious trouble just now, but the army is all
ready for whatever may happen"
AN IRISH REGIMENT OFFERED
| Col P. J. OKelly. commanding the second
| regiment, volunteers Of New York city, called
on Secretary Elkins this morning and rendered
the services Of that regiment in the event Of a
| war with Chile The organization is composed
Of 900 Irish-American citizens. Col. O'Kelly
| was accompanied by Representative Stahi-
| necker.
| WAR FEELING IN CONGRESS.
In expectation Of the Presidents message the
some time before the hour Of meeting today
| there was a general feeling of anx-
ious expectation and excitement. Those
persons who have been declaring
all along that the matter would be settled and
| that the situation was not as serious as the
newspapers made it out, were mostly silent Of
their opinions. That the course of the President
in communicating with Congress indi-
Gated that diplomacy had failed and that
| the country 10 on the verge Of
war was the general opinion. The war
| leelluS - cSlueuCE stronger congress tuAn
it has been at any time, and as much as the
necessity for it might be deplored the
feeling is that hostilities are almost certain to
follow. 1t is apparent that it is the determine
| ton of the leading men, without regard to
party, to sustain the administration and to take
| such course as the message and correspondence
| showed to be necessary. The patriotic
feeling Of Congress is clearly aroused. 1t has
pot taken such form as to made hot haste
| possible. but Is earnest and determined.
While hoping for peace and ready to be
| magnanimous far as magnanimity is honor
able the majority of Congress seem to be
ready to give authority for any form Of
compulsion that appears necessary to
secure reparation from Chile for the in
suits she has offered. The character
of the correspondence. which was known TO
some of the members before the message was
| received and so became generally understood
was such as to increase the general feeling that
| vigorous action was demanded.
THE MESSAGE ARRIvEA
| It was 124S o'clock before the message was
delivered to the house. The call of states for
the introduction Of bills was progressing
noisily when Mr.. Pruden entered the hall.
The noise and confusion ended in a moment
/ and all eyes were turned toward the messenger,
who carried under his arm large bundle Of
| papers The clerk was reading the title Of a
bill This was the only sound in the hall.
| A moment later the Speaker announced the
suspension Of the call Of states. The message v s