The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-15
ONE TO SAIL AT ONCE
DEFICIENCY IN ENGINEER
BRANCH OF SERVICE.
SENATOR PROCTOR AT WHITE HOUSE
Bernabe Gets a Number Of Dispatches from
Madrid--No Findings Yet from Spanish
Commission Col. NJ. B. Proctor's
Opinion of Disaster.


Washington, d. c., March 14-The
reported sale TO the United States of
the two Brazilian cruisers, AmaZonas
and Admiral Abreuall, now receiving
their finishing touches in an English
ship yard, was confirmed here this after
noon. 1t is learned also that Spain has
not secured the O'Higgins and that
Chilli viii not sell her to Spain. 1t is
said furthermore that Spain has not
and cannot purchase ships from either
Chill or The Argentine Republic.
Orders have been sent to Commodore
Howell, Commanding the European sta
tion, TO send a force of men from the
San Francisco to take possession and
hoist the United States flag on the Bra
lillian ship that is ready to so into com
mission at New Castle. This will pre-
vent any difficulty in case hostilities
should break out, as the ship would be
under the flag hut lying in a friendly
harbOr.
The two vessels will be extremely use
fall additions to the United States Navy
in either war or peace, in the opinion
of Secretary Long. who acknowledges
they have been bought by the United
States. They are steel, sheathed and
cnpperetl, with twin screws, and will hc
the first of the cruisers in our Navy To
enalJody that most useful Feature of
Nntal construction, sheatlling, for
which Chief Constructor Hichborn has
worked earnestly for many years past
He finally succeeded in having some of
the smaller gun boats constructed on
this principle. The AmazofEls is rated
at 1900 tons displacement, with an in
dieatcd horse power under natural
drarght of 1900, which is calculated to
develop twenty knots speed. Thus,
while the ship is about the size of the
Charleston, she is. much faster Her
armament is also much more formidl-
bic. not so much in calibre, for the main
batteFy is made mp of six u inch guns,
but these guns, as we'll as the At inch
guns are of what is known as 30 calibre
length. giving them an unusual range
and power.
In addition TO this there are ten six
FOUNDER quick firing guns, four one
Founders, four Maxim machine guns and
two boat or field guns. The torpedo
tubes are three in number. The coal
capacity is $50 tons, giving her an effec-
tive steaming radius of 5000 knots, a
nl0st valuable feature. inasmlmh as il
would enable the ship to- cross, and
recross the Atlantic without coaling.
Such a vessel used as a commerce des-
troyer would be vastly more effective
than whaf appear to be more powerful
crafts because of her ability to get
along on long cruises without touching
in at neutral ports to coal and thus ex-
posing themselves to capture
The cruisers carry no armor in the
ordinary sense. but their machinery is
protected from the fire of guns by an
aTched steel deck just below the water
line, varying in thickness from IL to
I'D inches. Ihe battery has an unusual
train, being arranged to fire three ahead
and three astern of the principal guns.
PURCHASE OF BATTLESHIpS
Washington, ID. c.. March IA
weeks negotiations closed today by the
purchase by the Navy Department in
I.ondon of the two fine cruisers buiIt
and building at Elswick. for the Bra.
lillian government. Possibly the officials
took more pleasure in closing up the
business in this manner because of the
knowledge that the Spanish agents ha(
been striving TO secure these very ships
10 whom, ii is said, they would be o.
much greater value in case OF trouble
than TO the United States. The next ques
tion is how 10 get the ships home ant
that has not yet been settled, accordin:
10 The Secretary of the Navy just Il;
soon as the crew can be put aboard th'
Amazonas. she will start for the Unite(
States. The other vessel will follow. "a
the earliest possible moment. Th'
terms of sale are secret. Mr.. Lane
agent of the Maxim NOrdenfeldt Com
pany. said today that the two ships
would be most desirable acquisition t.
the American Navy, as they are the lat
est and best products of the famous
Armstrong; Yards. One of the shiDs is
complete IN every respect has her Goa
supply and ammunition on board. and
steam can be raised at any time. There
will be no trouble in bringing this shir
across, as an adequate force from the
local yards can be secured for the ser
vice.
1t is said the coal and ammunition
on board passed with the sale 10 thu
United States. The ammunition is no.
MI Of the kind in use by the United
States Navy, so that the supply of am
mnnition is Il necessary adjunct to tn,
new ships. The other ship has beer
launched. but it will take time TO max,
her ready for sea. Mr.. Lane believes
however. that there will be no difficult
in bringing her over Immediately, if
is desired to make the move without de