The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-19
Even ths0ld Monitors at Philadelphia and San
Francisco, Which Have BEEN Neglected for
Years, Are Being Cleaned and Refitted.
Officials at the Department Busy Issu-
ing Orders and Translating Ciphers.
Rumor that the Yorktown Has Been Fired on
by Chilians at Observation-Disclosures
Ammunition Largely Increased.
CIT LOOKS wARLIKE."
Commodore Ramsay's Reply to an Inquiries
Busy Times in Naval Circles.

Commodore Ramsay's Reply to an Inquirer
Busy Times in Naval Circles.
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18-The war feeling
in Washington against Chilli grew apace
to-day. Not an hour passed that did not
see some new indication of preparation for
hostility by the Navy and War depart
ments. that did not produce some added
expression by members of Congress In
favor of supporting the President in main
tanning the national dignity and enforcing
proper reparation for the Valparaiso massa-
ere. The dispatch received last night by
Seer etary Tracy from Commander Fight
ing Bob" Evans, of the Yorktown. only
added fuel to q fire thus far smolderinR
but ready and eager to he famed into
flame. The fact also became known for
the first time to-day that all of the nine
monitors owned by the United States are
being made ready for active service in de-
Tending the coast and harbors of this coun-
try from possible attack. The fact that
these antiquated vessels. most of which
have been in water without being cleaned
for nearly twenty years, should not be
brought forw ard as an effective means of
harbor Defense and the additional fact
that steps are being taken to equip these
old vessels with modern breech- loading
rifles of lsrge callbre are most significant
indications that the administration ex-
pects serious trouble, and that elaborate
and detailed preparations are being made
to meet it.
A decided change hss come over officials
in the War and Navy departments. They
are less reticent. The events of the past
few days have stirred them up, and the
continued and persistent display of hostil-
ity by Chilli towards our sailors and officers
has changed the feeling of forbearance to
all hands the feeling that war Is approach
inR Is expressed. Commodore Ramsay,
Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, very
positive. but extremely conservative Off
Ger. said this morning: "It looks warlike
this morning"
SOLVING CIPHER DISPATCHES.
Secretary Tracy's office. this morning.
was the scene of bustling activity. Bureau
officers were coming and going all day. A
number of contractors who are building
government vessels were in consultation
with the Secretary. Assistant Secretary
Soley was in consultation with Secretary
Tracy for some time. and at the close of the
interview sent for number of chiefs and
gave them instructions. In the office of the
Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, Com
modore Ramsay, the hustle was greatest.
Three or four of his assistants had been de-
tailed to translate cipher dispatches, and
they were kept busy putting messages into
shape for transmission and making intelli~
gible the cablegrams that come in from the
South. The navy code is one of
the. most intricate ever devised:
has never yet been detected. Its incon-
venience, therefore. is tolerated because Of
it's safety-a consideration. of course, of the
first Importance at such time as this
the Navigation Bureau. The officers sat in
q small room adjoining the office OF the
chief with closed doors, their desks COW
cred by the large, hat code-book, for which
foreign enemy would give the price OF q
man-of-war. Commodore Ramsay also de-
voted considerable time In communication
with the chief of the HyrdogaphIc Office.
Commander Glover. who has in his office
accurate charts of both continents that
are especially valuable now, and great
care is being taken in their study. BY
this means every mile OF the South Amer
lean shore can be watched. and advantage
is thus taken of the materials that have
been patiently collected In former years.
The greatest pressure, however. ia being
brought to bear op the Ordnance Bureau,
which represents tho fighting arm of the
navy. The chief of that bureau is getting
most satisfactory results from the gun
making plant at the Washington yard, be-
sides imulating the steel manufacturers
to their best efforts in the rapid production
of material. But above all. the greatest
activity has prevailed for some time in the
Bureau of Naval Intelligence, the agents
of which are said to have been at work on
q plan of possible campaign. besides the
collecting of all imaginable information
from abroad 1t IL through this bureau
that the Secretary has kept himself thor
oughly informed on the movements of the
agents of Chilli, who. il Is rumored, have
for some time been ransackfng Europe for
wax material.
INSTRUCTIONS TO "~S:GHTING BOB"
Secretary Tracy this afternoon sent ca
BILE message to Commander Evans. of the
Yorktown. ct Valparaiso. instructing him
to take the Balmaceda refugees now under
his protection to Callao. and land them
there. but to use his discretion as to the
time of his departure. The Secretary said
this afternoon that no orders had been sent
to the Boston. at Callao, contemplating
any change In her station. The departure
of the Yorktown from Valparaiso would
leave the United States without single
naval vessel in Chillan waters. The York.
town could hardly make the trip from VAL
paralso to Callao and return In less than O
weeks time. The distance between the
two ports is about 1,500 miles. As Captain
Evans is invested with full discretion, 1t
is not regarded as at all likely
that he will leave Valparaiso immediately
and, in fact. not until he is relieved by
another vessel. or is satisfied the condition
of affairs in Chilli justifies him In leaving
the United States minister without means
of leaving that country in the event that
circumstances made it desirable or neces-
sary TO do so. Ii is. therefore. regarded as
probable that. rnisss the negotiations take
q decidedly favorable turn. within q week
or so, that the Boston. which is the nearest
ship, will be sent to Valparaiso in order
that the Yorktown can safely leave that
port with the refugees.
1t was stated, almost positively. at the
NAVY Department.. this afternoon, that no
orders bearing on the subject have been
sent to Admiral Walker at MontevIdeo. A
prominent naval officer said this afternoon
that the Chilian minister had no case what
ever against Commander Evans on account
of the salute fired in honor of the Spanish
minister who accompanied two of the refu-
goes. In fact. he said. Captain Evans would
have been liable to court-martial If ne had
not done so. 3s the omission would have
been q violation of the naval regulations.
Startling Rumor Concerning the Yorktown.
WASHINGTON. Jan. lS-A rumor was in
c,rcnl q fion here 70 N Cht that fha Ivo;tad