The sun., 1898-03-15
OUR TWO NEW WARSHIPs.
The Ama1ouns Ready TO sail-1Her Sister Ship
He Completed In This Country.

| OUR TWO NEW WARSHIPS.
The Ama1ouns Ready to saii-Her Sister ship 70
He Completed In This Counter.
WASHINGTON. March 14.-President McKin-
| ley Secretary Long, Assistant Secretary Roose-
welt. and every naval officer in Washington are
| congratulating themselves tonight over the
successful termination Of negotiations which
were conducted between agents of the United
States and the Brazilian Government for
the purchase by this country Of the two
Brazilian warships, the Amazonas and the Ad.
miral Breu, built by the Armstrong; at
their yards on the Tyne. When notice came
this afternoon In cable message from Lieut.
Colwell, the United States naval attache in
London, that an agreement had been made by
which the ships would become tho property
of this Government, Secretary Long hurried to
the White House and told the President tho good
news. Onihis return to the Navy Department he
announced that the arrangement had been made.
The formal contract between Brazil and the
United States will be signed in London to-
morrow. Commander W. II. Brownson, who
was sent abroad to buy ships and ammunition.
is expected to reach London in time to appear as
the representative OF the United States He
sailed from New York for Southampton on tho
st. Paul last Wednesday.
Few details OF the big financial transaction
can be learned. Secretary Long declines to tell
the purchase price. but says that the ships will
be bought outright The price paid for each 10
supposed 10 be In the tishborhood Of 81 500 600.
probably in excess Of that sum. as the amount Of
bonus which the United States were obliged to
give over the contract cost is not known outside
Of official circles The Amazonas is now at
Gravesend. ready for service. She has Brazilian
officers and full crew aboard. and would
havo sailed for Brazil before this time
IL the desire of the United States
to purchase her had not caused postponement
of her departure. Officers of the United States
Navy and an American crew will be sent to
Gravesend at once to bring the Amazonas
to this country. She will undoubtedly
be assigned to Admiral Sicard's squadron.
The Admiral Breu IL not quite completed,
but is reported to be in such condition that she
can be brought across the Atlantic. A consid-
GRAFTON of the advisability of taking possession
Of tho Rreu at once, putting an American
crew on her. and bringing her to American
port with the AmaZonas resulted in decision
that 1t would not be safe to wait for the
Armstrong; to finish the vessel. and that her
completion should be carried out at a shipyard
or naval station in the United States. II war
should occur between Spain and the United
States before the Breu has been transferred
by the Armstrong; to the United States Gov.
ernment, the British authorities. with o keen re-
mcmbrance of the Alabama case. would prob
ably not allow the ship to leave England with
the Stars and Stripes at her peak. For
that reason the Navy Department has de-
not to take chances. If the Breu
Is SO far completed that sho can with safety
stand the transatlantic trip. she will be
brought over at once. The Amazonas and !
the Breu are sister ships. They are described |
as steel, twin.screw protected cruisers Of $3.50 |
tons displacement somewhat similar but more |
than the Cincinnati aAd tho Raleigh
The Navy Department would have preferred to |
have secured the Chilian ship OHiRgins and |
the Argentine ship San Martino, both of which |
are better fighting craft than the Brazilians.
Secretary Long has not given up hope Of secur-
ing other war vessels In Europe. but he will not
give his reasons for that hope.
Despite the reports that the OHiggins has
been purchased by Spain. the officials of tho
Navy Department say they do not believe tho
American agents to secure her. but the Chilian
Government declined to part with tho vessel
The San Martino is not in the market and Spain
,annot get her.
Tho Amazonas ana the Breu have each a |
ength OF $50 feet, n breadth of 43 feet 8 inches.
md a mean draught of 10 feet 10 inches. They
an develop speed of 90 knots an hour Their
Indicated horse power under forced drauRht
8 1900. Each has a coal capacity of
100 tons, and the coal consumption at
ull speed Is kilogram per horse power. The
armament consists Of six 6-inch breech.loading
ifes, four 4.7-inch breech.loading rifles, two
'-inch landing guns, three torpedo tubes, ten
i-pounders, eight 1-pounders. and four Maxim
Machine guns. The United States have no
for the 4.7.inch guns, and these
will probably be replaced by b-inoh rapid.
Ire rifles. increasing the formidabilliy of tho
raft. The deck of each vessel is protected by
teel armor from 1.2 inches to 3.5 inches thick.
Zach ship can sail 5000 knots without recoal.
nR. A complement OF 800 officers and men viii
70 required for each vessel. and there may be
considerable difficulty in getting tho required
lumber OF men within short space of time
Without drawing on other ships In commission.
The active efforts to buy moro ships will be
ontinued by naval officers abroad. Commander
Irownson. on his arrival in England, will
ssume charge OF the negotiations to that end.
he Navy Department is hopeful of purcbas.
az some torpedo boat destroyers. but will not
idicate where the desired vessels are.