Evening journal., 1898-03-15
WARSHIPS BOUGHT
Sale Of Brazilian Vessels
to United States
COlSummated.
SPAIN WAS AFTER THEM
Proctor Sees the President and Sec
retary AlgeT.
FERN RETURNS FROM MATANZAS.
Rumor In Havana That Another Amer
lean BattIeshlp Is TO BE Sent There
Worry speedily--senator Thurs
toms Wife Dies In Cuba.

toms Wife Dies In Cuba.
WASHINGTON, March l5--A weeks
negotiations have been closed by the
triumphant purchase by the navy de-
partment In London OF the two fine
cruisers built and building at Elswick
for tho Brazilian government POSI-
bly, the officials took more pleasure In
closing up the business in this manner
because Of the knowledge that tho
Spanish agents had been striving to Sc
cure these very ships, TO whom Il 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 secre-
tary OF the navy. The United States
flag viii be hoisted 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 viii follow at
the earliest possible 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 Mr. 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. Mr.. Lane said yesterday that
the two ships purchased would be
most desirable acquisition to the Amer
lean 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 am
muntion 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. II 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,
80 that the supply is a necessary ad-
junct TO the new ships.
The other ship has been launched, but
IL win take some time 10 make her ready
FOR sea. Mr.. Lane believes, however.
that there viii be no difficulty in bring
ing her over Immediately. II It is de-
sired TO make the move without delay
as the hull Of the ship Is so we'll along
that she could be towed and her own
bdIl DNWtI uAlllhtu lot tue iilN AilOHh4
A dangerous deficiency in the enei-
neer branch Of the navy has been
brought to light strilSingly in the fact
that It Is scarcely possible to secure a
staff OF engineer officers to bring back
70 the United states any Of the ships
purchased abroad. A short time ago
when orders were given to rush the
work OF putting the cruiser Chicago in
shape for active service the engineer
IN chief proposed that he would have
the ship ready In three months instead
of six. as was estimated. To do this be
would work forces day and night and
TO keep them at work he would place an
engineer officer aboard the ship TO stay
there day and night.
Passed Assistant Engineer Dixon was
chosen for the work. but he had not
been employed more than a week before
II was found necessary TO detach him
IN order to find an engineer officer to
act as member OF the board appoint
ed to examine auxiliary cruisers, This
state Of affairs has been brought 20 the
attention OF the house naval committee,
but so far II is feared without meeting
that degree OF success which II was
hoped for in the shape of an amend
nent increasing the number of engineer
officers In the service,
Colonel Haywood the commandant OF
the marine corps, has made five details
OF marines for cruisers now being re-
paired or ready for commission. There
are two drafts Of As each for the Phil
adelphia and the Charleston at Mare
island, one Of 50 for the Newark at
Norfolk and two of 30 each for the Co
lumbia and Minneapolis at League is
land
senator Proctor visited the White
House and uptown departments, and
his calls excited a good deal of inter.
est He spent half an hour first with
Secretary Alger. explaining. it is be-
Iieved. the military situation in Cuba
and afterward had a conference with
Judge Day. assistant secretary Of state
Then he went to the White House, anC
was cioseted with the president for tw,
hours and a quarter. When he emerge,
from the room. he courteously decline,
70 speak regarding the nature Of tn
information he had communicated &
the president
N. r. Palmer. representing the Quin
tard Iron works of New York, whicl
built the engines of the Maine, was a
the navy department in consultation
with the officials respecting the conver
sion Of vessels Of the merchant marin
into war craft. While not a shipbuild
ing firm, the Quintard works have don
a great deal of work on the engines an
interior fittings Of ships which is jus
the class Of work that would be re
quired In the case Of the auxiliar
cruisers.
Because Of a protest from some OF tn
western people, the secretary Of Wa
has modified his order of last wee
changing the names Of bounds Of tn
military department so as to retain IN
name of the department of the Mi,
souri,. To do this, however, it was ne'
essary to abandon the naming of III
department Of the Platte" and the te
ritory included within the present linn
Of that department will be known I
the department Of the Missouri. II
old department OF the Missouri retail