Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-30
EXCITEMENT DYING OUT.
EnSland's Explanation Of the Blue
fields Incident Has Been Here Sew
er0l Days.

England's Explanation Of the blue
fields Incident Has Been Here Sew
ernl Days.
The excitement over the revival of the
Bluefields incident Is gradually dying out,
and the alarmists are apparently con-
WINGED that Great Britain has i'm
mediate intention OF seixing the Mica
ragua canal. 1t may be the fell de-
sign OF that powerful nation to OBJ
tain q fOothold this continent, on the
eastern coast of the isthmus In contra
ventiCn OF the Monroe doctrine, but the
officials of the state and Navy Depart
ments seem to be satisfied that such is
not her policy in the present controversy
with Nicaragua over the amount Of the
indemnity to be paid for the Insults offered
British officials and subjects during the
recent revolution on the Mosquito strip.
1t was developed today that Secretary
Gresham has been in possession of the
ohicial explanation OF the recent action of
Great Britain for several days. and that he
is satisfied that there is no disposition to
interfere with the rights of the United
States in any respect. 1t Is stated as a
fact that Ambassador Bayard had ap-
prised him OF what had been done before
the fact became public through AS
ISOLATED Press cable message from Pan
anna. announcing that Great Britain qtfes-
toned the action OF the Nicaraguan au-
tnOTitles IN the MOSQultO country, ana tndt
British nan-or-war had started from
Port Limon for Bluefields to investisa tie
the matter.
Never Thought of Sending a Fleet.
1t was learned today on the best au-
thority that the question of sending a
naval fleet to BluefieIds had never even
been considerable, much less decided upon.
In the first place, even in the event OF an
open rupture, there was but one British
warshlp at Bluehelds, and the cruiser Co.
lUmba, which is on her way there, is Ger
tainly match for her; and In the second
place, 1t would have been the height of alb
surdity to send our ships to protect a COM
paratively Insignificant tract Of foreign ter
ritory, and leave our own coast at the
mercy of the enemy. Naval officers agree
that In case war should ever again break
out between this country and England no
matter what the exciting cause might be-
the harbors Of New York and Boston would
be the scene Of the principal naval opera
lions. This statement was made merely to
show the folly Of supposing that our ships
would be sent away on the first signs of
trouble. when 1t was thousand times
more essential they should be available for
the protection Of our coast and cities.
The Columbia's Whereabouts.
Two kilograms bearing on the Bluefelds
affair were received at the Navy Depart
ment One announced that the cruiser
Marblehead left Port Royal, jamaica yes
terday for Hampton Roads, thus showing
Enthusiastically that the department does not
consider her presence in the West Indies as
any longer necessary. The other telegram
was from Capt Sumner, commanding the
Columbia, which was ordered to Bluefclds
TO see what is going on there. 1t was very
brief and simply announced the arrival of
the vessel at Caimanera on the 18th in
slant. Caimanera Is small port on the
southern coast of Cuba, about hfteen miles
from Santiago. 1t is about 100 miles north
of Kingston, where the vessel was when
ordered to Bluefelds, and is in an exactly
opposite direction
Her presence there when she was SUP
posed to be nearing the coast of Mica
ragua, on the other side of the Caribbean
sea, gave rise to all sorts Of speculation,
which were finally set at rest by the plaus-
ible explanation that as Camanera is a
supply station for fresh fish, fruits and
provisions, the Columbia had gone there
first to lay in a supply in anticipation of a
protracted stay in the vicinity Of Blue
fields, where fresh provisions are scarce
and expensive. Capt. Summers orders
were to proceed to Blueiields without any
specific mention of the necessity for haste.
His roundabout course will not result
in more than days delay and as the
Columbia probably did not remain at Cal
manera more than a day at most. she Is
now undoubtedly well on her way to Blue
fields. She will probably reach there to-
morrow or the next day at the farthest,
but the department will not be advised of
the fact for several days later as the port
is without telegraphic facilities.