The San Francisco call. [volume], February 26, 1898, Page 2, Image 2

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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2
NOW GETTING THE ARMY AND NAVY
BOSTON IS AT
THE MERCY OF
THE SPANIARDS
Secretary Long Urged by Massa
chusetts Congressmen to Send
a Warship to Protect
the Harbor.
• BOSTON, Feb. 25.— 1n the interests of Boston the Boston Traveller
to-day sent the following telegram to every Massachusetts representa
tive in Congress:
"To allay the anxiety of a million citizens of Boston and vicinity
will you urge Secretary Long to order a warship to the protection of
Boston's nearly defenseles harbor? TOREY E. WARDNER,
Boston, Mass., Feb. 25, 1898. "Manager Boston Traveller."
The Traveller says: "Boston is unprotected in case of war. A war
ship is needed at once to defend the city and harbor. A single Span
ish warship could in a single day destroy the city. Not a single effect
ive means of defense is at hand. An enemy's ship-of-war could shell
the city from outside Boston Light. The harbor defenses could do but
little in return. A United States warship should be stationed off the
approaches to Boston harbor. Experts say that here is where the real
stand in defense of Boston harbor would be made. It is absolutely
necessary that the Navy Department send a, battle-ship to protect the
harbor, especially outside Boston lightship. The nearest American
warship to Boston is now in New York harbor, and Boston is practical
ly defenseless, notwithstanding the fact that there are powerful bat
teries scattered about inside the harbor. The lightship is only eight
miles from the wharves, so that it is possible for a Spanish vessel to
throw shells from outside and cause irreparable damage to property
and a great loss of life. The batteries at Winthrop, situated about
six or seven miles from Boston Light, would only be able to protect
the inner harbor. The mortars would throw shells about on the out
side without any definite range. Fort Warren and the guns that are
now being placed on the extreme end of Long Island would also pro
tect the inner harbor to a great extent and prevent foreign vessels
from running through the Narrows Into President Roads. t The guns at
both places could be trained upon any vessel making such an attempt
with sreat success. As far as the inside harbor is concerned, Boston is
in a fairly good condition to meet a foe. but the whole trouble will be
experienced in moving battle outside the light. The fact that the
city is unprotected within ten miles of the wharves is giving business
men in this city much concern. The average range of the Spanish
warship guns is about ten miles. One of her vessels by maneuvering
about could keep discharging shells with terrible effect upon the city
of Boston. There is no question in the minds of a majority of Boston
men, who know the harbor thoroughly, that the matter is an ex
tremely serious one. Some action should be taken immediately to
have at least one war vessel on or around Boston or within a few
hours' sail of the harbor. It is not impossible for a Spanish warship
to make its appearance suddenly in the harbor. It could demand a
nation's ransom from wealthy Boston."
How a single man escaped alive from
beneath that towering pile of crushed
iron and steel is marvelous, yet Shea, a
coal passer, was down in the berth
deck, in the very bowels of the doomed
ship, when the explosion occurred.
Two other decks were between him and
the stars.
"How ever did you escape. Shea?"
Chaplain Chadwick asked him the other
day.
"Indeed, I can't say, your Reverence," i
said Shea. I knew nothinsr till I found
myself swimming, but in faith I think,
asking your Reverence's flardon, that I
must be an armor-piercing projectile."
TALK INDEMNITY,
PREPARE FOR WAR
Continued from First Page.
paratively minor matter as compared
with the demand for indemnification
of the Government for the slaughter
of its officers and seamen. The least
figure now talked about is twenty
five million dollars.
The. possibility of Spain complying
with the demands of the United
States was also a subject of discus
sion. This, the authorities all con
sider, is the real danger point in the
controversy. If a cfash comes be
tween the two countries over the
Maine disaster, it is now generally
considered that it will be over Spain's
refusal to make prompt compliance
with the President's demands.
