The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-09

Brownson and Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt. Chief Constructor Hich-
borne and Admiral Matthews, chief Of
the bureau of yards and docks, were
also called to the conference by the
secretary, to deal with special phases
of the question under consideration.
The conference had to do with the
preparations for putting the navy in
the highest state Of efficiency and the
fact that Secretary Long is consulting
at every step with the representa- tives
of the legislative branch of the govern
ment shows the desire of the president
to keep within the strict spirit of the
constitution.
Secretary Long found time during
the progress Of the conference to talk
a moment with Mr.. Lane, who has sub
mitted to the department proposals for
the sale Of certain warships now build
Ing in Europe, at private ship yards
What passed between them is not
known, but Mr.. Lane fastened imme-
diately to the cable office at the con-
clusion Of the conversation to COM
nunicate directly with his principals in
Europe.
The secretary made it plain to the
legislators at the conference that the
department is very much better pre-
pared than has been supposed in the
matter of accurate information OF the
ship building in progress in European
ship yards But the point upon which
the department now seeks to inform it
self goes beyond this and looks to Sc
curing information as to which of these
ships can be purchased Immediately.
Many Difficulties.
1t was shown that very many more
difficulties exist than the public is
aware Of in the requirement Of such
property as warships Most OF these
craft under construction are being
built under special orders for various
governments and only few, and those
perhaps not of the most desirable type,
are in the builders hands In such shape
that they can be at once disposed Of.
In the case of some Of the European
powers under a strong monarchical
form of government it is possible for
the permission to be given at once for
the sale Of a ship to another nation,
hut in the case Of more complex forms
Of governments, such as exist In the
South American republics, which have
ordered ships now under construction
in Europe, it is feared that grave con-
stitutional and legal objections exist to
the transfer Of the rights Of these
countries in their ships, necessitating
recourse to legislative branches Of their
governments for authorization. This
will be a time-consuming process that
could be scarcely entertained in our
case.
It Is particularly with a view to ac-
puiring Information Of this point, that
is the possibility Of buying ships i'm
mediately, that Capt. Brownson has
been selected to go to Europe. He is
an officer of great discretion and his
experience on the board of inspection,
which is charged with the duty of
thoroughly examining all ships built
for the navy has thoroughly familiariZ-
ed him with all of the details Of the
various types Of warships, battleships,
armored cruisers, protected cruisers,
monitors and torpedo boats. During
the conference this morning he was
made fully acquainted with the views
of the secretary and his advisers as to
the proper scope of his mission, and he
will lose no time in starting for Eu-
rope.
After the conference he had a long
interview with Assistant Secretary Day
Of the state department, and arranged
to get letters to United States minis
ters and ambassadors abroad instruct
ing them to place every force at their
disposal to work to help Capt Brown
son.
To Buy Ships.
Commander Brownson will sail from
New York for Southampton by the first
available steamer, and will prosecute
his duties in England and France with
the utmost diligence and dispatch. At
Southampton, where he will arrive
early next week, he will be Joined by
Lieut.. J. c.. Colwell, naval attache of
the American embassay at London.