Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-17


cHrLE's INTENSE NATIONAL PRfpx.
One senator called attention to the In
tense national pride OF the Chilean people
AZ accoupting for the delay of the Govern
ment in making reparation. He said that
President Mont 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 that be was
not sacrificing the national dignity would
BRING down upon his Administration the
wrath OF the excitably sensible people and
might cause another revolution, They
have to talk to the galleries down there !ust
as we do here" said the senator. In this
relation he called attention to the fact that
q President of the United States has made
himself very unpopular with Q certain
over-sensitive class of people by making
an apology TO Great Britain for the seizure
OF Mason and Sldell, although sober Sc
cond thought justified the propriety OF bis
action. 80 it is" said. he. that Presi-
dent Mont probably has before his eyes
the resentment he must encounter wien
he tenders an apology TO the United States
and is merely taking such time as Is neces-
sary to reason this sensitive element OF his
people into line with his proposed
apology"
Dilieent 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
there were any suggestions of war with
Chile. For the comfort of the Califor-
mans, who have been represented as de-
fenceiess, II may be stated on the authori-
ty of the ordnance officers that the Golden
Gate IS defended by 15-inch guns, which,
though smooth bores. are yet most Tor
midable weapons. Experiments made at
Sandy Hook with guns of this type have
shown that the powder-charge may De
largely increased as compared with what
were regarded AS safe charges during the
war.
improvements in slow-burning powders
have made this possible, and now the III.
teen-inch smooth bore with charge OF
100 pounds of powder will throw a proJec,,
tile weighing $50 pounds distance OF
nearly four miles. At 1000 ,yards-the
usual naval fighting distance-thls heavy
shot will penetrate ten inches of armor.
and the Chileans have as yet no vessel that
could withstand such proiectlles.
PROVISION AGAINST CHILEAN DARBARITY.
A curious outcome of the present agita-
ton was the publication to-day By the
War Department Of q convention framed
as long ago as 1864, to which the United
States and Chile have since slgnltied their
adhesion. In view OF the allegations that
have been made to the effect that the
Chileans practice inhuman barbsrities IN
war, such as massacring prisoners ana
wounded men and mutilating dead bodies,
1t may be reassuring to our soldiers 10 know
that this Is a convention :" for the amelIo-
ration Of the wounded in armies III the
field BY some oversight the conven-
ton was never before officially published.
1t guarantees the neutrality and protection
OF ambulance and hospital corps, and pro-
vides that wounded or sick soldiers shall
be entertained and taken care OF without
regard to nationality. 1t also contains
ample provisions for the succorlng OF
wounded or wrecked sailors, and IN brief
throws around the combatants every pos
sibIe guarantee of humane treatment IN
the event of their being wounded or cap
tured.
THAT MATTER OF COAL FROM NANAiMo 10
CHILE.
SAN DIEGO. CAL, January 16.-Admiral
Brown was interviewed last night for his
opinion as to the report that vessel had
been chartered by the Government to take
a cargo of coal from Nanaimo TO Chile. lie
said he did not believe word of 1t; that
the Government would not take coal
there except under stress of circumstances.
1--WE can get all the coal we want at AGA
pulco aud in Peru" he said, " and IT is
absurd to think the Government would go
way up to Nanaimo."
MONITORS TO BE MADE READY.
PHILADELPHIA, January 16.-Orders have
been received az the League-Island navy
yard TO put in proper condition and get
ready for sea the monitor Montauk, which
has been laid up in ordinary on the Della
ware river front moored to the monitor
wharf since 1888. The Montauk was built
during the war. She has a single
revolving turret, in which are mounted
two l5.inch rihed guns. which are formula
BILE weapons for use in coast and harbor
defence. The first thing necessary will be
to place the Montauk on the dry dock,
and preparations for doing so will be be-
gun tomorrow Sunday.
There are two other monitors at League
Island, the Nahant and the Jason. They
are similar to the Montauk in construction
and armament. They have both been re-
Gently docked and had their bottoms
cleaned and painted. 1t is understood
that as soon as the Montauk's machinery
has been connected and made ready tor
operation similar work viii lbe done on the
Nahant and Jason.