St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-04-30
FLEET SENT SOUTH.
Gresham ADprehcnsive of Revolt
in NicRragun


in Nicnragua.
WASHINGTON, April 29.-Some
sudden and unexpected orders issued
to United States naval vessels late
this afternoon caused a sensation for
a time until the purpose of the orders
was explained. The Alert, which
has been Stationed for a month or
more at Panama, watching the prog
resS of the revolutionary movement
in Colombia, was ordered to proceed
at once to San Juan del Sur, the near
est 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
any moment, will find awaiting her
orders to sail at once to Greytown,
the eastern terminus of the proposed
Nicaraguan canal. The Montgomery,
now at Mobile, will follow the At
lanta on May with the Nicaraguan
canal commission on board. The
Monterey, having sailed yesterday
from Acapulco direct for Panama,
rs 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 can be or
rdered back to Nicaragua if trouble
arises in the future. Secretary Her.
bert explained briefly the meaning
of these orders. He said that the
movements of the ships had abso-
lutly nothing to do with the present
occupation of Corinto by the British,
that being a matter to be settled be-
tween the Nicaraguans and the Brit
ish. The real purpose of the orders is
to guard American interests in Mic
aragua against the consequences Of a
possible revolution, which may re-
suit from the disturbed condition OF
the country. Being asked what meas
ure of protection the Nicaraguan
commission would receive in the pur-
suance of its work of inspecting the
line Of the canal, the secretary said
that the Montgomery would remain
at Greytown while the commission
was at the interior, and with The
two ships on one side and one on the
other they wou surely oe forced to
protect the commission and all other
American interests that would be
endangered by the revolution. The
action by Secretary Herbert mag be
attributed to the visit to Washington
by ex-senator Warner Miller, of the
Nicaraguan Canal company, and Of
some reports made by him on the
basis of private reports as to the real
condition of affairs in Nicaragua, and
to those coming to the Nicaraguan
minister directly. Certainly the char
acter of the United States vessels
which have been ordered to Nicaragua
is a 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 small cruisers Atlanta and Mont
gomery would find themselves op-
posed to the whole British West In
dia squadron, while on the Pacific side
the old corvette Alert will be left
single-handed against the British
Royal Arthur, Wild Swan and Sat
elite.
In Mr. Miller's conferences with Sec
retary Gresham and other cabinet Of
ficers he presented a 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 British threatened to go to
= Greytown and to San Juan del Sur,
the two important points on the At
lantic and Pacific ends of the canal.
The cabinet officers were impressed
with Mr.. NIiller's statement of the case,
and one of them characterized it as
the strongest presentation thus far
made It was soon after this that the
orders to the American war vessels
were issued.
Mr. Miller said to an Associated
Press reporter that the canal company
was very much interested in Nicara-
qua. The occupation of Corinto by the
British troops does not necessarily af
feet the company in itself, but it may
lead indirectly TO serious results. The
revolution which has been threatened
rs result of British occupation may
disturb the canal company by prevent