It will necessarily be some days
before this point is reached and in
the meantime there may be some un
foreseen contingency to provoke a
rapture in our relations with Spain
before there is chance for a settle
ment of the Maine catastrophe
through the medium of diplomacy.
The authorities earnestly hope
that no such emergency may arise
and that Spain -will be quick to make
reparation for the terrible loss the
United States has suffered, but as a
part of prudence no one can deny
that the administration is fully alive
to the possibilities of the situation
and that preparations are going on
for any emergency.
TELEGRAPH OPERATORS
ORDERED TO FLORIDA.
The Government Is Covering Every
Point Along the Threat
ened Coast.
NEW YORK. Feb. 25.— Twenty-seven
telegraph operators have been sent to
Key West during the last two days by
the Western Union Company. The os
tensible purpose of sending so many op
erators to that point is to handle in
creased matter that is coming from Ha
vana. That this purpose is not the real
one 1b obvious from the fact that there
are not enough wires at Key West to
give employment to so many operat
ors. There are only two submarine
wires from Key West north to Jack
sonville, Fla. Ten operators are more
than sufficient to handle all matter sent
over those wires. What, then, Is the
object of sending so many men to a
point where they cannot but be in the
way of one another?
The reply comes from Washington
In the way of an official utterance by
an official who Is qualified to know.
"The Government," says the person, i
•"has realized that something may
break loose at any moment now be
tween the United States and Spain,
and, in order not to be caught napping,
13 covering every important point
along the Florida coast. About 150
telegraph operators have been ordered
to these points, and those sent during
the last two days were the advance
guard of that number."
FRENCH FORCE LANDS
AT KWAN-CHUEN-WAN.
Has Informed the Chinese That It
Means to Erect Build-
ings.
LONDON, Feb. 26.-A dispatch to the
Dally Mail from Singapore pays: It is
reported from Chinese sources at Hong
kong that a French force has landed at
Kwan-Chuen-Wan, 240 miles southwest of
Hongkong, and informed the Chinese
that it intends to erect buildings.
HENRY CLAY CORBIN, the New Adjutant General
United States Army.
The President has nominated Colonel Henry Clay Corbin to be adjutant
general of the army, to succeed General Samuel Breck, who was retired
yesterday on account of age. General Corbin is a native of Ohio and en
tered the volunteer service at the age of is. For gallant and meritorious
services during the war he was promoted through the various grades to the
rank of brevet brigadier general. He participated with his regiment in all
its marches, campaigns and engagements, including the battles of Pulaski
Decatur and Nashville. On the 11th of May, 1866, he was appointed second
lieutenant in the Seventeenth Infantry; in July of the same year he was an
pointed captain in the Thirty-eighth Infantry, and in November 1869 he was
transferred tp the Twenty-fourth Infantry. On June 16. 1880, General Cor
bin was appointed major and assistant adjutant general. General Corbin
has served on the staffs of Generals Henry J. Hunt. Schofield, Terry Crook
and Miles. His huge frame, erect carriage and handsome face are familiar
to every one who has seen him at the head of Presidential inaugural pro
cessions and other great parades. He was with President Garfleld when he
was shot, and- was at his bedside at his death. General Corbin is one of the
youngest brigadier generals in the army, as he will not reach the age of re
tlrement until September, 1906.
THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2(5, 1898.
PREPARATIONS
FOR WAR GO ON
That the Government
Is Preparing for the
Worst Is Evident.
Transportation Facilities an
Important Factor in the
Arrangements.
Railroad and Coal Companies Offered
Bonuses for Making Prompt
Deliveries.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
PITTSBURG. Feb. 25.— The Post to
morrow will say: That the United
States Government is preparing to
meet any exigency that may arise by
reason of the investigation of the Maine
disaster is beyond dispute, and the fact
that the proper authorities have just
placed contracts for the delivery of
300,000 tons of coal at the different
coaling stations of the war vessels of
this country in the West Indies and
along the Florida coast is further evi
dence that the Washington authori
ties see the trouble with Spain in sight
and are getting ready to meet the is
sue squarely.
