The evening times., 1898-04-22
SHIPS GOING INTO ACTION
America Buys Three Chinese
Cruisers Now Building.
THE NICTHER0Y SAILS NORTH
Boston ReHeryes Will Man the Le-
high-The Paris Sails From SOUTH
amptOn TOday-Carrier Pigeons
for Messenger Service i'm the
Nav!-SeIectine Surgeons.

Berlin, April 22-The Hamburger Cor
respondent announces that the United
States has bought the three giant Chin
ese cruisers that are building at the Vul-
can yards, in Stettin, Germany. These
are the ships China at first refused to
sell because she felt so friendly to both
the United States and Spain she did not
want her men-of-war used by either
against the other. The ships are of the
protected cruiser pattern. Two of them
just match the Chicago and the Balti-
more of our Navy for size. being 4,50O
tnos displacement. the third being a trifie
smaller-about the size of the Charleston
or San Francisco. They have not yet
been given names.
hurry the Chinese vessels 10 rap
i'd conclusion if the United States
would buy them. Lieutena 1t A i.
Niblack, naval attache of the United
States, reported on these ships a month
ago, and has been dickering with the iron
works as to the time they could be de-
liyered. while this Government has been
getting China to change her view in the
matter of their sale. IL is stated here
that China finally consented to the sale
on condition that we would sell them
back TO her If she should need them at
any time-a fairly safe condition for the
United States.
Watching n Spanish Steamer.
London. April 22.-The first prize cap
tured by the warships of the United
States Navy will probably be the Mont
seratt. a Spanish steamer of 1905 tons,
III
Islands. on April l3 from Cadiz. with
troops and war material and sailed on
the same day with her cargo for Havana.
Surgeons for Ships.
Boards for acting assistant surgeons IN
the Navy are sending in their reports OF
their examinations of candidates for these
places. Appointments will not be made
until the passage of the naval apDropri-
alton bill. Notices to those who are ELI
gible to examination were sent out to-
day from the Bureau of Navigation.
Twenty-Five of the successful candidate es
will be accepted.
Winged Messengers.
Every vessel of the mosquito 6 acr, Cnm-
mander Horace Elmer, and the auxiliary
squadron. Commodore Howell, will be pro-
vided with carrier pigeons This winged
messenger corps is being prepared by Su-
perintendent Howard Carter. of the Unit
ed States Homing Pigeon Service Of the
Brooklyn navy yard. He has invited pa
triotic owners OF birds to contribute aerial
messengers.
The idea is to provide all scout and pa
troll vessels with carrier pigeons where
with 10 dispatch news Of hostile ships In
this way. even ii the mosquito scout boat
or the auxiliary cruiser on patrol is
overtaken and destroyed by the enemy the
message will reach the Brooklyn navy
yard and give warning to the squadron
protecting the coast.
Nictheroy.
Rio Janeiro, April 22.-The warshiD Mic
theroy, bought by the United States. IS
ordered 10 leave here immediately. Sh,
carries 5000 tons of coal
Boston Reserves
Boston. April photographic orders
were received today by Capt. Weeks. of
the Naval Brigade. to man the monito.
Lehigh, at Philadelphia and bring her "a
this port for the defense of Boston har.
Dor.
TO Command the Corsair
Lieutenant Commander Richard Vain
wright. executive officer of the Maine
who was in charge Of the wreck Of the
vessel until Americans were compelled
to leave Havana. and who has since thai
time been a member Of the strategy board
at Washington. was selected today tC
command the auxiliary cruiser Corsair
purchased yesterday. The Corsair is the
largest and the fastest of the yachts
added to the Navy and will probably be
the flagship of the auxiliary blockade
feet in Cuban waters.
Lieutenant Commander Herbert Wins
low. son of the commander of the origi-
nal Kearsage during her duel with the
Alabama. has been ordered 10 command
the Fern at Key West, relieving Iieuteu-
ant Commander n. c. Cowles, who is di-
rected to hold himself in readiness Ia
command the cruiser Topeka Com
mander J. c. Eaton has been detached
from the command of the Enterprise and
ordered to command the Resolute
New Steel Steamer Purchased
Vancouver. B. G.. April 22-The United
States Government has purchased the new
steel steamer recently built by the New
England Fish Company for the Vancou-
yer halibut trade The negotiations have
been on for some time. and now that hos
tilities are about to commence the deal
has been closed. The steamer is known
as the New England, and will be used as a
cruiser. The purchase price is not di-
vulged
Havana HDrbor Strengthened
Tampa, Fla, April 22.-Dr d. E. Dud-
ley, who has been assistant to DR.
Drummer. Marine Hospital officer at Ha-
vana, and who accompanied the Oliv-
cite when she went TO Havana with the
Spanish refugees Monday, says that as
soon a sthe ship left this harbor all the
refugees who had taken out United
States naturalization papers tore them
up and threw them on the water He
also says that many additions have been
made to the defenses of Havana since
Gen. Lee left.
Drowning Boy Refuses Aid.
New York, April 22.-Capt. Kicker. of
I no Sfaor1a IiSbtar On tba