The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-05
spAIN'S PURCHASE OF SHIPS.
.,VAL OFFICIALS DEEPLY INTER-
ESTED IN THE REPORT.

liability of Our Naval Department
IN DO Likewise Causing Complaint.
One of the Vessels Alleged to Have
Reen Bought said to Have Been
ncIiyered to the Brazilian Navy
4 several Months AgO-The other
Two BattIeships Small Ones.
Washington, March Alt is probable
mat the Olympia, flagship of the Asiatic
,,nadron. and the peerless queen of the
,rnjsers, will come home TO San Francis
=, The navigation bureau has this move
rent under consideration, and in view of
tba fact that the ship has been three years
away from navy yard engaged in hard
cruislng service, even if there were no
reasons, 1t is probable that the order would
be given.
The torpedo boat Winslow at Norfolk has
completed her repairs, and will join the
aotilla at Key West as soon as the gale
IN the coast blows Itself out and makes
the run down safe.
Naval officials are deeply interested in
tbe reports of the purchase of warships
by Spain, and make the reports of these
transactions the text for complaint of the
inability of our navy department to do
likewise.
However, as to the report from London
to-day of the purchase of the Amazonius
and sister ship by Spain, 1t is said at
the department that the Amazouious sail
ed for Brazil several months ago and has
been delivered to the Brazilian navy. The
strong point Of the two ships is their great
radius of action-s,OOO miles-which would
enable them to cross the Atlantic and re-
cross without renewing their supply of
coal.
The other two ships building for Brazil
in France, which are also reported to
about to be pasesd into Spanish possession,
are presumed to be the Deadoro and the
Florrono, which are building at La Senne,
Toulon. These are small but powerful
battleships. Their tonnage is only S162,
but they carry four ten-inch rifles in tur-
rets, in addition to two six-inch and four
4l-inch guns and a good secondary bat
terry, Their coal endurance, however, is
small and their forte would seem to be
Il coast defense operations or cruising near
q a base of supplies.
81 The London reports also caused comment
u at the state department. In some quar-
8 ters the feeling was expressed that pend
Il ing the finding of a court of inquiry on
Il a case having the international phase of
s the Maine explosion the obligations of
Il neutrality were as strongly imposed on
81 Great Britain and Brazil as in time of
war.
But as a general rule, foreign goverrar
81 nents are free to sell warships, either dl-
rectly or through their citizens, up to the
81 actual date of hostilities.
Matters were very quiet, at least eX-
q ternally in the war department to-day.
& i was unknown officially that the troops.
8 at Salt Lake are being removed, and it
was said that if this were so il could be
nothing more than the usual periodical
Il Inspections required by the regulations.
As for the reported orders TO inspection
officers at Bethlehem to be ready for a
quick start, it was said that Capt. Nc
Mutt and Lieut.. Benet, who have been
on inspection duty for several years past,
are not to be disturbed and have had no
orders such as are reported from Bethle-
hem.
The state department received the fol-
lowing telegram from Consul General Lee
last night:
Havana. March 3.-Have established
asylum for destitute small orphans, re-
sardess of nationality. The money sent
Dy you will be applied to the purchase of
1000 Tor said orphans"
Inc war department, il is understood
VIII endeavor to induce the treasury Off
ciais TO return the Tortugas Islands TO
Its jurisdiction, but at the treasury de-
partment it is said that no request has
peeh made upon the Secretary of the
1IeaSIlTV on M k-ax
request be made, it is stated, that it would
pe complied with at once. Some years ago
'he island, then under the control of the
war department., was turned over to the
ieasury department. for use as a quaran.
'lhe station, with the stipulation that it
would be re-transferred at any time upon
iequest Since then the government has
established on Tortugas one of the most
complete quarantine stations in the coun-
iIy' This fact, however would not even
ue considered, should the war department
ieed It for its own purposes. Possession
!, Is said, would be given within forty
eight hours