It was learned in Plttsburg through
an officer of one of the largest coal cor
porations doing business in this dis
trict that the Navy Department had
closed contracts with the incorporated
firm of Gaster. Curoan & Billett of
Philadelphia for the delivery at Key
West, Sand Keys, Dry Tortugas, Sa
vannah, Charleston and Fortress
Monroe of 250,000 tons of Pocahontas
coal and with the Rhodes & Birdler
Coal Company of Cleveland for the de
livery of 50,000 tons of the Goshen coal
of that company.
The stipulations of the contracts just
placed are that the coal so ordered
shall be delivered at the designated
coaling stations as soon as it is possi
ble to do so, and that the utmost se
crecy be observed about the matter.
In carrying out these contracts the
railroads play a most prominent part,
and for the purpo.se of moving every
thing as expeditiously as possible
President N. E. Ingalls of the Ches
apeake and Ohio Railroad, Charles G.
Murray of the Baltimore and Ohio,
and General Manager L. F. Loree of
the Pennsylvania went to Washing
ton and consulted with Secretary Long
of the Navy and Assistant George D.
Meiklejohn of the War Department on
the matter. Contracts and all ar
rangements for the rapid handling of
the coal were made, and the Govern
ment, it is understood, is to pay a
bonus to both the coal miners and the
railroads if the 300,000 tons are de
livered within a specified time.
WOODFORD'S TOAST
TO THE QUEEN REGENT.
Upon Giving a Dinner to Minister
Bernabe, Uncle Sam's Repre
sentative Talks for Peace.
Copyrighted, IS9S, by James Gordon Bennptt.
MADRID, Feb. 25.— Minister Wood
ford'9 words last evening at the din
ner to Senor Polo de Bernabe were in
the name of the President and people
of the United States.
"I wish him," said the Minister, "a
safe voyage and assure him of a most
cordial welcome by my Government at
Washington. I drink to peace. May
peace always be and abide between the
land of Columbus and that new
land- beyond the sea which Columbus
gave to civilization and to the future."
Minister Woodford's speech, which
was purely spontaneous, had begun
thus: "My friends, I ask you to join
me in drinking the health of her Majes
ty, the Queen Regent of Spain. My
Government is especially gratified that
her Majesty has named as her repre
sentative to the United States our
friend and guest at this table, Senor
Polo de Bernabe. He will be thrice
welcome at Washington. His father, \
Admiral Polo de Bernabe, and his
wife's father, were long-honored repre
CHAPLAIN CHEDWICK OF THE MAINE.
sentatives from Spain, to the TJnited
States, and in the new Minister my
people will recognize a worthy repre
sentative of the historic nation of
Spain."
"CERTAINLY WE CAN
LICK 'EM/ SAYS BRYAN.
But the Nebraska Silverite Is Anx
ious That All Due Caution
Be Employed.
XEW YORK. F*b. 25.— A Topeka
(Kans.) special to the Herald says:
W. J. Bryan, who came to Topeka to
attend the annual banquet of the Kan
sas Democracy, is quoted by the To
peka State Journal to-night on the
Spanish situation as follows: "In my
opinion we should be slow to act in the
Maine affair, especially under the try
ing circumstances which confront us.
Another fact which in my mind impels
to exercise discretion in that official in
vestigation of the explosion is now
being made. The United States cannot
afford to be too hasty in this matter.
International questions are involved
and it would be a sad compliment to
our Government were we to openly
and maliciously bring about strained
relations by cur anxiety to locate the
responsibility of the Maine disaster.
"The proper policy in my mind is for
the United States Government to care
fully investigate the disaster, and, if
evidence tending to attach the respon
sibility where the people assert it prop
erly belongs, is found, then will it be
time for such action to be taken. Un
due haste at this time might involve us
in a disastrous conflict for which there
is no just cause. Let us find out first
where we are at, so to speak, and then
proceed in a proper direction and in a j
right manner. Nothing should be done
until th* investigation is completed."
