Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-04-30
Two Gunboat. Sent to Nicaragua.

WASHINGTON, April 0U.-AIIer several
conferences between Secretary Gresham
and Secretary Herbert the secretary of the
navy sent dispatches to the commanders
Of the United States gunboats Alert and
Atlanta directing them to proceed without
delay to San Juan del Sur and Greytown,
Nicaragua, respectively.
The Alert is at Panama. and it will
fake her about n day and q half to reach
San Juan del Sur. which is tho cable sta
ton nearest to Corinto situated about 100
miles below that port. The Atlanta is at
Key Wcst and can mako the distance of
$50 miles from that place to Greytown in
Ga days.
When Secretary Herbert was asked the
significance of these orders. he answered
promptly as follows:
Tho newspapers say that a revolution
is probable iii Nicaragua They state that
the people arc very much dissatisfied with
tho course of the government and arc like
ly to attempt to overthrow 1t. In order to
protect the interests of American citizens,
their lives and property and following the
policy always pursued in such contingen-
cies, have ordered the Alert to San Juan
del Sur and the Atlanta to Greytown. In
addition to these vessels the Montgomery,
now at Mobile, will sail on May for
GIeytown. conveying the Nicaraguan ca
nal commission to that place. The Mon
terey. which has sailed for Panama, will
remain at Panama for the present. With
two United States ships on one side of
Nicaragua and one ship on tho other side,
1t Is plain that American interests will DO
we'll protected IL the rumored revolution
should take place. But l wish 1t distinct
| ly understood that these vessels are sent
to Nicaragua for the purpose of caring for
| citizens of the United States and their
H,,NA NOT hTVcf T,a-
od with the situation at Corinto."
Canal Company Wants Protection.
The action taken by Secretary Herbert
| may be attributed to the visit to Washing
ton of ex-senator Warner Miller of the
| Nicaragua Canal company and Of some
reports made by him on the basis of pri-
waite reports as to the real condition Of
affairs in Nicaragua and to those coming
to the Nicaraguan minister directly. Ger
tainly the character OF the United States
vessels which have been ordered to Mica
ragua is n sufficient evidence that Secre-
| tary Herbert does not expect them to como
| into hostile conflict with the British ships,
for II it came to that the small cruisers
Raleigh and Montgomery would find
themselves opposed to the whole British
West India squadron, while on the Pacific
side the old coryet Alert would DO left
| Single nanOeu against the DrlIlSn hOyal
Arthur, Wild Swan and Satellite.
In Mr.. Miller's conferences with Secre-
| tary Gresham and other cabinet officers he
| presented a very strong case on the ur-
gcncy of the situation and the monaco of
| 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 AID Pacific ends of the canal.
The cabinet officers were impressed with
Mr.. Miller's statement of tho case, and
one of them characteri zed 1t as the strong
est presentation 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
necessarily affect the company in itself,
but it may lead indirectly to serious re-
suits. The revolution which has been a
result Of British occupation may disturb
the canal company by preventing work
upon surveys and building operations and
the possible destruction of its property.
The company, he said. wanted protec-
ton to its interests, II not from the Mic
araguan government, then from the out
side. Tho concessions of the company
were safe, being from a de facto govern
ment but the line of the canal was not
He also said that the concession entitled
the entire line of the canal to protection
but an uncomfortable revolution NIGH
result in destruction of property by IRE
sponsible persons.