Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-09
purchase from foreign manufacturers
of
ORDNANCE MATERIAL

INADEQUATE.
1t is known positively that negotia-
lions are in progress toward having the
United States acquire the two crack
cruisers now building for Japan, one
at the Cramp ship yards at Phlladel-
phia and the other at the Union Iron
Works of San Francisco. The nego-
tiations naturally are circuitous, as
there are three parties in interest
namely, the Japanese government, the
United States and the ship builders
There is good reason TO believe that
terms could be made between the
United States and the ship builders,
and that so far as they are concerned
in the transaction, it is TO be con-
Guided without much further negotia-
ton But there is no disposition 70
ignore the rights of Japan. While
suggestions have been made that me
rights of eminent domain would per-
nit the United States to take the TWO
cruisers without reference as to ia
pans rights, there is no desire amonS
officials here to resort to such radical
steps Moreover, it is said that such
action would be an international Of
Tense directed against Japan, and an
unfriendly act which this government
is not likely to commit at THIS mo-
ment toward friendly power.
The present negotiations contem-
plate Japans full acquiescence but
whether they will succeed cannot be
said at this time. 1t is known pos
itively. however, that no oyertures
have been submitted thus far to the
authorities at Toxic. and it would be
tn DIV hn
Pending this, contract could not be
made nor an option given. The ne
gotiations took a marked step forward
to-day, although, as stated, they lave
not yet reached the final stage. The
two cruisers are not only being built
for Japan, but they have already be-
come the actual property of Japan by
the payment of a considerable portion
Of the purchase price, to-wit: $780,
Geo each. They are within three
months of completion on an emergency
basis. They are designed to make %
knots, which ranks them among the
swiftest cruisers in the world. Their
armament, primary and secondary, is
according to Japanese naval stand
ards, which proved so effective in her
recent war with China.
The government officials here feel
that there is not likely to be mani
tested any exhibition Of disposition
on the part of the Japanese govern
ment to stand upon technical objec-
tons to the sale of these ships TO the
United States government in case the
decision is. reached TO purchase them,
basing this belief upon many kindly
expressions that of late come to their
notice, and to the past record of the
Japanese nation.
The big armored cruiser Brooklyn
started away from La Guayra to-day
under orders from the navy depart
ment directly for Hampton Roads She
has been making a flying cruise in the
West Indies and around the eastern
end Of Cuba and it was the original
intention to have her go to colon on
the Isthmus and thence to work north
ward along the eastern coast of Cen
trail America. The sending of the ship
to Hampton Roads instead of return
ing her to Key West, whence she came.
is taken as an evidence of a change
in policy on the part of the naval
strategists, who have come to the con-
clusion that the gathering of the most
and best of the vessels of the North
Atlantic squadron at Key West is put
ting too many of our eggs in one
basket, and unduly
EXPOSING THE EASTERN COAST.
There has also been talk of organ
lzlng flying squadron, composed al
together of fleet cruisers, four in num-
Der, and having them ready to go to
sea at moments notice in pursuit of
an enemy ships, relying upon the big
battleships for the home guard. This,
however, has not been decided upon.
a proposition that received instant
attention is expected 20 turn over TO
The navy department ten of the best
BOATS in the lighthouse service. These
boats are from three to four hundred
IONS burden, good sea boats, manned
by officers thoroughly familiar with
every indentation of the Atlantic coast
and capable of being easily transform
I'd into efficient gun boats. The Man
grove is a vessel of this character.
new staunch and speedy 1t is pro
posed to place a six inch rifle on a
pivot mount on each vessel forward,
and to place light armor around the
boilers and machinery to protect them
from small arms fire at least The at
tention of the department has also been
called TO the feasibility of recruiting
the naval list from the revenue marine
cutters, a number of which are fully
equal, being given arms, to the small
er type of gun boats now in the SER
vice If these vessels were availed of
they would be assigned to duty along
the southern coasts, maintaining
blockades and relieving the larger and
more expensive cruisers of much wor-
risone duty.
Arrangements were perfected at the
navy department to-day for the relief
of the dispatch boat Fern at Havana
by the cruiser Montgomery of Ad-
miral Sicard's squadron now at Key
West
The Montgomery will relieve the
Fern tomorrow morning, so that the
latter vessel may arrive at Key West
Wednesday evening in ample time to
receive the food supplies from New
York, which are due there on that
day There viii be no delay in the
departure of the Fern
ON HER ERRAND OF MERCY.
The Fern has been stationed at Ha
vana since day or so after the disas-i
ter of the Maine, and her principal
functions for the last week or ten days
have been as a practical floating dock
for the use of the divers.
Senior Du Bose, the Spanish rep G.
sentative in Washington, when seen
AT tim SDanish legation to-day and