Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-25
THE CASTINE'S CRUISE
She is Getting Ready to Go to Madagascar
via the Mediterranean.
TIL. Longest Route, but the Cheapest
AggrcsxiOns-A Recent Outrage.

The work of preparing the gunboat Cas-
tine. now at New York. for her long cruise
to the Island of MAZDA gascar, on the east
coast Of southern Africa. is progressing
satisfactorily. According to the latest ad-
vices received at the Navy Department,
the vessel will be fully equipped in every
respect and be ready to sail on the "a
proximo. This will be the first cruise OF
the Castine stree she was increased four
teen feet in length to insure her stability
and her performances will be watched with
interest in naval circles. A similar opera
ton to her sister ship, the Machias. now
on her way to the China station, was emil
nently successful. so there is no reason to
doubt a different result in the case of the
Castine.
Long DetOur.
The statement that that vessel had been
detached from the South Atlantic station,
in order to send her to Madagascar is err
roneous, inasmuch as that island and most
of the Indian ocean are included within
the boundaries of the South Atlantic sta
ton, wrongly supposed to be confined to
the waters Of the South Atlantic, washing
the east shore OF South America and the
west shore of Africa. The orders or the
Castine to join that squadron have not
been changed. Instead, however, or pro
ceeding directly south, to report to the
commanding officer on the flagship New
ark at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Castlne
will make a wide detour This is done for
the purpose Of visiting ports on the east
coast of Africa. and in Madagascar 10
see that the long neglected interests OF
the United States in that quarter are prop
erly respected by all other governments.
The Most Economical Route.
In making this trip, the Castine will
take the longest route for the simple rea-
son that it is the most economical. Ihe
most direct way from New York to NADIA
eascar is across the Atlantic and around
the Cape of Good Hope, at the southern
extremity of Africa. The distance is about
9.GOO miles. The drawback TO this route IS
the difficulty and expense OF procuring
coal. And for this reason the Castine has
been ordered to make the trip by way or
the Mediterranean sea. the SueZ canal ana
the Indian ocean. This route adds l,loo
miles to her cruise but lessons its expense
in the matter of coal. That necessary
equipment to steaming vessel costs from
two to three times as much On the South
Atlantic route as it does on the European
route. and experts have Inquired that me
latter though much longer, is the cheapest
in the end, and consequently the most ad-
visabie to follow.
American Interests I'm MadnEasc1r.
Although the United States has large
commercial interests in Madagascar, there
is no Indication that they have suffered
to any material extent in consequence OF
the policy of the French government
toward that island. The country of the
Hovas however, is in a state of intense
excitement over the belligerent attitude of
the French government. and 1t Is feared
that open hostilties are inevitable. The
latest advices indicate that the HoVaS do
not intend to relnquish their liberties with
out a stubborn struggle. and that the war
feeling OH the island is intense and runs
high. 1t is represented that the govern
ment has the sympathy and cooperation
of all the natives in it's contention against
the French. The result of the existing
crisis in France consequent upon the
change of government is awaited with in
terest. as 1t has an important bearing on
this question.
A Recent Outrage.
recent dispatch from Tamatave says:
"Among the most provoking of the out
RACES committed by the French marines
was that upon the persons and property of
two American citizens, one of whom was
ex-Consul John l.. Waller of Kansas, in
the home of an American named John Dub
lin. Mr.. Waller was at the time seated in
the doorway of his friends house, smok-
ing, when three French marines, having
frightened away all the natives in the
neighborhot d, approached They caught
sight Of Mr.Dubln's wife and, probably mis-
taking Mr.. Waller for Mr.. Dublin, insult
ingly demanded that he deliver Mrs Dub
lin to them. Mr. Waller Immediately COM
manded them to leave the premises. They
refused to CO. and further demanded that
Mr.. Waller supply them with cigars. This
he also refused. and again commanded
them to leave. One Of the marines became
very angry and wanted to know why Mr.
Waller did not run, and if he We're not
afraid of Frenchmen. Mr.. Waller told him
he would not run, ror was he afraid. The
marine drew his side arms and advanced
on Mr.. Waller declaring that he would cut
his throat. Mr.. Waller raised the chair
upon which he had been seated and warm
ed the intruder that If he advanced another
step he would brain him. This warlike
demonstration cooled the Frenchman's
blood and he went away. While Mr.. Waller
was THUS engaged the two other marines
had entered another apartment of the
house, insulted Mrs. Dublin, stolen num-
her of articles, ard decamped. Mr.. Waller
and Mr.. Dublin Immediately made COM
plant 10 United States Consul Wetter, who
made an investigation of the facts and
ported the case to the French resident, but
up to date no further action in the matter
has been taken"