Connecticut western news., 1898-03-17

as the dispatch of the torpedo boat de- stroyers and torpedo boats to the West Indies is regarded as a menace to Amer ican shipping and the American coast.
 There is no denying the fact that the authorities have been very much exer- cised over the intention of Spain to re- enforce her naval squadron in Cuban and Puerto Rican waters by such for midable army of torpedo boats and tor pedo boat destroyers. Minister Wood ford and Lieutenant c. l.. Dyer, the naval attache at Madrid. have been closely following the formation of the fotilla, and cablegrams received from these officials announce the departure of the torpedo boat fiotilla from Cadiz for the Canary islands.
 While the authorities are disinclined to discuss the matter. there is reason to believe that a polite intimation has been given to Spain that this govern ment cannot look upon the orders to the torpedo boat flotilla which will re- quire them to proceed from the Cana ries to the United States as a friendly act.
 As heretofore indicated in these dis patches, the squadron will consist of the armored cruiser New York, which Is now duty as the flagship of the north Atlantic squadron; the armored cruiser Brooklyn, which Is coaling at Newport News end which will take station at Hamr t1n roads; the com merce destroyers Minneapolis and Co., lumbia, placed in commission yesterday at the League Island navy yard, and the auxiliary cruisers St. Louis and St. Paul.
 Brazilian warships Purchased.
 A weeks negotiations have been clos ed by the purchase by the navy depart ment in London of the two fine cruisers built and building at Elswick for the Brazilian government Possibly the off, cials took more pleasure in closing up the business in this manner because of the knowledge that the Spanish agents had been striving to secure these very ships, to whom 1t Is said they would be of much greater value in case of trou- ble than to the United States. The next question Is how to get the ships home and that has not yet been settled, &C.,
 cording to the secretary of the navy. The United States flag will be hoisted over the new ships within week prob- ably, and just as soon as the crew can be put aboard the Amazonas she will start for the United States. The other vessel will follow at the earliest possi- bIe moment. The terms of sale are secret.
 The availability of the two Brazilian ships was first brought to the attention of the navy department by MT. Lane. agent of the Maxim -Nordenfeldt com pany. who was authorized to dispose of
 the ships building at Elswick and two others in course of construction in France. MT. Lane said that the two ships purchased would be a most de- sirable acquisition to the American navy as they were the latest and best
 products of the famous Armstrong yards.
 One of the ships is complete in every respect, has her coal supply and ann munition on board, and steam can be raised at any time. There will be no trouble in bringing this ship across. as an adequate force from the local yards | can be secured for the service. It is | said the coal and ammunition on board passed with the sale to the United | States. The ammunition is not of the | kind in use by the United States navy. SO that the supply is a necessary ad- | Junct to the new ships. The other shi ] has been launched. but 1t will take soms | time to make her ready for sea- To Reorganize the Navy. Another important step in the lins | of emergency preparations was taken | by President Mckinley yesterday in re- | questing the house naval committee tu
 report the bill for the reorganization of the personnel of the navy to the house at noon today and dispose of 1t before | adjournment in the evening. Naval off,
 cers who know of the presidents action
 are jubilant over the prospect of an im-
 mediate removal of the differences which have caused so much bitterness