Asked what he thought «theoutcome j
of the crisis would be, so far as it re- |
lated to a possible conflict with Spain, |
Mr. Bryan said:
"Politically or otherwise, the patriot- j
ism of the American people has never ;
been appealed to in vain. Don't you
think this correct?" he said, turning to
Judge A. M. Jackson, who stood near.
"Of course it is," said Judge Jack
son. "If there is war w e know who will
get licked, and it won't be the t'nited
States, either."
"Certainly we can lick them." said
Mr. Bryan as he turned to greet a del
egation of visiting Democrats.
LIEUTENANT DAVIDSON'S
LEAVE IS SHORTTENED
This Officer Will Probably Be Or
dered to Assist in the Defense
of New York Harbor.
NEW YORK, Feb. 25.— A Dcs Moines
special to the Herald says: Lieutenant
L. P. Davidson of the regular army,
ranking officer in command of the Lit
tle Rock (Ark.) post, has been in the
city several days visiting his brother.
To-night he received orders cutting off
the special leave of absence which had
been granted him and ordering him to
report to his command February 28.
He says he knows that other officers
have received similar orders.
Lieutenant Davidson was absent on
a special leave to perfect an inven
tion in the shape of an electrical de
vice for determining the* range of dis
tant objects and sighting large ord
nance. He is an expert in handling
heavy guns, and has received an inti
mation from the department that he
will be sent to Willets Point, N. V., to
assist in handling the defenses of New
York Harbor. He is acquainted with
the defenses of that city and harbor,
having had service there, and knows all
about secret and other defenses against
naval assault on the city.
Burned Sugar in His Furnaces.
VICTORIA, Feb. 25.— The British steam
ship Algonla, Captain Davis, arrived in
Esquimau harbor early this morning,
thirty-five days from Java, with a cargo
or raw sugar. Toward the latter part
of the trip, which was rough, the Algonia
ran short of coal, and Captain Davis, in
order to make port, fed the furnace from
his sugar cargo.
The Excelsior at Seattle.
SEATTLE, Fob. 25.— The steamship Ex
celsior, with 116 passengers for Copper
River, has Just arrived in this port from
San Francisco.
CABINET MEN
NOW GRAVE
President and Advisers
Realize th.c Serious
Situation*
At Their Meeting They Talked
Over the Prospect of War
With Spain.
When the Report of the Board of
Inquiry Is Received Decisive
Steps Will Be Taken.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office. Riggs House,
Washington, Feb. 25.
After the Cabinet meeting to-day
Secretary Long said to The Call corre
spondent:
"There was a calm and deliberate
'discussion of Cuban affairs, growing
out of the Maine's explosion, but there
was no excitement, of course, and not
much anxiety expressed by any of the
President's advisers. In fact, the Presi
dent and several members of the Cabi
net smoked while they talked."
The fact that the President and sev
eral of his advisers "smoked while they
talked" may not be important in itself,
but Secretary Long seemed to think
that the publication of this fact would
go a long way toward allaying popu
lar excitement, and that the tobacco
burned by the President and his Cabi
net might be soothing to the public at
large. The public will not have to wait
much longer to learn the official opin
ion of the Maine disaster.
The President and Cabinet believe
that they will know the verdict of the
court of inquiry by Wednesday or
Thursday of next week.
That was probably the most interest
ing opinion resulting from the delibera
tions of the official directors of the
Government at their session to-day.
Every member of the Cabinet sur
rounded President McKinley when the
hour arrived for the Cabinet to meet.
The gravity of the situation is fully
recognized by every member and the
talk was along lines which cool-headed
statesmen take when emergency con
fronts them.
"Not a new fact was brought out."
said several members of the Cabinet
to The Call representative, but in con-
versation later each of these officials
manifested more anxiety than was cvi-
dent at the Cabinet session last Friday,
when every member expressed the
opinion that the explosion was an ac-
cident. The facts which are daily de
veloping, although unofficial, are mak
ing impressions upon the minds of the
big men who guide the administration.
