Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-30
SLOWLY AWAKENING
To the Necessity of United States
Vessels at Nicaragua,
The Administration Orders Two Gunboats II
Proceed to That Coast.

Washington, April 29-After several
conferences, today, between Secretary
Gresham and Secretary Herbert, the secre-
tary of the navy sent dispatches to the
commanders of the United States gun
boats Alert and Atlanta, directing them
to proceed without delay to San Juan Del
Sur and Greytown, Nicaragua, re-
spoc.ively.
The Alert is at Panama and it will
take her about a day and half to reach
San Juan Del Sur, which is the cable
station nearest to Corinto, situated about
100 miles below that polt. The Atlanta
is at Key West and can make the distance
OF $50 miles from that place to Greytown
in two and half days. When Secretary
Herbert was asked the significance of these
orders, he answered promptly as follows:
The newspapers say revolution is
probable i'll Nicaragua. They state that
the people are very much dissatisfied with
the course of the government and are
likely to attempt to overthrow it. To
protect ting interests of American citizens,
their lyesand property and, following the
policy always pursued in such con
tineencies have ordered the Alert to
San Juan Del sur and the Atlanta to
Greytown.
an addition to these vessels. the Mont
somcry, now at Mobile, will sail, May Z,
for Grcytown, conveying the Nicaragua
canal commission to that place. The
Monterey, which sailed from Panama,
will remain at Panama for the present.
with two United States ships on enc
side of Nicaragua. and one ship on the
other side, it is plain that American in
terests will be well protected, if the
rumored revolution should take place.
Il wish it distinctly understood that
these vessels are sent to Nicaragua for the
purpose OF caring for the citizens of the
United State and their interests, and not
on any business connected with the situa-
tion at Corinto.'
The Alert is one of the older vessels of
the navy, an iron cruiser Of 1920 tons dis
placement, propelled by a single screw.
Her main battery consists of four guns
and she does not compare formidably with
the British ships now at Corinto, although
she would probably not be overmatched by
the Wild swan now at San Juan Del Sur,
the pert Of her destination
While the policy OF this government in
the trouble at Corinto is well understood,
was made until today. A cabinet officer
said, this evening that the United Staes
could not interfere between Great Britain
and Nicaragua in their matter of differ
ence, because Nicaragua was sovereign
state and recognized as such by Great
Britain and the United States. and must
hold herself responsible to Great Britain
for offences committed against British
subjects
'Tho United States government" he
said, "does not undertake to extenda pro-
tectorate over Central America and South
An erica to such an extent that a sovereign
state Of one or the other of these countries
may insult another sovereign nation with
the expectation that this government will
protect it from forcible resentment by the
nation insulted. Such a principle was
never recognized by the United States and
il we attempted to assert it we would in
cur the enmity Of every nation having
dealings with Central and South and
America.
1t is understood that the situation at
Corinto has been relieved of much of its
tension Ivy the intimation cabled by Am
bassaGor Bayard, that in case Nicaragua
would guarantee the payment of the in
demnity asked. within Is days, Great
Britain would acccde to the request for
such IN extension of time.
Warner Miller, president of the Mica
ragua Canal Co, had an interview, to-
day, with Secretary Gresham and Secre-
tary Herbert. He said aftcrward that his
conference with the secretaries was for the
purpose of informing them of the phySi-
cal CONFORMATION Of the country on the
proposed canal route, in order that the
canal commission might be assisted in
facilitating its work.
Mr. Miller stated that tho United States
would not permit Great Britain or any
other country to undermine our interests
in the canal property.