New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-16
NEWS NOTES ATTHE CAPITAL
SAN FRANCISCO THE FUTURE GREAT PA
CIFIC NAVAL RENDEZVOUS.
A NICARAGUAN VIEW OF THE MONROE DOCTRINE
FLAMES IN HoTEIs-ADMIRAL RAMSAY
TWO ETs-AT-LARGE APPOINTED
PROTECTION FOR MISSION
ARIES IN CHINA


ARIES IN CHINA
Washington June 15-Captain Sigsbce, the Naval
Hydrographer has developed remarkable fact rea-
tive to steam navigation on the Pacific ocean which
seems TO indicate that the strategca importance OF
the Hawaiian Islands is not so great as has been
asserted by promoters OF annexation sentiment. IL
has been customary TO draw straight INES On the
map of the Pacific from the chief ports Of the
American continent and ASIA which. interesting
near Honolulu were alleged to demonstrate the
central position Of that harbor as the natural stop
ping point in iranspaclhc voyages. 1t is well
known, however. that great Gree or TIE eaTth
is the shortest line between any points on the globe
and In an investigation OF the steamer routes which
would have to be adopted on the completion Of the
Nicaragua Canal 1t was discovered that the haTDor
OF San Francisco was incomparaoly more important
than any other the Pacific. while Honolulu was
over 1000 miles off the most direct steamer route on
all VOYAGES between North American and Asiauc
ports Taking the harbor OF Brto. the Western
terminus OF the projected canal. and assuming that
much OF the traffic through the cana VIII De car
discovery is made that San Francisco is the most nos,
avoraby located scaling p 1R6 on n es Yucaan
Texas, Utah and oregon. ana IL tangent w, ~ 'i1S
chain of Aleutan Islands and the coast line OF
Japan. The closest approx maton 10 tins me pracs
tcabe for steamers is along the ives. cas- a H U
ocean in a circle of 1000 miles radius OF wn sca
Hawaii is practically the centre The conclusions Shron5
great circle from Brto to Yokohama measures 1O22
f4Ss r the @ Ycs5am is
10 San Francisco 200 knots; from San Francisco TO
xok Sns1ham 4'S y anG San F2ancseo
Therefore the shortest possible route tor steamers i
by only ninety knots the shortest possible direct
route the distances are: From Brto to Honolulu,
42lO knots. Honolulu to Yokohama, 5,S99 knV KNOTS,
route between Brito and Yokohama via san Fran
cisco is 1913 knots shorter tnan by way OF
Canal II is believed from these figures that the
position of san Francisco vii make II me para
warshps can steam more than Gy nS an Fran
out renewing ber rne become great coang sta
ton and naval rendezvous
Although the great majority of the inhabitants
of Nicaragua we'll as those OF the other Cehtrai
American States are ardent Republicans there Is
vet a small but influential minority with strong
monarchcal tendencies The following extract from
a recent edition of Nicaraguan newspaper. pre-
sumaby reflects the sentiments Of tn M ba rem
Of RS n,t An s5es IN our
on the NEEDING pocy Si the iSaav constitutional
monarchy, like Belgium Ho,9nd or e nHnrA' Ike
Morocco. Peru and santo Domingo would probably
be Spanish colonies like cuba ana roa,o l ciz as
ton would have gained great deal.
Fire started in the owen House. a well-known
hotel in Pennsylvania-ave. near the Treasury De-
partment shortly before 10 o'clock this morning ana
completely burned out the upper noors o. ne eu S
inmates ns ne Of f'e the I trd oor could reach the
their exit was cut off by smoke and nre' o fwo
adjoins the hotel. and John Leach, the bartendf,
were taken from the third-soy F2ni eg
from the rear windows. No one was injured
Admiral Ramsay will leave the Navy Department
early next week for two or three weeks leave
Whether he will at the end OF that time return
to duty as Chief OF the Bureau OF Navigation IS the
subject of absorbing speculation among naval OH
be placed in command OF the North Atlantic Squad
ron after July l. with the New-iorK as MS
flagship. as soon as the vessel returns TO New
Herbert returned from Alabama las! night, ana ana
after he appeared At the DeRaTen re1ay
came esG Known At the same time, 1t was rumored
1hs the sss haa Of
Meades successor until after midsummer but ms
Secretary While there Is no urgent haste that
commander n-chief of a station where the shlps
should be appointed. the prevailing belief SUI! IS
that the NewYork Will fly an Admirals nag before r
turns to Washington next month il VIII be only
for short time
The President to-day appointed George b. Comfy
and William Tdba. of Army officers. 10 be
cadets-at-large TO the United States Military Acad-
envy. The appointments given on account Of
the distinguished military services Of the fathers
, Of the young men, Mr.. Comfy IS the son OF the ate
Major Clifton Comfy, Ordnance Department, VINO
died suddenly at Governors Island In 1874 while IN
e ns pshden Mr. c' Tdbi Se is General John
Academy in ls4S. and retired in 1889. after dis
tnguished military career.
The gunboat Petrol left Shanghai this morning
for Han-Kow which is the nearest point to Sc
Chuen Province. where the property Of missionaries
has been recently destroyed. HanKow IS 100 miles
up the Yang tse-Kiang above Shanghai. and the
head OF navigation on that river for larger YES
sells than tunks While the Petrol on arrival at her
destinations will still be 100 500 miles from Sc
Chuen. her presence in the in terror cannot fan
have good effect on Chinese in the interior.
Assistant Secretary Hamln called on the Presi-
dent this morning. and discussed with him the
Behring Sea situation. A constant correspondence
has been conducted recently between the United
States and British Governments on the question,
bur so far common ground has been reached
in the matter in dispute. which relates principally
to seizure OF vessels suspicion OF pelagc seal
ing
Secretary Herbert reached the Navy Department
about O'Clock this morning, and shortly atterward
went TO the White House, where he spent an hour
with the President Subsequently he took up the
routine work OF his office and announced that he
would not leave Washington again until the middle
OF july He Will therefore, be compelled TO decline
the invitation to attend the Tammany Society
of Importance that viii receive the secretarys
sheraton is the Kershner coqr-martal case the
by the Judge Advocate-General. which will facil-
tate the Secretarys examination
Mr.. Thomas the new Minister to Venezuela will
sail for his post without delay. He will probably
take passage on the steamer leaving New-York on
June o. The late Secretary Gresham. II Is SAID
had outlined vigorous policy in connection with
the demands OF Great Britain and other European
Governments Venezuela for ccssion OF territory
and II Is presumed that Secretary Oney's instruc-
lions to Minister Thomas will direct him TO carry
out these plans.
John w Foster cabled to-day from Yokohama
that he will sail for the United States on June %
reaching Vancouver July 30. and arriving in
Washington week later