Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-11-28
CRAFTY ENGLAND.
Changing Tactics in Nicaragua
Mosquito Affair.
Almost a War Scare in Our Navy De-
partment at WASH gton.
Columbia Ordered Post Haste to Blueiets-
Other Vessels Making Ready.

Washington, Nov. 27.-As a result of a
conference at Woodley, today, between
the President and Secretary Gresham, the
cruiser Columbia, for several weeks at
Kingston ia, was cabled pcremptory
orders to proceed at once to Bluefelds for
the protection of American interests,
Mr.. Gresham's visit to the President fol
lowed an interview that he had with the
Nicaraguan minister. All the officials
acquainted with the affair refuse to divulge
the reason of hurried orders 10 the Column
hia or to confirm the statements from
Panama in regard to the refusal of Great
Britain To recognize the Nicaraguan gov
ernnent.
Acting Secretary McAdoo said that if
il were true that the Columbia had gone
to BlucfcldS il was probably on il cruise
conforming with the established policy of
the government to keep a ship in Central
American waters, as the navy department
had no recent reports from Bluciiclds i'll
dicating trouble there.
1t is learned on excellent authority that
not only the Columbia but the MarbIehcad
which arrived at Kingston, today, will
remain mt Bluelclds continuously this
winter; that the Montgomery may be sent
there from Mobile. and that preliminary
orders have been sent to New York to
have all the ships in commission Of the
North Atlantic squadron prepared for n
West India cruise at the earliest possible
moment.
SAILING orders for the san Francisco,
which was to leave, December ID, To become
the flagship in European waters, had been
withheld and she may be sent Immediately
to the Gulf of Mexico The Castine' 5 cruise
to the South Atlantic, which was to com
mence early next month, will in proba-
bility be interrupted when she reaches the
West Indies Instructions to prepare the
Minneapolis for sea at once have been
sent to the navy department chiefs.
There seems to be, in fact, almost Il war
scare pcryading the navy, brought about
by diplomatic rumors to the effect that
Great Britain, which several months ago
expressed willingness to recognize the
full jurisdictiOnal rights of Nicaragua over
the Mosquito coast had shown a DISPOSE
tion to resent what appears to be the
practical annexation of that territory and
its complete incorporation as portion of
Nicaragua.
As long as the inter oceanic canal bill
seemed under favorable consideration at
the last session of Congress, Great Britain
remained quicsccnt in the Mosquito con
trovcrsy, and as Il result Of the conferences
held at Washington, Lord Roscbcry's cabi-
net consented to receive Il special envoy
from Nicaragua, whose mission related
solely to the abr0gatiOn of the treaty
which gave Great Britain guardianship
over the now almost extinct tribe of Mos
quito Indians.
This envoy, it is understood, has been
in London for some time, and when Con
gress adjourned without acting on the
canal bill, reorganization committee of
the canal company went to England to
seek money, and suggested that the abro-
CATION Of the British treaty had been put
II the background
Not until today was il definitely learned
that Great Britain had declined To recog
niac the legality of the new order of things
On the Mosquito coast, and that it had 50
notified Nicaragua, although such action
has been anticipated for several weeks. : !,
The near approach of the meeting Of Con
grcss, il is said, gives the President the
assurance that he will be supported to the
fullest extent in preventing foreign in
tcrfercnce near the route of the proposed
inter-oceanic canal.