The San Francisco call., 1897-09-25

For this reason the Wheeling was dis
patched TO Honolulu with instructions to
Admiral Miller to not allow the Philadel-
phia to leave until it was certain that the
Naniwa was on her way home, or at least
till it was assured that she could not re-
turn TO the islands until the gunboat
Yorktown could reach there from China,
which with the Bennington and Wheel
ing won be a sufficient force TO main
tain the status quo until the Philadelphia
could be relieved by the Baltimore.
The administration is not seriously
alarmed over the reported colonization OF
japanese, but it was deemed prudent not
TO have the Philadelphia leave Honolulu
with only the Bennington Ia small gun
boar to represent this Government there.
The officials were suspicious that the
Naniwa might take advantage of the abb
sence of the Philadelphia and attempt
some overt act before the Baltimore could
arrive at Honolulu.
1t is said at the Navy Department that
there are 100 extra sailors on the Wheel
ing intended for transfer to the Yorktown,
which has short crew. Eighty seamen
are now crossing the continent bound for
San Francisco to serve on the Baltim ore.
Orders were issued by the Navy Depart
ment to-day and telegraphed to San Fran
cisco TO put the Baltimore 10 omission
on October l. When the Philadelphia
steams for nome after the arrival of the
Wheeling and Yorktown at Honolulu
Admiral Miller will transfer his flag tenn
porarily To the YORKTOWN until the Baiti-
more arrives.
The Evening Star confirms the dispatch
to THE CALL last night and adds:
although the sending of the Wheeling
10 Hawaii will temporarily increase our
naval strength in that quarter, such is not
the main purpose OF her going. 1t seems
that the administration had some impor-
tant communications to make to Admiral
Miller in command OF the naval forces at
Honolulu, an to Mr.. Sewell, the United
States Minister there, which it was de-
sired should reach them without delay,
and the Wheeling was the only vessel
availa BILE for the purpose.
at was intended to send these instruc-
tions by the Pacific Mail steamer which
left San Francisco on the 21st but they
were not completed in time. The next
mail Stesme for Honolulu does not leave
=,
important character of the Instructions
did not justify such a long delay in their
Transmission, and the Wheeling being
re ported ready for sea sae was pressed
into service and started on her way to
Honolulu last night The Government
will gain about weeks time by the use
of the naval vessel. 1t is impossible to
obtain official information concerning the
dispatches sent to the American repre-
seniatives in the Hawaiian capital, but il
is generally understood that they outline
the course OF action to be followed in the
event OF any attempt on the part of he
resident Japanese or native Hawaiians to
overthrow the existing Government as
we'll as to guide them in the event OF any
internal outbreak or emergency requiring
positive action in the absence OF specific
instructions from Washington.
although the Japanese warship Mani
wa is now absent from Hawaiian waters,
her movements are not known to the
Washington authorities, and it is not
improbable that she may return here
again within a week or 30. This theory
is based on the assum mption that she may
not have gone to Yokohama as has been
supposed. Officials look for no trouble
on that score, however, but are more con-
cerned over the possibilit ties of riots
among the japanese ahd natives arraigned
against Hawaiian annexation, which, un-
less speedily checked, might assume the
proportions of an insurrection against the
republic. At any rate, it mas been deemed
prudent to take every precaution for the
m maintenance of ths status quo on the
islands pending the action by the United
States Senate on the annexation trea.y."