The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-30
NOT GOING FOR A FIGHT.
Protection for the Commits
sioners Suggested by Fears
of a Revolution.
THE CONCESSIONS ARE SAFE.
Many Dangers VIII Be Encountered
If the Natives Take Up Arms
AS Expected.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 29.-Some
sudden and unexpected orders issued to
United States naval vessels late this after
noon caused sensation for time, until
the purpose of the orders was explained.
The Alert which has been for month or
more at Panama watching the progress of
the revolutionary movement in Colombia,
was ordered to proceed at once to San Juan
del Sur, the nearest cable port to Corinto,
Nicaragua. The Raleigh, now on her way
from Kingston Jamaica, to Key West, and
expected to arrive at the latter place any
moment, will find orders awaiting her to
sail at once to Greytown, the eastern ter
minus of the proposed Nicaragua canal.
The Montgomery, now at Mobile, will fol-
low the Raleigh on the 18th, with
the Nicaraguan canal commission aboard.
The Monterey having sailed yesterday
from Acapulco direct for Panama,
is not expected to touch at Cor
into, and as she is now beyond the
reach of orders by wire, she will probably
be allowed to relieve the Alert on guard at
Panama, where she can be ordered back to
Nicaragua if trouble arises in the future.
Secretary Herbert explained briefly the
meaning of these orders. He said the
movements of the ships had absolutely
nothing to do with the occupation of Co.
rinto by the British, that being matter
to be settled between the Nicaraguans and
the British. The real purpose of the orders
was to guard American interests in Mica
ragua against possible revolution.
Being asked what measure of protection
the Nicaraguan commission would receive
in the pursuance of its work of inspecting
the line of the canal, the Secretary said the
Montgomery would remain at Greytown
while the commission was in the interior,
and with the two ships on one side, and
one on the other, they would surely be
forced to protect the commission and all
other American interests.
The action of Secretary Herbert may be
attributed to the visit to Washington by
ex-senator Warner Miller of the Nicara-
guam Canal Company, and of some reports
made by him on the basis of private re-
ports as to the real condition of affairs in
Nicaragua and those coming to the Mica
raguan Minister directly. Certainly the
character of the United States vessels
which have been ordered to Nicaragua is a
does not expect them to come into hostile
conflict with the British ships, for if it
came to that the small cruisers Mont
gomery and Raleigh would find them
selves opposed to the whole British West
Indies squadron, while on the Pacific the
Alert would be left single-handed against
the British Royal Arthur, Wild Swan and
Satellite.
In Mr.. Miller's conferences with Secre-
tary Gresham and other Cabinet officers
he presented very strong case on the
urgency Of the situation and the menace
to American control of the canal He
brought out clearly the fact that the Bri t.
ish threatened to go to Greytown and to
San Juan del Sur, the two important points
on the Atlantic and Pacific ends of the
canal. 1t was soon after this that the or
ders to the vessels were made
Mr.. Miller said the canal company was
very much interested in events in Mica
ragua. The revolution, which has been
threatened as a result of British occupa-
ton, may disturb the canal company by
preventing work on surveys and the posi-
bic destruction of It's property. The COM
pany, Mr.. Miller said, wanted the protec-
ton of its interests, if not from the Mica
ragua Government, then from the outside.
The concessions of the company were safe,
but the line of the canal was not He also
said the concessions entitled the entire line
of the canal to protection, but an uncon-
trolable rising may result in the destruc-
ton of property by irresponsible persons.
Mr.. Miller said he had called the atten-
ton of the State Department to the neces-
sity for protection to the commission that
is soon to leave for Nicaragua to examine
the route of the canal He SAYS it will be
very dangerous in case of revolutionary
disturbances for an unprotected party to
make trip over the line of the canal. The
commission being under the direction of
the State Department, it will OF course, be
necessary for the State Department to ask
the Navy Department for an armed force
in case of trouble.
Mr.. Miller urged upon both Secretary
Gresham and Secretary Herbert the neces-
sity of such protection to the engineer
commission, and also indicated that in
case of revolutionary disturbances the
United States should not depend upon the
Nicaraguan Government to protect the
property. He also said Nicaragua had
been tranquil up to two years ago, but the
revolution at that time had disturbed
affairs. and since then there had been an
unsettled condition. Mr.. Miller says the
canal company wishes to give every OPP
portunity for the commission to thor
oughly examine the canal. He expects
the chief engineer, Mr.. Menocal, will
accompany the commission over the route
of the canal.