The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-09
SENT ABROAD TO BUY
MORE HAR VESSELS.



~ssh the Important duty c: investigating
ss< practleablllty OF The purchase from for
aim manufacturers OF ordnance rsaterla!
d case Cur can supply should prove In
Adequate.
abroad long ard goes only on condition
TIA, he may return Immediately ia case
q an opea rupture.
As 10 the right 70 buy foreign ships. all
authorities agree ;ha; ouch purchases may
be made, even after hostillties have been
begun IL the neutral nation exercises strict
Immortality between beliigefenis and the
sk.ps are not armed and QUILTED ready
fer service The trade Of ship-baildlng Is
recognized as a legitimate one. which may
d carried On a. all times. The subject
has been before the American courts. and
ia one case Justice Story held:
.swhiIe the sale OF vessels. armed or
unsrmed. to beligerent Is not forbidden
by International law, such a vessel. even
% IFS way TO the purchaser, Is liable 10
akixure as contra band"
NAY Bay the Japanese Cruisers.
II Is known positively that negotiations
ara In progress toward having the United
States acquire the two crack cruisers now
beng built for Japan. one at the Cramps
saipyards al Philadelphia. and the other
81 tho Union Iron Works. OF San Fran
CISCO The negotiations naturally are cir
cssous an there are three parties 10 IL,
namely. the japanese government; the
United States and the shipbuilders. There
y good reason TO believe that terms could
b made between the United States and
the shlphuilders. and that go far as they
are concerned the transaction could be
concluded without any further negotia-
tlons While suggestions have been made
that the right OF eminent domain would
permit the United States to take the two
cru.srs without reference to Japan's
rights. there Is no desire among officials
hero 10 resort TO such radical steps More
} ossr I, Is said that such action would BE
% International offense directed az ia
pan and an untFlendly act which this gov
eminent IL not likely 70 commit at this
moment toward friendly power.
The present negotiations contemplate
JsIans full acquiescence. bat whether
they win succeed cannot be said ut this
tine. IL ia knowa positively. however.
that no oYertures have been submitted
thus far to the authorities at Tokyo, and
|, would be for them to give the Anal
decision. Pending this. q contract could
not be made nor an option given. Tho
Ieyoiiati5ns took q marked step forward
today. although. as stated. they have not
JET reached the final stage. The two
cruisers are not only being built for ia
pan. bat they have already become the
actual property of Japan by the pay
FER; OF considerable portion OF the pur-
chase pride. to-wlt, $1.350ooo each. They
are within three months or completion on
al emergency basis. They are designed
10 make twenty-five knots, which rank
ITEM among tho swlftsst cruisers in the
world. Thu arrangement. primary and
secondary. Is according to japanese naval
Standard. which proved SO effective In her
tecers war with China.
y net likely 10 be manifested an exhibit
Ton Of disposition on the part OF Japan
% stand upon the technical objections 10
tie sale Of these ships 10 the United States
ssssrnnent In case the decision is reach
Cd to purchase them. baslug their belief
upon the many kindly expressions that OF
h's have come TO their notice and to the
past record Of the japanese nation.
''esciy Guarding the Atlantic const.
aas big armored cruiser Brooklyn start
20 nom In Guavra today under orders
non lhe navy department directly for
Hampton Roads.
ihs sending Of the ship TO Hampton
N's'ss' Instead CT returning her 20 Key
west whence she came. is taken ns an
s'aehce Of a change in policy or the part
u The naval s'rategls,s. who have come
ne conclusion that the gathering ~
Us most ana hest OF the vessels % ths
seFiA Atlantic squadron at key wes. B,
sa''iHg too many CT ear eges tn one bss-
coast.
sheFe has also ueea taik q organizing
nfiag squadron composed altogether ~
s'Fe' cruisers. four tn number. ard having
'hen' ready 10 so to saa al moments
.s'es In pursuit Of AZ encmy's ship. -