The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-01-20
The Yankee Navy Compared With
That Of Our Possible Opponents.
RUMORS OF AN OFFER OF APOLLO
GY FROM THE CHTLIANS.

The Offer Believed To Be in Unsatisfac-
tory Terms Mr.. Boutelle Thinks Six
Months Would Do the Work-The Val
liant General Coon Raising Brigade
| Evans Heard consequently the
Little Yorktown is Still Afioat-Com-
modore Fo1ger Wants to Take the
Monterey to the Fray.
WASHINGTON, January 19.-Com-
mander Evans of the Yorktown, at Val
paraiso, today informed the Navy De-
partment that the Chilian steamer Es-
meralda left Valparaiso early this morn
ing to go to the assistance Of the British
steamship John Elder, reported ashore
100 miles south of Valparaiso. Com
mander Evans's dispatch made no allus-
ion to the Yorktown's having been fred
on, and this is taken as a refutation of
| last night rumor to that effect 1t was
learned today from a reliable source that
the Balmaceda refugees were still on the
Yorktown and consequently not in dan
ger of falling into the hands of the Chill
ians on account on the wreck of the
Elder.
The Philadelphia, the flagship of Adj
miral Gherardi's squadron in the North
Atlantic has sailed south from Barba-
does, presumably for Montevideo. This
indicates general naval movement ofim
portance, as the station lines of the ma
val system are regarded as absolute ex-
cept in cases of emergency. There is
considerable speculation as to who
would be placed in command of the naval
force on the Pacific in ase of war. The
general opinion centers upon Rear Ad-
miral Kimberly who is at the head of
| the active list. He is now here on shore
duty.
An Associated Press reporter had
| talk today with Chilian gentleman who
stands high in the estimation of the Chill
| ian government with regard to the re-
cent act of the minister of foreign affairs
informing Minister Egan that the refu-
gees now on the Yorktown would be LA
Bile to seizure if the vessel on which they
are to leave Chilli for Europe touched at
any point in that country. The gentle
man said the ministers and refugees had
travelled Gin concealment'' from Santia-
go to Valparaiso. Although the govern
ment was fully aware of what was going
on, it was officially ignorant of the Cir
cumstances. After it was informed Of
fcially that they were aboard the York
town and intended to sail for Europe on
a steamer touching at Chilian port, the
government was compelled to take cog
nizance of the fact 1t was in order to
avert the threatened seizure that the
minister of foreign affairs informed the
American minister what might be eX-
pected to happen.
The feeling expressed by members of
the House here today was nearly all on
the side of disbelief in war as proba-
BILE outcome of the trouble with Chill.
Difference of opinion was manifest as to
whether the United States ought to ac-
cept the mediation of any third party
without an expression from Chill of re-
gret at the lawless acts of her citizens
and disavowal of official connection or
sympathy with them. While the talk is
favorable to peace, many Democratic
members said if fighting did come, they
were in favor of pushing the war vigor-
ously and relentlessly.
Commodore Folger, chief of the bu-
reau of ordnance, has made a request of
Secretary Tracy that in case of war he
be relieved of his present duty and
placed in command of the coast defence
vessel Monterey, now awaiting compile
ton at San Francisco. 1t is understood
he regards this vessel as the most for
midable one in our navy, and considers
it superior in fighting qualities to any
ship owned by the Chilians, including
the celebrated Caiptan Pratt, now build
ing in France for the Chilian govern
ment.
1t is learned officially tonight that the
Presidents message on the Chilian affair
will not be sent to Congress tomorrow
While the official information on this
point does not extend beyond tomorrow,
there are strong surface indications that
the President has practically determined
to postpone final action on this matter
until next week. This gives color to the
belief that conciliatory dispatches have
already been received, and that more are
expected. 1t is known the President
would strongly endorse any proposition
for the settlement of the questions at
issue on peaceful basis, consistent with
the honor and dignity of the nation.
Mr.. Tracy said tonight there was no
truth in the printed reports that Admir-
ais Gherardi and Walker had been or
dered to Chill.