The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-03-15
The Former Ready TO Sail and the
Latter Nearing Completion.
Conditions Appear Quiater on the Surface
at The Navy Department, Blu! at the
Various Bureaus the Hum OF
Industry Continues.

WASHINGTON. March IA weeks
NEGOTIATIONS closed to-day by the tri-
umphant purchase by the Navy De-
nartment in London of the two fine
cruisers built and building at ElsWick
for the Brazilian Government. Prob
ably the official took more pleasure IN
closing up the business in this manner
because of the knowledge that Spanish
agents had been striving to secure THESE
very ships. and that to Spain it 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 t the See
Rotary Of ti1e Navy The Ufnitsa ST. :
flag will be hoisted over the new ships
within week. probably. and just as
soon as the crew can be put aboard
the Amazcnas 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 atten-
ton of the Navy Department by Mr.
Lame. agent of the Maxim Nordenfeid
Company. who was authorized to dis
pose Of these ships building al ElsWick
and two others in course of construc-
ton in France.
Mr.. Lame said to-day that the two
Sims purchased will be a most desir-
able ACQUISITION to the American Navy,
as they were the latest and best pro-
ducts of the famous Armstrong yards
one Of the ships is complete in every
respect. has her coal supply and am
munition on board. and steam can be
raised at any time. There will De 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 Unit
ed States. The ammunition is not of
the kind in use by the American Nav,
so that the supply of ammunition =
necessary adjunct TO the new ships.
The other ship has been launched. but
It will take Some time to make her
ready for sea Mr.. Lame believes how
ever, that there will be no difficulty in
bringing her over Immediately, if it is
desired to make the move without de-
lay. as the hun OF the ship is SO well
along that she could be towed. and her
own sail power utilized for the trip
across.
ENGINEER BRANCH OF THE NAVY
A dangerous deficiency in the en-
gineer branch of the navy has been
brought to light strikingly in the fact
that it is scarcely possible to secure q
STAFF of engineer officers n bring back
TO the United States any Of the ships
purchased abroad short time ago.
when orders We're 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 estimated TO do this ne
would work forces day and night. and
To keep them at the 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 he
fore it was found necessary to detach
him in order to find an engineer Off
Ger to act as member Of the board
appointed to examine auxiliary cruis-
ers.
This state Of affairs has been brought
to the attention of the House Naval
Committee, but SO far it is feared
without meeting that degree of success
which it was hoped for. in the shape
OF an amendment increasing the num-
Der of engineer officers in the service.
DETAIL OF MARINES
Colonel Haywood, the commandment
of the marine corps. to-day made i've