The state herald., 1898-03-18
BUYSTWO WAR SHIPS.
UNITED STATES PAYS CASH.
Tho Brazilian Vessels That Spain Wants
Come to Us-Two Excellent Fighting
Machines.

Washington, March ia weeks
negotiations closed to-day by the tri-
umphnnt purchase by the Navy De-
pGrtment in London Of the two fine
cruisers built and building at Elswick
for the Brazilian government. the Am
nzonns and Admiral Abreuall. Posi-
bly, the officials took more pleasure in
closing up the business in this manner
because of the knowledge that Spanish
agepts had been striving to secure
these very ships. and that to Spain, 1t
is said, they would be of much greater
value in case of trouble than to the
United States. The next question is
how to get the ships home, and that
has not yet been settled according to
the secretary of the navy.
The United States flag will be hoist
ed over the new ships within week,
probably 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 Mt the earliest
possible moment. The terms Of sale
are secret.
The availability of the two Brazil
ian ships was first brought to the at
tcntion of the Navy Department by
Mr.. Laine, agent of the Maxim Nord-
enfeldt Company. who was authorized
to dispose of these ships building at
Elswick and two Others in course of
construction in France.
Mr.. Laine said to-day that the two
ships purchased would he n most de-
sirable acquisition to the American
navy, as they We're the latest and best
| products of the famous Armstrong
yards. One of the ships is complete
in every respect. has her coal supply
and ammunition 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 ser
| vice. 1t is said the coal and ammuni-
ton on board passed with the sale to
the United States. The ammunition IL
| not of the kind in use by the Ameri-
can navy, so that the supply of ammu-
milton is a necessary adjunct TO the
new ships. The other ship has been
( launched but il will take some time
to make her ready for sea. Mr.. LAine
| believes. however. that there will he
no difficulty in bringing her over i'm
mediatcly II II is desired to make the
move without delay, as the hull Of the
ship is so well along that she could
he towcd. and her own sail power
utilized for the trip across.
Orders have been sent TO Commo-
dore Howell. commanding the Euro
| pcan station. TO send n force OF men
from the san Francisco to take pos.
session of and hoist the United States
flag on the Brazilian ship that Is rendy
to go into commission at New Castle,
This will prevent any difficulty in case
l
ship would be under the flag. but ly.
ing in friendly harbor.
! The two Brazilian ships will he cx-
trcmely available 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 shcathcd and coppcrcd
with twin screws. The Amazonas Is
rated al 5000 tons displacement. with
an Indicated horse power under ma
tural draught of 1909. which Is calcu-
lated 10 develop twenty knots speed.
| Thus. while the ship Is about the size
of the Charleston, she ls much faster.
| Her armament is also much more
| formidable. not so much In cnlihre,
| for the main battery Is made up of six
| G-inch guns. hut these guns, ms well ns
| the four 1-inch guns, are OF what ls
| known MS 80 calibrcs length, giving
them au unusual range and power
In addition to this they have ten u
FOUNDER quick-iring guns. four /.
| Founders, four Maxim machine guns
and two boat or field guns. The tor
| pcdo tubes are three In number. The
coal capacity is $50 tons, giving her
nm effective stcamlng radius Of 5000
knots, n most valuable feature. mas
much ms II would enable the ship To
cross and rccross the Atlantic without
coaling Such vessel used as com
mcrce destroyer would bc vastly more
effective than what appears to he moIc
| powerful crafts. because OF their abil
ity 10 get along on long cruises with.
out touching In at neutral ports To
coal, and thus exposing themselves to
capture.
The cruisers carry no nrmOr In the
ordinary sense, but their machinery IL
| protected from the fire of guns by an
| nrched steel deck lust below the water
line. varying In thickness from IL TO
~ inches. The battery has mn unu-
sual train. being arranged To fire three
nhcad and three astern Of the prlnci-
! nal gums