The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-30
ORDERS TO WAR SHIPS.

ORDERS TO WAR SHIPS.
The Atlanta, Montgomery and Alert
Ordered to Nfcaraguan Ports.
WASHINGTON, April 29-Some sudden
and unexpected orders, issued to United
States naval vessels late this AFTERNOON,
caused a sensation for time until the
purpose of the orders was explained. The
Alert, which has been stationed for a month
or more at Panama, watching the progress
of the revolutionary movement in Colon
bia, was ordered to proceed at once to
San Juan del Sur, the nearest cable port
to Corinto, Nicaragua. The Atlanta, now
on her way from Kingston, Jamaica, to
Key West. and expected to arrive at the
latter place at any moment, will find await
ing her orders to sail at once to Grey
town, the eastern terminus of the proposed
Nicaragua canal. The Montgomery, now at
Mobile, will follow the Atlanta on May
with the Nicaragua canal commission
aboard The Monterey, having sailed yes
terday from Acapulco direct for Panama,
is not expected to touch in at Corinto 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,
whence she cam be ordered back to Mica
ragua if occasion arises in the future.
meaning of these orders. He said the move
ments of the ships had absolutely nothing
to do with the present occupation of Corin-
to by the British, that being a matter to be
settled between the Nicaraguans and the
British. The real purpose Of the orders
was TO guard certain American interests
in Nicaragua against the consequences of
a possible revolution which may result
from the disturbed condition of the coun-
lection the Nicaraguan commission would
receive in the pursuance of it's work of
inspecting the line of the canal the Sec
retary said the Monterey would remain at
Greytown while the commission was in the
interior and with two ships one side
and one on the other there would be force
enough to protect the commission and all
other American interests that would be
endang gered by the revolution.
The action of Secretary Herbert may be
attributed to the visit to Washington by
ex-senator Warner Miller of the Nicaragua
Canal Company, and of some reports made
by him on the basis of private reports
as to the real condition of affairs in Mica
ragua and to those coming to the Mica
raguan minister directly. Certainly the
small number of United States vessels
which has been ordered to Nicaragua is
sufficient evidence that Secretary Herbert
does not expect them to come into hostile
conflict with the British ships, for if it
came to that the Atlanta and Monterey
would find themselves opposed to the whole
British West India squadron, while on the
Pacific side the old corvette Alert will 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
ctr f1n
gency of the situation and the menace to
American control of the canal. He brought
out clearly the fact that the British threat
ened to go to Greytown and to San Juan
del Sur, the two important points on the
Atlantic and Pacific end of the canal. The
Cabinet officers were impressed with Mr..
Miller's statement of the case, and one of
sentation thus far made. 1t was soon after
this that the orders to the American war
vessels were issued.
Mr.. Miller said to a reporter that the
canal company was very much interested
in events in Nicaragua. The occupation of
Corinto by the British troops does not nee
essarily affect the company in itself, but
it may lead indirectly to serious results.
as a result of British occupation may dis
turb the canal company by preventing work
on surveys and building operations e.. and
The company, he said, wanted the protec-
tion of it's interests If not from the Nicar-
being H from de facto to 1bvernment, but ns the
line of the canal was not. He also said
that the concession entitled the entire line
of the canal to protection, but an uncon-
trollable revolution might result in destruc-
tion of property by irresponsible persons.
Mr.. Miller said he had called the attention
of the State Department to the necessity
for protection to the commission that is
soon to leave for Nicaragua for the pur-
pose of making an examination of the
route of the canal. He says that it will be
very dangerous, in case of revolutionary
disturbances. for an unprotected party to
make a trip the line of the canal. The
commission being under the direction of
the State Department. it WILL of course, be
necessary for that department to ask the
Navy Department for armed force in
case such a force is deemed necessary. Mr..
Miller urged on both Secretary Gresham
and Secretary Herbert the necessity of such
potection to the engineers commission, and
Also indicated that as United States citi-
zens were so largely interested in the
canal and its property, that in case of rev.
olutionary disturbances the United States
should not depend on the Nicaraguan gov
ernment TO protect its property. Mr.. Miller
said that Nicaragua had been tranquil up
TO two years ago, but the revolution at
that time had disturbed affairs there and
since then they had been in an unsettled
condition. Mr.. Miller says that the canal
Company desires TO afford every opportuni-
ty for the United States to make a thorough
examination of the canal. The engineers
facility. and he expected that the chief
engineer Mr. Menocal, would accompany
the commission over the route of the canal.
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