The officials who a week ago. were con
fident of the accident theory have to
day made up their minds that they
may have to change their opinions be
fore a great while. It is said by one of
the President's closest friends that he
continues to hold the view that it was
an accident, but will be governed by
the report of the board of Inquiry.
MARINES ALWAYS
HELD IN READINESS.
Colonel Heywood, Commandant of
the Corps, Prepared for all
Emergencies.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 25.— Colonel
Heywood, commandant of the United
States Marine Corps, said to The Call
correspondent to-night:
"I have received no orders to send
a company of marines to Key West
nor do I look for any. I understand'
however, that a detachment of marines
has been sent from Fort McPherson to
man the guns at Key West, in the line
TROOPS IN THE
SOUTH GETTING
READY TO MOVE
General Merritt Visits Fort Mc-
Pherson, and the Regulars
Receive Orders for
the Future.
NEW YORK, Feb. 25.— An Atlanta (Ga.) special to the Herald
says: General Wesley Merritt visited Fort McPherson and viewed
the Fifth Infantry to-day. A salute of thirteen guns was fired in his
honor and the usual official ceremony was observed. Afterward Gen
eral Merritt inspected the post. He was very guarded in his remarks
to reporters, saying that his orders absolutely forbid at this time a
discussion of matters connected with the army. He said his opinion
as an individual formed at first was that the explosion on the Maine
was an accident, and he had seen nothing to cause a change in that
opinion. He leaves here to-night f«r Savannah to inspect the fortifi
cations there, and goes thence to Key West and to other points on the
coast.
There are many reports as to the probable movement of troops
from Atlanta to the coast. Private soldiers are talking a good deal
and think they are going, but the officers say they have received no
orders to that effect. Colonel Cook has received an order cautioning
him to take extra care of ammunition, and as reported to the Herald
Wednesday, an order was received last Tuesday to hold two companies
in readiness to proceed at a moment's notice to Key West.
The arrival of General Merritt yesterday afternoon was regarded as
especially significant at this time, and as he went in secret conference
with officers of the post it was currently reported in the barracks last
night that orders to man the coast defenses would be promulgated to
day.
No orders to move have been made, however, though eight or ten
companies are now under special detail to be in complete readiness for
such orders should conditions make them necessary. Accordingly
Colonel Cook's conference with railroatl officials yesterday was with a
view to moving his men. With reference to the statement that the
railroads in the Southeast have filed with the War Department esti
mates.as to the number of men and munitions of war they could move
in a given time it develops to-day that these estimates were asked
for nine months ago, and secrecy was then cautioned by the depart
ment. The president of one of the largest railroads in the South, who
for this very reason declined to let his name be used, said to me to
day: "The War Department has in detail all information as to the
movement of troops, not only from Atlanta, but from all Southeastern
forts. Blanks were sent out nine months ago to railroad managers. I
received one. My blank referredto the movement of troops only to
the Atlantic and Gulf ports. We gave the information carefully, and
I presume it is on file at Washington."
of coast defenses that have taken the
attention of the department for some
time past."
When a Call representative arrived at
the marine barracks two companies ol
marines were on the drill ground prac
ticing the foreign movements. ''That
looks rather warlike, colonel," was
said. „
•'Yes; to the uninitiated that would
look as if war had been declared, but
that is but a daily. routine drill. Those
two companies are recruits and are
going through their regular daily prac
tice.
"How many marines are notv- sta
tioned in Washington?"
"Four companies. Two are stationed
down at the navy-yard and the other
two, which are composed mostly of re
cruits, are stationed here"
"In the event of an emergency how
soon would the marine corpri be pre
pared to move?"
"Within ten minutes. I always
keep the men ready. So frequently we
are called on for parades and escort
duty that I have made it a rule to be
ready all the time."
"Do you anticipate any trouble?"
"I cannot say that I do. I have no
orders to send any marines anywhere.
When the fleet sailed it carried its full
complement."
