Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-04-30
THEY WE'RE EXcIrEp
When They Heard About orders to
Our warships

Our Warships.
washington, April 29-Some sudden
ana unexpected orders issued TO United
states naval vessels late this afternoon
caused a sensation for a time until the
purpose of the order was explained.
The Alert which has been stationed for
a month or more at Panama watching
the progress of the revolutionary move
ment In Columbia. was ordered to pro-
coed at once to San Juan del Sur. the
nearest cable port to Corinto Nicara-
qua. The Atlanta, now on her way
from Kingston, Jamaica, to Key West,
and expected to arrive at the latter
place at any moment will find awaiting
her orders to sail at once to GreytOwn,
the eastern terminus of the proposed
Nloaraguan canal. The Monterey, now
at Mobile, will follow the Atlanta on
May when the Nicaraguan canal
commission Will board her.
The Monterey, sailing yesterday for
Panama is not expected to touch at
Corlnto and will probably be allowed
TO relieve the Alert now on guard at
Panama, whence she can be ordered
to Nicaragua II occasion arises In the
future.
Secretary Herbert explained briefly
the meaning of these orders. He said
the movement of the ships had nothing
TO do with the occupation OF Corinto
by the British, that being a matter
to be settled between the Nicaragdans
and the British. rhe real purpose of
the order was to guard American In
terests in Nicaragua against the coJj
tinuance Of revolution which may re-
suit from the disturbed condition OF
the country. Being asked what protec-
ton the Nicaraguan commission would
receive in pursuance of its work OF in
speeding the line of the canal, the Sec
aath IN Mont
main while the commission was at the
interior and with two ships on one side
and one on the other there would be
force enough 20 protect the commission
and other American interests that
would be endangered by the revolution.
The action by Secretary Herbert may
be attributed to the visit to Washing
ton of ex-senator Warner Miller. of
the canal commission and of some re-
port made by him on the basis OF prl-
vate reports as to the real con sttlon
of affairs in Nicaragua and 10 those
coming to the Nicaragua commission
directly. Certainly the character Of
the United States vessels that have
been ordered to Nicaragua is sufii-
Client evidence that Secretary Herbert
does not expect them to come into hos
tillty with the British ships, for II It
came to that the small cruisers NJ
lanta and Montgomery would find
AItilStlNtS ODDOStu TO the whole West
Indies British squadron. In Mr.. Mill
er's conferences with Secretary Ores
ham and other cabinet officers he pre-
scented Il very strong case on the ur-
gency Of the situation and menace ia
American control OF the canal.
He brought out clearly the fact that
the British threatened to go TO Grey
town and San Juan del Sur. the two
important points on the Atlantic and
Pacific ends of the canal. Tho cabinet
officers were impressed with Mr.. Mil
lers statement of the case, and one of
them characterized 1t as the strongest
presentation thus far made. 1t was
soon after this that the orders to the
American war vessels were issued.
Mr.. Miller said to an Associated
Press reporter that the canal company
was very much interested In events in
Nicaragua, The occupation Of Corlnto
by the British troops does not neces-
sarily affect the company in itself, but
1t may lead directly to serious results.
The revolution which has been
| threatened as a result of British occu-
| patton may disturb the canal company
| by preventing work upon surveys and
| building operations and the possible
destruction OF its property. The COM
| pany, he said, wanted the protection Of
| Its interests IL not from the Mica
raguan government then from the out
side. The concessions of the company
were from de facto government, but
| the line Of the canal was not. He also
said that the concession entitled the
entire lines OF the canal to protection,
| but an uncomfortable revolution might
result in destruction of property by
| irresponsible persons. Mr.. Miller said
he called the attention of the state de-
| partment to the necessity of protection
| Of the commission that is sent TO Nj
| caragua for the purpose OF making an
examination of the route Of the canal.
| The commission being under the dl-
| rection OF the state department II will
| OF course be necessary for that depart
ment to ask the navy department for
| an armed force in case such force Is
| deemed necessary,
Mr.. Miller urged upon both Secretary
Gresham and Secretary Herbert the
necessity OF such protection to the
engineers commission, and also indi-
Gated that as United States citizens
were so largely interested in the canal
and its property that in case Of revolu-
tionary disturbances the United States
should not depend upon the Nicarn-
| guam government to protect the prop
| erty.
| MIR. Miller said Nicaragua had been
| tranquil up to two years ago. but the
| revolution at that time had disturbed
affairs there and since then they had
been In an unsettled condition. MIR,
| Miller said the canal company desires
to make thorough examination OF the
canal. The engineers in charge would
offer the commission every facility, and
| he expected that the chief engineer.
MIR. Menocal, would accompany the
commission over the route OF the canal.