The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-30
Three small American Nar>hips Or
dered to Nicaragua


Washington City. April s2a-Son1e sud
den and unexpected orders issued 10 Uni
ted States naval vessels late this after
noon caused a sensation for time. until
the purpose Of the orders was explained.
The Alert. which has been for month
CT more at Panama, watching the prog
ress OF the revolutionary movement In
Colombia. was ordered 10 proceed at once
to San Juan del sur. ths nearest cable
port 10 Corinto. Nicaragua The Raleigh
now on her way from King ston. Jamaica,
10 Key West. and expected to arrive az
the latter place any moznent. viii find
awaiting her orders 20 sal at once for
Greytown, the eastern serminus OF the
proposed Nicaragua canal The Mont
gomery. now a Mobile. Twill follow the
Raleigh on May 8 with Che Nicaraguan
canal commission aboard. The Monterey.
having sailed Yesterday from Acapulco
direct for Panama, is expected TO touch
at Corinto. and as she is now beyond the
reach OF orders by wlre~ she viii prob
ably be allowed TO reliexe the Alert on
guard at Panama. whence she can be or
dered back 10 Nicaragua IL trouble arises
in the future.
Secretary Herbert explained briefly the
mean ming OF these orders. He said the
movements Of the shipf had absolutely
nothing TO do with tts4 occupation OF
Corinto by the British. that being a mat
ter 10 be settled betweenshe Nicaraguans
and the British. The resl purpose of the
orders was 10 guard Aaerican interests
in Nicaragua against az possible revolu-
tion. Being asked whaUmeasure OF pro
lection the Nicaraguan commission would
receive in the pursuan9 of its work OF
inspecting the line ofa the canal, the
secretary said the Mont s<omery would re-
main a Greytown whiiw the commission
was In the interior. atd with the two
he fFs.-
they would surely be ale TO protect the
commission and all otAsr American in
terests.
The action OF Secretars Herbert may be
attributed 10 the visiSg 10 Washington
City By ex-senator Warner Miller. OF the
Nicaraguan Canal Company, and TO some
reports made by him on the basis OF pri-
yate reports as TO the real condition OF
affairs IN Nicaragua. and those coming
10 the Nicaraguan minister directly
Certainly, the character OF the United
States vessels which have been ordered
to Nicaragua is sufficient evidence that
Secretary Herbert does not expect them 10
come into hostile conflict With the Brit
ish ships for If 1t came 10 that. the small
cruisers Montgomery and Raleigh would
ind themselves opposed 10 the whole
British West Indies squadron, While on
the Pacific the Alert would he left single
handed against the British Royal Arthur,
Wild Swan and Satellite.
II Mr. MlIler's conferences with Secre-
tary Gresham and other cabinet officers,
he presented a very strong case on the
urgency of the situa ton and the menace
10 American control OF the canal. He
brought out clearly the fact that the
British threatened 10 go 10 Greyto~n
and TO San Juan del Sur, the two irnpor-
tant points on the Atlantic ana facinc
ends OF rhe canal. II was soon after this
ss.. all sHFlw M
Mr.. Miller said the canal company was
very much interested In events in Mica
rar,,a The revolution which has been
threatened as n result Of the British occu-
nation NAV disturb the canal company by
DveventinC work or surveys and the pos
sible destruction OF its property. The
comnanv. Mr.. Miller said. wanted the pro-
,c.,tor ~ ltz interests. IL not from the
Nlcararuan government, then from 'he
o,1+sf8e The concessions OF the company
we're safe. but the line OF the canal was
not He also said the concession entltleh
me entire line OF the canal 70 protectloh'
hut an uncomfortable movement may te-
suit in the destruction OF property oy II
reereo- nile ,1ersons. Mr.. Miller said ne
- ~ e.+en,ton OF the state depart
80. % .he necessity Of the protection OF
r. ,,,-,-,,ission that IS soon 70 leave Tor
>-,-,raqus 20 examine the route OF the
-a-,I t4e savs II would be very danger
ous. In case OF revolutionary o'szurn.
anras. for m unprotected party - i'irS ~
49, - - tha line OF the canal The
Sog NM mission SION being under the direction Of
the state department. it will; o. or, oonfze e.
= -. raxv department. for an armed
force in case OF tTou0le- - c,o-..arv
r,-esha-n and Secretary Her'ert t4ls n
1.,.,. =. s,,~h protection 20 the ergs-
Desr -'S Commission. NJ ard also indicated tnst
n case Of revolutionary distureanees i's ne ne
Y-,t+s3 states should not depend npon ~. ne
.,-1.-.,,,,- - government 70 protect the
4ropeTty. Ss~ Mr' Mnier said Niearasua haa had
been tranquil uri 70 Two ysaFs ,,s,,rsss asn, 9l,
49,. ravo,gtt9n al hat time had d,storoe
we trN rN".- 80 .hen there had been an
snsettIe4 an a,tt condition Mr Miller SAYS SAYS 69 5se
caral company wishes % give .,srS,,Ss- yesrS -
----,,,stv for the commission 20 nor -.
s..'...S .-i,..,,.s ne canal He expects tnst
n ~. 'N%,,,'.. Set.e errlneer. Mr. Nenooai vii ac-
,,-oarv c-- me commission over me route
of the canal