The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-11-29
alarm over BLUEF|ELDS
British Government May Be Asked to
Explain the State Of Affairs.
AMERICAN SHIPS ARE ON HAND
II Is the Announced Naval Policy Of the
United States to Maintain Fleet of
Vessels in the West Indies Dur.
ing the Winter.
BY the United Press.

Washington, Nov 2S.-It is understood
that today's dispatches from Ambassa-
dor Bayard show that behind Great
Britains refusal to approve the new
Nicaraguan local government at Blue
fields, the banishment of the British vice
consul, E. d. Hatch, plays a somewhat
prominent part. When the Mosquito
Indian rule was overthrown for a sec
ond time by Nicaragua last August,
the United States felt confident that
full justice would be done to foreign
property holders as soon as the inn
petuous ardor of the Nicaraguans had
a chance to cool.
In the earlier conflicts between the
Nicaraguans and the Mosquitoes Tor
those claiming to be Mosquito 1ndans)
commencing in February of the present
year, Great Britain and the United
States succeeded in preventing eXces-
sive measures.
Nevertheless the United States has
been preparing for emergencies. 1t is
stated that Admiral Walker since his
return from Hawaii has been constantly
engaged for the past two months in
familarizing himself with the Central
American question. 1t is said that he
has planned, in case of emergency, of
course, scheme Of operations with the
eastern entrance of the proposed Mica
raguan canal and our gulf ports as a
basis, and further, has arranged a pro-
grmme for the movements Of the Pacific
squadron with the new cruiser Olympia
as flagship and the Philadelphia, Ben
nington Boston, New York and the old
cruisers Marion, Adams, Alert and
Ranger as consorts. 1t is the intention
of the navy department to send the
Bennington to the west coast of Mica
ragua in few days. No other vessels
will probably be sent south, either on
the Atlantic or Pacific coast, immediate
ly, although every available vessel will
be held in readiness to proceed to sea
promptly upon the receipt of ftelegraphic
orders.
The British North Atlantic fleet con-
sists Of ten vessels, the Blake, Buzzard,
Canada, Cleopatra, Magicienne,
Partridge, Pelican, Mohawk, Tartar
and Tourmaline. OF these, the Blake,
which is the only one of considerable
fighting power at last accounts was at
Halifax with several other vessels of
the fleet.
There are two small British cruisers
in the West Indies, but the Marblehead
and Montgomery would easily outclass
them. 1t is the custom of the British
feet to rendezvous in the West Indies
etery winter, and during the present
winter as least, it is the announced
naval policy of the United States to
maintain similar fleet of superior
strength in the same waters as an evil
dence that american interests are not
to be lightly jeopardized.
Big Damage CIaimes.
Kingston, Jamaica, Nov. 2S.-The
Mosquito incident and the rumor that
obtained currency here a month ago
that Great Britain would demand sub
stantial damages from Nicaragua for
the violation of the treaty n Nicaragua,
1869, has taken on a new Importance.
Her majesty's ship Mohawk, stationed
at Port Limon, Costa Rica, 120 miles
from Greytown and 240 from Bluefields,
have been fully re-provisioned from this
naval station, stores and supplies hav-
ing been specially sent to her by an
English steamship.
Chief, or Prince, Clarence is here as
guest and protege of Great Britain.
Upon his arrival he was guest on Her
majestys ship Urgent, the guard ship
at the dock. Recently he has moved up
to the residence of Mr.. Edwin S. Hatch,
in this city. Mr. Hatch was British
consul at Buefelds up to the
time Of his arrest and expulsion from
Nicaragua. The distinguished atten-
ton paid Prince Clarence has a sig
nificilce.
Prince Clarence left Bluefields on a
British man-of-war at time when
his life was threatened. Mrs. Edwin
S. Hatch and family were taken to
Port Limon on Her majesty's ship Mo-
hawk, Mr.. Hatch, while the recognized
agentof her Britannia majesty's gov
ernment was arrested and with many
others, British and American, taken to
Managua, there imprisoned and with
out trial We're expelled from the coun-
try.
Great Britain claims for this outrage
amount to many million dollars, with
claims by her subjects for previous
outrages. The total is said to exceed
$4O,0OO,O0O. Germany has large claim.
The American claims are said TO
amount to fully $1O,0O0,0OO.