The Forrest City times., 1892-01-22
ONlINOUS MOVEMENTS.
CHILE TO DISPUTE PASSAGE OF THE STRAITS OF MAGELLAN.
The CondelI Awaits News-The Cabinet Considers the situation-Giying Montt More Time-Egan Reports Matters in Better shape In Santiago.

startling naval possibilities reaches your corresbondent, and at the same time comes the information from Min ister Egan that the authorities in San tiago are coming closer to definite proposition looking to friendly settle ment. The minister's message before the Cabinet meeting yesterday was general as to the suggestions he had received from Foreign Minister Pereira, but he has supplemented it with an in- timation of his own belief that the prospect is improving and that 1t may be worth while to give further consid- eration to what the Montt Cabinet has to say. He represents that he is merely awaiting the proposition the foreign minister makes, and thinks it possible that the disavowal of the Matta letter may be made satisfactory.
 While the outlook at Santiago is therefore more promising the skies are darker in Valparaiso, which practically dictates the government. Consul Me Creary has found the ugly feeling against Americans increasing. This IS pot so important in itself as the news that the Chilean naval authorities are showing a more hostile spirit than ever, and naval engagement in the Straits of Magellan within the next few days is not altogether improbable. Secre- tary Tracy has advices from Command CT Evans which make the naval outlook threatening. The Chilean fleet is un-
 tx the Straits of Magellan with the exception of the tor pedo cutter Condell which is the fast est of them all The Condell is at the telegraph station fartherest down the coast, which is said to be Valdivia. It is there awaiting the latest telegraphic news which can be received and to con vey final instructions to the rest of the fleet The plan is to have 1t overtake the other vessels before they reach the straits should the situation suddenly become dangerous.
 To Meet Admiaal Walkers Fleet.
 The purpose would be to dispute the passage through the straits of Admiral Walkers ships, though in advance of a declaration of war no justification could be found for doing this. Admi- ral Walker was given discretionary or ders yesterday, and it is understood some of the vessels under his command left Montevideo then. They would reach the straits about Friday.
 On the part of the United States there is no let-up Tn the naval prepara- tions. It is acknowledged at the Navy department that Rear-Admiral Cher ardi had left Barbadoes with the Phil adelphia, bound for Montevideo. This fact tends to confirm the state ment made in these dispatches that Ad- miral Gherardi would in all proba Dility be placed in command of the naval forces in the event of war with Chile. It also leaked out that the gunboat Concord, which has been with the Philadelphia at Barbadoes, left there week ago for Montevideo The fleet at Montevideo will soon thereafter be reinforced by the Newark and the Miantonomoh. and it is expected that it will remain at Montevideo until needed for action in Chilean waters, unless another revolution should break out in Chile meantime, in which case it would sail at once for Valparaiso, in order to be available there for guard ing United States interests and citi- zens.
 The Cabinet meeting was devoted almost entirely to the consideration of the Chilean question. The proceedings were only temporarily interrupted by the slight illness of Secretary Blaine. There is reason to believe that the Gov ernment has received dispatches through the Chilean Minister looking to peaceful and satisfactory solution of the questions in dispute and that they were submitted to the Cabinet. This will have most important bearing on the question of submitting the corre- spondence to Congress at present and it may possibly do away altogether with the necessity of referring the question to Congress. It is known that the President desires to exhaust all diplo- matic means before submitting the matter to Congress for action.
 Movement of Gunboats.
 Capt. Evans has reported to the de partment that four of the best cruisers in the Chilean navy will leave Valpa- raiso Jan. 20, for the straits of Magel- Ian, taking with them a torpedo boat. From another officer comes the addi- tional information that the captain of one of the English ships of war in those waters said that the Chilean com mander informed him that the fleet was going lon a special mission. '" You may be astonished before long," he said This news is interpreted to mean that Admiral Walkers fleet may be halted there and directed to turn back or risk fight. This is the most serious indication of Chile's hostile intentions that the navy department has received Naval officers say it can only mean one thing, which is that Chile intends opening the ball herself. The vessels to go are said to be the Esmeralda, the Almirante Cochrane, the Pinto, a new unarmoured cruiser whose sailing rate is nineteen knots, and the Condell, the famous the torpedo boat that blew cup the Blsnco Encalada. Admiral Walker, in his flagship the Chicago. arrived at Montevideo Jan. II. He was informed of what might await him and warned to make ready for it. For the first time there is real alarm here at the threat ened danger to Admiral Walker. His squadron is not equipped with torpe- does and the Chicago might be blown