Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-16

taln extent, the Key TO the Soutnern nail OF the
situation.
A comparatively small number Of well-armed
! vessels ndvantageously placed in these straits
could. in the opinion of naval experts, hold
that lmnortant passage against large feet.
This would not necessarily prevent the ultimate
| rounding Of Cape Horn by an American squad
ron bound for Chile, as two days steaming at
| most would carry the ships into the Pacific by
an outside route. The theory is, however that
! it is the desire of the Chilean government
to afford ample protection to its important
coal and supply station at Porto Cabello. in the
| straits. The capture Of this station would be a
, serious blow to the enemy, and might ulti-
| mately be made an object of a campaign in the
| southern waters in case of hostiiities. As it is
| the Chilean vessels-suppo the straits to
DO their destination-can easily reach that
point before Admiral Walker, who is now at
Montevdeo with the Chicago, Atlanta and Ben
nington. The Concord is also on her way to
Montevideo.
follows: The Yorktown 10 at Valparaiso; the
Boston Is at Callao Peru; the Charleston, San
Francisco and Baltimore are at San Francisco.
Besides these new ships there are the Essex and
Yantic al MontevIdeo,
ACTIVITY AT THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
Secretary Tracy was in his Office all the
morning seeing members of Congress and other
callers The Navy Department was in constant
tclegraphic communicate ton with tho navy yards
and naval stations in all parts Of the country
| several hours last night
coNaREssMEN CALL ON Mr. BLAINE.
Five Of the members Of tho House committee
on foreign affairs called at the Department OF
State jus. before noon today to pay their re-
| spects to Secretary Blaine. The visit was in
pursuance of long-established custom,
whereby at the beginning of each Congress the
committee Of the House which has to do with
| foreign relations calls upon the Secretary of
State. Usually these visits are purely formal
and particularly is this true when the majority
of the House is politically opposed to the Seere-
| tary. But the call made by the committee
today was awaited with interest for it
was expected that the strained relations
between this country and Chile would DO
touched upon by the Secretary. The five men,
bers Of the committee were Chairman Blount
and Messrs. Hooker, Geary, O'Donnell and
Harmer, and according to their statements
Secretary Blaine did not make a single direct
aliusion to our relations with Chile. To the
SUI prise Of the committee he did call to their
attention the necessity for speedy action by
Congress upon the Nicaragua canal project.
ADVOCATING THE NICARAGUA CANAL
The Secretary was fully equipped with facts
and figures to support his reasoning and very
f1uently he described the political importance
OF the canal. the volume of traffic which would
probably pass through it and the advantages
to accrue from a retention Of its man
agement and control in American hands.
Incidentally, it was made clear to the
committee that the possession Of such water
way between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
would be OF enormous strategic advantage if it
should be necessary to transfer our naval
vessels from one side of the country to the
other.
NOT WORD ABOUT CHILE.
But of Chilean troubles tho Secretary said
not word directly. 1t cannot be learned that
any communications have passed this morning
between the State Department and Minister
Eagan, nor was Senior Montt, the Chilean min
lister, at the department
Several Senators and Representatives called
upon Secretary Blaine during the forenoon.
One OF the former, who is from an interior
western state, said that he had heard nothing
directly from the Secretary relating 10 Chile,
but he did feel that this country should now as
sert its dignity and spank the bumptuous little
South American republic.
CONGRESS WILL SUSTAIN THE PRESIDENT
There is no room for doubt that the general
sentiment in Congress- without regard to
party, is in favor Of sustaining the President
fully in his position in defense Of the national
dignity against Chilean assaults.
There Is apparently no expectation on the
part of those well informed that war will lie
prevented. In fact, it is very generally re-
Sarded as substantially certainty that there
viii be a declaration Of war and that It 10 only
question of a few days before Congress will
have the matter before them.
If the correspondence when it is received
from the President discloses tho state of affairs
that it is expected to it is believed that there
will be but one voice in Congress- and that will
De for prompt and vigorous action.
The southern men, without any thought of
tho advantage Mr.. Harrison might derive as a
Presidential candidate. are disposed to hold up
his hands in this matter and to prove their de-
votion to the nation to rise above sectionalism
or partisanship.
NO HALFWAY MEASURES.
The general idea among members appears to
be that when war Is declared there must be no
halfway measures, but that the geography Of
South America must be changed as regards one
country.
The question Of cost will hardly on.er into
tho matter, but provisions will be made to send
hundred thousand men to Chile il they are
wanted
VISITORS AT THE NAVY YARD.
There is an idea prevalent that orders have
been issued to keep the public from the navy
yard. but this is positively denied at the Navy
Department It Is there stated that
no passes whatever are required at the gates at
present but that Just as soon as war has been
declared there will be an order issued keeping
everybody out Of the yard who does not bear a
card of admission. This 10 to be done to pre-
to this government.
GUNS COMPLETED.
There are now completed at tho Washing
ton gun foundry twenty six-inch rifles
and sixteen OF the eight and ten-inch
caliber, making q present stock Of thirty
six guns Of the most modern patterns
that arc practically available for immediate
use. 1t usually takes about fifty days OF eight
hours each to make six-iuch gun. but when
the twenty -four hour system IL put ipto opera
ton this period can re cut down to about
seventeen days.
COST OF TwELvE-INCH ouN.
The twelve-inch gun recently completed at
the navy yard for the Monterey cost sA6 900,
according to the final reports received at tho
Navy Department.
The labor on 1t cost but $4,000. The gun
weighs I04, 900 pounds, and thus cost about 10
cents pound. or nearly half the average cost
Of guns Of the sarpo size abroad. This IL no.
gardsd IS an excellent showing for the foundry.
Mr.. AsrA-BuRSAaAs WORK.
Mr.. Geo. Asia Burnags, exchange d'adaires
Of the Chilean legation in this city during the
Balmaesda administration, had long inter
view with Secretary Blaine at the State Depart
ment the other day. 1t is understood that he
expressed himself as heartily in favor Of .
peaceful settlement Of the controversy between
this country and his own. Though Of dit
feIsnt political faith from tho present min
lister, Senior Mouts, he u on the most friendly
terms with him and has devoted hts energies
4 l. H. q A.