The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-09-01

L WASHINGTON, August 8. - The
United States fleet in Chinese and
Japanese waters is to be promptly in
creased. At present only the Balu-
more and Monocacy are on the China
Station. The former is at Chemulpo,
the seaport of Seoul, and the latter is
at Nagasalzi. The Concord and Petrol
are ON the way to Korea, where they
are expected to arrive in about three
weeks. AS American commercial
| interests in the East are so diversi-
| fed, being of Importance in China,
! Japan and Korea, it is thought that
| these four vessels are not enough
| properly to perform the services re-
| auired. IL the fighting becomes more
! serious off the Korean coast, at least
! two vessels, it is thought, will be re-
! ouired there. Under the present ar
| rangements this would leave only two
ships to cruise about the Chinese and
japanese ports, with which the
United States has important CONNER
cial relations.
According to reports given out at
the State Department, no time Is to
| be lost in taking steps to insure Wig
| orous protection of American inter
ests in the East. Judging from re-
marks on the subject made today, the
| Administration has profited by its
earlier experience in Brazil, and in
the present instance the principle
that an ounce of prevention is worth a
pound of cure is to be observed by the
authorities, and some degree of haste
is to be shown. The Charleston, now
at the Mare Island Navy Yard, is TO
be the first additional vessel dis
patched to the Far East. The ship is
now in good condition foI distant ser
vice, having just undergone thor
ough overhauling. Orders have been
sent to Captain Howison to hold the
Charleston ready for a cruise, and her
sailing orders will probably be issued
in a day or two. The Charleston will
go directly to the China coast, touch
ing at Honolulu. She Is expected 10
reach her destination in about forty
days. Her special service will relate
to the protection of American inter-
ests in the seacoast cities throughout
the Celestial Empire. 1t is thought
that her presence in Chinese waters
will have much moral influence at
this time. To afford protection to the
missionaries who may require an asy-
lum in case of fanatic outbreaks by
Chinese, will be one OF Captain Coffin s
special duties.
The next vessel to be sent to the
East will be the Newark, now near
ing Cape Town, with Admiral Kirk
land on board. At this place the ship
will be speedily drydocked. AS soon
as Admiral Kirkland reports the
cruiser ready for further service she
will be dispatched to Japan. Cape
Town is less than 5000 miles from Ma
gasaki, and the Newark, steaming at
the rate OF ten knots an hour, ought to
cover the distance in about thirty five
days. When she leaves Cape Town
| the San Francisco will be ordered TO
| Rio Janeiro as the flagship of the
South Atlantic Station. By the addi-
ton of these two vessels the strength
of the China squadron will be raised
to three cruisers, two handy gunbOats,
| especially designed fer river service,
and one sidewheel ship.
Commodore Carpenters command
is to be further augmented as circum-
stances may require. The Raleigh,
now at Norfolk Navy Yard, is nearly
| ready for sea. Ten days more will be
sufficient to complete her remaining
will 90 to the China Station by way
of the Suez Canal The same may be
said of the Cincinnati, now undergo
| ing completion at the New York Navy
Yard. Three weeks from today, it Is
said at the Navy Department, she
could start for Shanghai or Nagasaki.
The Castine and Machias also will
soon be ready for cruise. The inten-
ton all along has been TO send these
two gunboats to China for river ser
vice more especially, and in view Ot
the present situation in the East il i
probable that their departure will be
! hastened "a much as practicable
Within thirty days the Philadelphia
repairs will be finished, and she, too,
will be available for orders to the
East. Some OF her boilers require re-
tubing and her bottom needs scrapiua
and painting. The work is TO be done
at Mare Island.
1t is not believed that the war viii
interfere To any great extent with the
commerce of the United States with
those countries, particularly if the
treaty ports are ueutTaliZed by Euro.
pean Powers, as it is proposed, and
blockades prevented. 1t is expected
too, that the tea crop will be shipped
as usual, and sold at ordinary prices
as it is already being gathered in
China and Japan, and at least one
steamer has already arrived at New
J York with 10000 or 10000 packages
CtOoly Of old taa on hOfh IN