Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-19
The Yorktown Fired Upon
at Valparaiso.
Secretary Tracy Treats the
Report Lightly.
Commander Evans Ordered to Land
the Refugees at Callao.
Preparations for War Going steadily
Forward in Both Couutries-A
Chilean Fleet Guarding
the Straits.
Asociated Press Dispatches.

Axociated Press Dispatches
WASHINGTON, Jan. ia rumor in
circulation here tonight that the York
town had been fred upon in the harbor at
Valparaiso by the Chileans, caused great
excitement for while, and frequent
calls were made upon the Associated
Press to ascertain If there was any truth
in it. When the story was reported to
Secretary Tracy, he treatedit very light
ly. He added that he had no news to
communicate to the press tonight.
HARRISON WRITING HIS MESSAGE.
The president today denied himself
to all visitors and worked on the Chill
can correspondence. He is preparing
\ his message to Congress. ltis still the be-
lief that the messrge and correspondence
will be sent to congress Wednesday.
BLAINE AGAIN ILL.
The secretary OF state was unable to
leave his house today because OF an at
tack similar to that of week ago,
which he recovered from lately.
AN APOLOGY FORTHCOMING.
A rumor is circulated to the effect that
the Chilean minister has notified this
government that an apology from Chile
will be forthcoming. This could not be
confirmed.
REMYsS ARRIVAL EXPECTED.
Captain Remy, the naval judge-advo-
cate. general who has been conducting
the investigation into the Baltimore
case at San Francisco, is expected to re-
turn to this city tomo row or Wednes-
day with the concluding portion of the
testimony. g
ACTIVITY OF THE NAVY DEPARTMENT..
The navy department is still scene
of great activity. Secretary Tracy had
frequent consultations today with his
bureau chiefs, and the outward signs.
denote that great deal of work is beng
done. The greatest activity prevails in
the bureau of navy intelligence, the
agents of which are said to be at work
on possible campaign, besides collect
ing all imaginable information from
abroad. Through this bureau the secre-
tary has kept himself thoroughly in
formed on the movements of the agents
of Chile, who, it is rumored, have for
some time been ransacking Europe for
war material. The comprehensive oper-
ations now conducted by the depart
ment are largely for the purpose of as
certaining just what the naval system
can accomplish in the event of hostili-
ties.
COMMANDER EVANS ORDERS.
Secretary Tracy this afternoon cabled
Commander Evans. of the Yorktown, at
Valparaiso, instructing him to take the
Balmaceda refugees now under his pro-
lection to Calao and. land them there,
but to use his discretion as to the time
of departure. The departure of the
Yorktown would leave the United
States without single naval vessel in
Chilean waters, the Boston being at
Callao. The Yorktown could hardly
make the trip and return in less than
week. AS Captain Evans is vested
with full discretion, it is
not regarded likely that he will leave
Valparaiso until he is relieved by an
other vessel, or is thoroughly satisfied
that the condition of affairs in Chile
justities him in leaving the United
States minister without means of getting
out OF that country in the event circum-
stances made it desirable or necessary
to do 80. Therefore it is regarded as
probable that the Boston will be sent to
Valparaiso, although at the navy de-
xnartpoart II ia oscartoI M r,Ias. bao~-
ing on this subject have been sent.
CHILE's ToRpEDoEs.
George Asia Burnaga, charge d'af-
faires of the Chilean legation in Wash
ington during Balmaceda's administra-
ton, states that the torpedoes shipped
to Chile, which Admiral Walker cabled
from Montevideo were on their way to
their destination, were ordered by Bal
maceda during his supremacy, and paid
for by money shipped from Chile in
British man-of war. They were intended
for operations against the insur-
gents, and not against the United
States. Chile, he says, deprecates
war, but the Chileans will fight to the
last extremity if hostilities once begin.
English and German influence, he
thinks, have been brought to bear
strongly on Chile in the interest of
peace.
The statement that this lot of tor
pedoes was ordered before trouble with
this nation arose is corroborated by
prominent official at the war depart
ment. who says time has not elapsed
since the beginning Of the unpleasant
ness sufficient to allow of contract for
so many torpedoes to be closed and the
de f1 hal fs.,se l,n1 i ~.