Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-14
THE CASTlNE'S MISSION
Why the Ship is Sent to Far-0f NADIA
gascar.
To Pre- tect American Interests In That
Island, Which Are Very Great
Comment I'm Diplomatic Circles.

The action of the administration in send
ing a war ship to far-off Madagascar, In
the Indian ocean, is naturally the subject OF
much comment in diplomatic circles. The
vessel selected for the long voyage across
the Atlantic and around the Cape OF Good
Hope is the gunboat Castine, sister snip 10
the Machias now in the Suez canal, on her
way to China. These two vessels were
found to be topheavy, and in order TO IN
sure their seaworthiness it was found
necessary to increase their length by four
teen feet This was successfully accom-
p!ished by separating them amidships and
building up the additional length. The
operation was performed at the New YORK
navy yard. and the two vessels are again
in active service.
Her Original Destination.
Since her reconstruction the Castine has
made trip from New York to Castine'
Me-, and back This trip developed the
necessity of a number of minor repairs be-
fore she could be considered ready 1or
long cruise The original plan was to send
her to the South Atlantic station, 10 rem
force the flagship Newark, at Rlo de ia
neiro and the old corvette 1antlc, "hich
has been stalled in the Rio de la Platte Tor
many months. The Yantic has made her
last cruise and will probably never again
venture beyond the quiet waters of the
Urugllayan river. 1t is deemed UNSAFE 10
trust her upon the troubiouS BOSOM oi tne @
Atlantic. The Newark has been pfacCcaiAy
the only United States war ship on tnat
station since the close of the Brazllian
revolution, over a year ago, WheL the
formidable American heet' unoer .s Auilii' -, d,
Benham, was WlthdraWn Ior seA'ieo iAi
other parts of the world
The ;,astjne was being fitted out Tor serV-
ice in Brazilian waters, when, as stated ih
Saturdays Star, orders were sent 10 the
conmandant OF the New YORK navy !aiu
to prepare her for the even more EXTENDED
cruise to the Island of MAZDA Sascar. Inc
execution OF this mission naturally lnVolVes
her detachment from the South Atlantic
squadron. Some other vessei may pe as
signed to that station in her stead. but this
is a matter for future consideration. II IS
said that it Will take at least three weeks
to prepare the Castine for her long voyage
OF about 1l,OOO miles.
Rumors and Assertions.
1t has been currently reported that the
Queen OF Madagascar has sent an urgent
appeal to the United States to prevent
France from taking forcible possession Oh
the island, and that similar appeals nave
been made to Great Britain and Germany
as the three countries having the greatest
trade interests with Madagascar. Officials
positive terms, however. that no appeal OF
the kind has been made to this govern
ment and that if one was sent 1T has not
yet been received. 1t is said, furthermore
that no intimation even has been made
that assistance of any kind from TINS
country was hoped for or desired, ana that
no reports have been received from our
consular officers for some time past IN re-
gard to the polite al situation in MadagaS-
car These assertions were made emphatic,
in, limited
government in dispatching warshlp TO
the east coast OF Africa has no desire or
purpose to interfere in any way In the
existing differences between france ana
Madagascar.
To Protect American Interests.
AS explained by one official, the United
States has large commercial interests in
Madagascar, and it was thought to be the
part of prudence to send a naval vessel
there to see that they are properly pro-
tected during the trouble. American inter-
ests in Madagascar are much greater than
Is generally supposed The export trade
of that island with the United States 1S
said to be second only to that with Great
Britain. India rubber is the chief article or
export. Mr.. Waller, the late consul gem
eraI to Madagascar, secured important con-
cessions from the government in the India
rubber trade, amounting almost to q
monopoly and this is said to be one OF the
causes of the frequent trouble with france.
There is good ground for the belief that
France has decided upon extreme meas
ures to enforce her contentious against
Madagascar, and t is reported that she has
sent a formidable force of loo men to
operate against the Hovas, as the natives
of the country are termed.
To Look Out for MOzam bfGue.
Another reason for the proposed cruise
of the Castne is that the presence OF a
warship is desired at the Portuguese col
ony of Mozambique, on the east coast OF
Africa, not a great distance from NADIA
gascar Last September United States Con-
sui Hollis at Mozambique shot and killed
a Kaffir who had burglariously entered his
house at night. He was tried and con-
victed by the local authorities for the
Imprisonment. Under provision of Por-
tuguese colonial law the case was appealed
10 the royal government at Lisbon, and
pending action the consul was released on
BAIL At last accounts he was still at
liberty performing his official functions
Although no doubt is expressed at the
State Department that Mr.. Hollis will re-
that his case would not be Drejudiced by
the convenient presence of a United States
ship. The Newark visited Cape Town last
summer to be locked, but it has been many
years since wal ship flying the flag of
the United States has been seen on the
east coast of Africa, and the authorities
have concluded that the time and occasion
have come for making just that particular
kind of a display.
THE BEER TAX INCREASE.