The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-13

bpectiVo purchase or torpodo-b boat destroyorB.
Tho Thornycrofts are building thirty Of this
type Of craft, some Of them on speculation, and
despite tho notice TO that noted firm of ship
builders that they must not soil any OF the do
stroyers, as reported to the Navy Department
BY their agents, II 10 believed that the vessels
which tho United States have every hopo Of
obtaining will come from the Thornycrott yards.
The AmaEonis IN being held ut Gravesend
awaiting the result Of the negotiations between
tho Brazilian Commission and the United Statos
and Spain. She is roady for service and has
even q crew on board ready to proceed to Rio II
tho negotiations fail. Her transfer TO Admiral
Sicard's squadron would follow tho conclusion
Of a bargain between Brazil and this country.
Tho Ahren is still In course OF construction, but
oan DO made ready for service in a short timo,
As for the other big ships on which tho Ameri-
can agents In Europe hoped to obtain options.
they cannot be secured. Chill has declined to
sell the 0'Higgins. and this stand 10 understood
TO apply to Spain rs we'll as tho United States.
The Argentine nrmorclad San MARITIME, at Leg
horn. Italy. has also been withdrawn from
the market, II she was ever In II. Japan
has likewise declined to disposo OF any Of her
cruisers under construction at Philadelphia,
San Francisco and European yards. Ships Of
this character were not wanted. however, SO
this Government is not disappointed over tho
decision OF japan. In any event. tho United
States would have tho right to take for their
own use tho cruisers being built for Japan in
this country prior to the actual transfer to tho
Japanese authorities.
Orders were sent to-day by Secretary Long to
Commodore Howell, commanding the European
naval station. directing him to despatch imme-
diately to Key West tho eunboat Helena and
the cruiser Bancroft These vessels, with the
flagship San Francisco, compose tho en-
tire European squadron. All three are ut
Lisbon, where they have been awaiting or
ders for sonie time. Tho Helena was originally
intended for the Asiatio station, and was pro-
ceeding thither by the Mediterranean route
when directed TO remain at Lisbon until further
orders. The Bancroft was built as o practice
vessel for the Naval Academy cadets. but was
sent to Turkish waters during the critical period
OF the Armenian troubles. when so many Amer
lean citizens were being m.treated in lthe
Sultan's possessions, and has been retained
on the station ever since. Tho Navy Department
has not yet determined what to do with the San
Francisco. but is inclined to send her after the
Bancroft and the Helena. Orders to that effect
will probably be issued next week. The two
little ships now at Lisbon will be attached to
the constantly growing squadron Of Rear Ad-
miral Sicard. If war should come the principal
naval operations will undoubtedly DO in the
West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico. The Ban
croft and the Helena, with other small cruisers
and gunboats. are intended for use to blockade
Cuban ports. shutting off tho Spanish Army
from the food and other supplies from outside,
on which 1t is obliged TO depend.
Movements Of some of the vessels of the North
Atlantic squadron were reported to the Navy
Department to-day. The battleship Iowa re-
turned TO the Dry Tortugas from Key West;
thn .,nh4nt No.h-tl ..l a. k.z-l- Lz.A
Porter arrived at Key West. The intention to
withdraw the hattleship Oregon from the
Pacific coast and assign her to the
squadron mobilized at Hong Kong, or to
that in the vicinity of Key West, reported in
THE Sun this week. was confirmed to-day by
the issuance Of orders for the big armorclad to
proceed from San Francisco to ports on the
Pacific side of Central and South America. 1t
was said at the Navy Department this afternoon
that tho Oregon's ultimate destination would DO
determined by circumstances. THE SUN reporter
has the most positive assurances from an au-
thOritatipe source that she will form part OF
Admiral Sicard's force IL hostilitics are averted
until she reaches Valparaiso. She will stop
at Acapulco, Panama. Callao and Valparaiso.
reporting her arrival at each of these
places, and not departing until 30 or
dered by the Navy Department. If moth
80 1895 $500 ~
Spain and the United States by the time she
gets to Valparaiso. orders will be t~elegraphed
to Capt. Mccormick to proceed with all speed
around South America and from Cape Horn
northward to Key West. II war should be de-
clared prior to that time. it is likely that the
Oregon will stoam across tho Pacific to
Hong Kong, to participate. IL not too
late. in tho offensive operations in the
waters OF the Philippine Islands. This
has not been definitely determined. and the
Navy Department is hopeful that within two
months the formidable armorclad will drop
anchor in Key West harbor. That period. an
extended one in these times Of quick move
ments of naval vessels. will be required by the
Oregon to reach Key West from San Francisco.
With the Oregon added to the North Atlantic
squadron. the loss in efficiency caused by the
destruction of the Maine will be more than made
good, for the Oregon Is n trst-class battleship.
while the Maine was Of the second class. The
Oregon is a sister ship of the Massachusetts and
the Indiana, both of which are under Admiral
Sicard's command.