MONITOR TERROR
IN HAMPTON ROADS.
At the Navy Department It Is Said
the Vessel Has No Definite
Orders.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.— The moni
tor Terror is lying in Hampton Roads,
and it is said at the Navy Department
that she has no orders as yet. The im
pression is that she will remain in that
place, which is of great strategic value
in case of need, at least until the moni
tor Puritan is ready to take her place.
The Puritan is almost as big as the
Terror, being a 6000-ton vessel, very
little less than the Maine in size.
She carries 12-inch guns in her tur
rets, against 10-inch guns for the Ter
ror, and i 3 altogether the most formid
able double-turroted monitor in the
world in smooth water. This qualifi
cation does not mean that she s un
able to go to sea, but only that from
her great breadth and light draught
she is so susceptible to the wave mo
tion that It is difficult to make good
work with her guns in a seaway.
She is now having new furnaces fitted
to her boilers at the Norfolk Navy
Yard, the crowns of the furnaces hav
ing come down some time ago, owing t-j
the fact that the boilers are the same
that were built for her when she waa
originally laid down many years ago.
It is said at the Navy Department
that she will be ready for service on
March 4.
SAYS HAVANA HAS NO
SUBMARINE DEFENSE.
Spanish Minister Dubosc Declares
There Are No Mines in
the Harbor.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.— 1n view of
the widely published report that the
harbor of Havana contained a system
of submarine mines, a statement
around which has centered the chief
public Interests in connection with the
Maine disaster, Senor Dubosc, Spanish
Charge d 1d 1 Affairs at Washington, to
night made to the Associated Press the
following statement, which, coming
from such a source, may be considered
as an official denial:
"I wish to state, on my own official
knowledge, that no mine exists inside
or outside of Havana Harbor; nor is
there any submarine defense of any
kitid. The report is so absolutely false
and ridiculous that it could only have
originated in the minds of those per
sons anxious to incite the evil passions
of both nations for their own miserable
ends. I consider the very suggestion of
such a thing an insult to Spain."
Dupuy De Lome Yet Talks.
LIVERPOOL, Feb. 25.— Senor Dupuy
de Lome, who arrived here to-day on
the White Star line steamer Britannic,
is quoted as saying in an interview: "I
have decided not to speak on the sub
ject of my letter to Senor Canalejas.
I can say, however, that I have been
from the first the victim of misrepre
sentation.
"The news published in the American
papers and sent to this country and
my own was, from beginning to end,
made up of lies of the most infamous
character. The allegation in the
American papers that the terrible ex
plosion of the Maine was the outcome
of a Spanish conspiracy is, in my opin
ion, another instance of the reckless
manner in which newspapers in Amer
ica work upon popular prejudice."
PRECAUTIONS TAKEN
AT WILLETS POINT
The East River Entrance to New
York Is Now Being Made
invulnerable
NEW YORK, Feb. 25.— The Brooklyn
Eagle to-day says: At Willets Point
precaution is being taken to make the
East River entrance to New York in
vulnerable. A so-called skirmish line
of torpedoes is projected from the Wil
lets Point shore across the channel to
Fort Schuyler. The torpedoes will be
anchored so close together that it may
be made impossible for a hostile vessel
to cross the line without being blown
up. The torpedoes will be connected
with electric wires, and to make doubly
sure that their plans cannot be frus
trated the engineers have arranged to
have batteries located at each
end of the line so that in case an
apparatus was used by the enemy to
sever the connecting wires and break
the circuit, the torpedoes still could
be exploded from either end of the
line. The channel is already protect
ed from the Willets Point shore to
the center of the channel by two
groups of submarine mines. Each
group of the mines consists of twenty
two torpedoes, the forty-four together
containing 1200 pounds of giant pow
der.
At Fort Schuyler, directly opposite
Willets Point, considerable engineer
ing work has been done. A torpedo
magazine and experimenting gallery
was recently completed. It is con
sidered the strongest magazine on any
United States fortification.
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