The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-06
VIXEN WILL PATROL
Central American Waters to
Enforce Respect
FOR AMERICANS RIGHTS
viii be Able to Get Next to
Almost Any Situation.

New York, May 5.-A special from
Washington says: Measures have been
initiated by the navy department which
contemplate providing constant protection
for American interests in Central America
AS result Of consultation between Act
ing Secretary Allen and Rear Admiral
Crowninshield, instructions have been
given to Rear Admiral Hichborn, chief
constructor, 10 fit on! the converted yacht
Viking for duty in Central American
waters as expeditiously as possible. The
Vikings small draught VIII permit her 20
enter the shallow waters on the eastern
coast Of Central American countries 30
that the American flag wni he constantly
flying at Honduras and Nicaraguan ports.
The determination TO send the Viking TO
Central America IS the result Of the COM
munications received at the state Depart
ment from Americans in Honduras and
Nicaragua On account Of their draught,
the cruisers Of the Detroit class are COM
PEELED 10 lie four or I'VE miles out from
Bluefelds, and even gun'ooatS Of the
Marietta class, drawing only twelve feet,
are unable to approach close 10 the town.
The Viking, drawing only eight feet six
inches, will not encounter any difficulty
in getting within close range OF that or
any other town on the Central American
coast
Washington, D. c., May 5.-An order has
been made by the navy department for
The immediate dispatch of the converted
yacht Vixen to Bluefie.ds, Nicaragua The
Vixen is pow formidable light-draft
gunbOat. She is at Norfolk fitting out for
a cruise to the Philippines, via the Suez
route The order 10 Nicaragua will sim
ply delay her arrival at Mania, for it is
the intention Of the navy department to
replace her in Nicaraguan waters by an
other gunboat at an early day 1t is said
at the navy department that no advices
Of late date have been received from Blue
fields tending to show the existence of a
crisis there, and it is likely that the pur-
pose Of sending the Vixen is to replace
the Detroit which is too large and of too
great draft to render the best strvice.
In answer TO complaints by our govern
ment that it's dispatches to and from our
agents, consular and naval, in Nicaragua.
are being intercepted and de-aved. the
state department has been informed that
the trouble is that the land lines forming
an essential part of the cable system have
been unavoidable in Nicaragua. The de-
partment has been dispathing, therefore
its orders and advices to and from Blue-
1eids via Greytown by means of boats
but the service that way has been found
no be so slow and unreliable that the plan
has been adopted Of communicating bv
steamer with New Orleans. which Involves
only delay Of two or three DAYS
The staff OF affairs i'm Rlue6eIde ar
ording to the last reports TO the state de-
partment IS nit believed 10 be very crit
Zeal Mr.. Merry, the United States min
'ster' has reached the place from Mana
qua The capital but he had not. at last
accounts. received his instructions TO guide
MIN IN the controversy with the Aneri-
can merchants at Bluefe'ds and the Mic
afaguan government. He has been ad-
V'sed by cable that these instructions are
on the way and he is awaiting their ar
rival before taking any further steps.
Meanwhile the government here * nv
no means clear as 10 the LEGAL rirb+ If
the United States merchants in Rlueferds
10 claim exemption from the repayment Of
outies already paid TO the insurgent lead
er Reyes, and the whole subject Is novv
before the attorney general. It IS prob
able that questions Of fact will determine
the issue. the principal point being the
attitude Of the American merchants IN
ward Reyes. whether they were willing Or
unwilling to contribute to his tax-gather-