New-York tribune., 1896-08-26
THE NAVY TAKING NO PART.
PRESENCE OF THE WHITE SQUADRON
HERE WITHOUT SIGNIFICANCE.
80 DEMONSTRATION BY FHE wAFSHirs IN
HONOR or THE CHINESE STATESMAN

40 DEMONSTRATION BY THE wARSiIPs IN
HONOR or THE CHINESE STATESMAN
GENERAL RUGER's PLANS
Washington. Aug 25-Oficials of the State Depart
mcnt continue to regard with apathy the forihcom-
ing visit Of the Chinese statesman. AMI. beyond the
fact tha, Acting Secretary Rockhill Will 60 10 New
York tomorrow personally to attend the Niceroy the
officials know nothing. Even to Mr. Rockhii mas hot
been c0nded precise character OF the services ne
il expected to render and for the alleged contem-
plated trip of the Chinese statesman 10 the Capito
and his STAY here i declared to-day that no prep
aratons whatever have been made Considerable d!s-
grunement exhibited by the two distinctly Foreign
services Of the Government those Of state and Navy
that the whole arrangement Of the affair mas been
delegated by the President to the Army. which would
under ordinary circumstances be considered least cap
able 10 cone with the very delicate ceremonias which
are nseparable from The visit Of Chinese official u
high rank Among the anomalies may be mentioned
the fact that the State Department r. "a yet unaware
whether Ii Hung Chang comes as an Ambassador or
envoy and it is therefore powerless to advise
the Nav whether he should be saluted with seven
teen guns or hfteen Perhaps the Navy will. after
all. not be called upon to burn any powder when the
81 Louis arrives under the Army regulations the
shore batteries in New-York Harbor can DO all The
saiuting required.
The attitude Of the Navy Department i'm the mat
ter authortatively presented this afternoon
when Acting Secretary McAdoo published the fol-
lowing official statement:
Navy Department Offce Assistant Secretary
Washington. August -. 1895.
The presence OF the North Atlantic Squadron at
lis usual anchorage. off Staten Island at this time
chinese Ambassador II is in accordance with the
arranged programme of summer exercises The
cncc to the reception Of the Chinese Ambassador
Major-General Rugcr who represents the Presi-
Thern will be no naval review or any action taken
by this Department IN the matter OF the reception
I'd General
viii rRort to General Rnger on the 80 5'tn RstIn, 4r
mains in this country
From the best accounts that he gathered
the White Squadron Will not put itself out to any
great extent to welcome Iii Hung Chang when he
arrives in Ncw-York the St Louis. number
Of stories have been printed TO the effect that
the men-of-war now at anchor of Tompkinsville.
Staten Island. would meet the St Louis in the
Lower Bay and that the steamship bearing the
celebrated Oriental would make her way through
a double line of wa.ships. and would be- saluted
by the guns OF the great vessels This has been
denied by a wel-known Naval officer. who prob
ably knows much about the plans for the re-
ception as any other man with the exception Of
the Admiral of the fleet.
4 Tribune reporter WAS rowed out to the flag
ship New York yesterday afternoon only TO find
that neither Admiral Bunce nor Captain Schley
was aboard. He succeeded in seeing one OF the
officers Of the Raleigh. but could find out nothing
definite in regard to the plans for the reception
Of the Chinese statesman. Last evening after
the Admiral had returned Tribune reporter at
tempted to SEQ him. but he refused to see any
one and CAPTAIN Schley had not yet returned
CAPTAIN Robley -. Evans. the commanding offlcer
of the battle-ship Indiana. was at home, however,
and consented to see a representative or Ihe
Tribune When Captain Evans. Fighting Bob as
he is called was told about the report that the
White Squadron wosId probably 20 down to the
Lower Bay TO meet Ii Hung Chang and there
salute the great Eastern statesman. he sad: Il
do not believe that the squadron Will weigh ancnor
n. all and | think that you can put II down as
fact that none of the ships will go down to the
Lower Bay to meet the st. Louis The programme
that has been laid down in the newspapers for
the Naval reception Of Ii Hung Chang is one that
would be due only to royalty when in reality Ii
Hung Chang Is entitled only to the honors OF "A
cabinet Minister Most Of the ships Of the squad
ron have been coang up and preparing to 20 to
soa and ara IN no condition to go through any
such ceremony. | believe that the course that viii
probablv be pursued is that a representative ship
Of each class will be open to the inspection OF Ii
Hung Chang such the Indiana for the battle
ships the Columbia for the fast cruisers the
Amphitrite for the monitors. etc.
But I do not believe. a. said before. that
single ono Of ,he vessels the squadron vii weigh
anchor and much less go down into the Lower Bay
4, nreseat " are under orders 20 10 sea a.
twenty-four hours notice. The who!e fleet Will sail
from York saturday for a week drul on
the ocean and after hat j. finished IL Will go 10
Fishers Island In Long Island Sound, near New
London for the annual practice IN shore drill. From
nv own personal knowledge | know tha' the Ad-
miral was surprised when ,he Terror Joined the
squadron here She probably came here 10 take on
powi.r for her practice trip and would not be
surprised 4 she went 20 sea to-morIo" 20 'S "''
pneumatic machinery"
Il was learned that the Almiral wa absent from
the n-et for about hours and a half Yesterday
,s.ernoon aaI the rumor was spread abroad tina; he
n.d gone TO consult General Ruger about The re-
ca,,ion OF Ii Hung Chang. But this report was
.uthori:atiyey denied late yesterday afternoon by
General Ruger hmset
Il have known Admiral Bunce for long time.
aid General Ruger. and his call had 10 iormaI
signiacance but vas merely friendly one was
.orrv that was unable TO him. As far as the
nlans for the reception OF Ii Hung Chang are
concerned | can say nothing more than has al
ready bean said I'm the newspapers. detachmeht
~ the sth United States Cavalry, stationed al
Fort Myer across the Potomac River from WASH
ington Will leave Washington over the fehl-
-ylyania Railroad tomorrow morning ana VIII
reach New York n the afternoon Inc detacnneht
4ir 30 men besides the mounted band OF twenty
liecrs The cavalry Will march from tmr ierry
station TO Fort Hamilton. where they VIII camp
during their stav in this vicinity Major L'Fo VIII
ae in command OF the cavalry
,'The general programme as already outlined IN
,he papers will probably be- carried out. although
nothing definite as to hours can De stdted uhtlI Ill
fIung Chang himself has been consulted. he Is an
.ll man and h. may care to 20 through all
that has been laid out for him lie VIII be met
~ the American Line pier by myself and the cav
,lrv escort and will he driven from there 10 his
,nf.l The other arrangements cannot be definitely
1 ! Chang has been and his