Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-09
CRACK CRUISERS IN S|GBT.
They Are Building in the Cramps
Shipyards at Philadelphia,

erEY Oh " uCl6 DILL III OdSO lE0y
Are Needed-Japan Owns Them,
But it is Not Unlikely That Ar
rangements for Their Transfer
Gould be Made Without Extern
sive Negotiations-A Busy Day
ct the Navy Departmenr-Many
Conferences Held--Capt. Brown
sons Mission ACCOMPLISHMENTS
for Increasing the Fighting Force
From the Lighthouse Fleet-The
Brooklyn to Come to Hampton
Roads.
Washington, March S.-There was
very strong suggestion of state of af-
fairs that might exist in time of actual
war in the busy scenes presented at the
navy and war departments to-day.
There was an almost unbroken sue
cession of conferences between officers
and officials Of various degrees, and
throughout both these branches of the
war establishment, the greatest ac-
tivity was exhibited
Secretary Long was particularly
busy Before 10 o'clock he had been
obliged to retire TO his private office
to hold a conference. Senator Lodge
was present as well as Chairman Hale,
of the Senate Naval Committee, Chair
man Boutelle, of the House Naval
Chief of the Navigation Bureau; Cap
tain Bradford, Chief of the Equip
ment Bureau: Captain Brownson and
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt. Chief
Constructor Hichborn and Admiral
Matthews, Chief of the bureau of yards
and docks, We're also called to the con-
ference 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 at the highest state of eff
cheney and the fact that Secretary
Long is consulting at every step with
the representatives of the legislative
brancl, Of the government 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 MIR. Lane, who has
submitted to the department proposals
for the sale of certain warships now
building in Europe at private ship
yards. What passed between them is
not known, but Mr.. Lane fastened
Immediately to the cable Office at the
conclusion of the conversation to COM
municate 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
shipyards. But the point which the
department now seeks to inform itself
goes beyond this and looks to secur-
ing information as to which of these
ships can be purchased Immediately
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 gov
ernments 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 dis
posed of. In the case of some of the
European powers under strong mon
archial form of government, it is pos
sible for permission to be given at
once for the sale Of a ship to another
nation, but in the case of more COM
picked forms of government such as
those as exist in the South American
republics which have ordered ships
now under construction in Europe it is
feared that grave constitutional and
legal objections exist to the transfer
of the rights of these countries in
their ships to us, necessitating re-
course to the legislative branches of
their government for authorization.
This will be a time-consuming process
that could be scarcely entertained in
our case. 1t is particularly with
view to
ACQUIRING INFORMATION
on this point, chat is the possibility
Of buying ships Immediately, Captain
Brownson has been selected to go TO
Europe He is an officer of great dis
ctetion and his experience on the
board of inspection, which is charged
with the duty of thoroughly examln-
ing all ships built for the navy, has
thoroughly familiarized him with all
the details of all the various types Of
warships, battleships, armored cruis-
ers, protected cruisers, monitors and
torpedo boats. During the conference
this morning he was made fully ac-
ouainted with the views of the sec
rotary and his advisers as to the proper
scope of his mission, and he will lose
no time in starting for Europe. After
the conference he had long interview
with Assistant Secretary Day, OF the
State Department and arranged TO
obtain letters to United States ambas-
sailors and ministers abroad instruct
ing them to place every force at their
disposal at work TO help Captain
Brownson.
Commander Brownson viii san
from New York for Southampton by
the first available steamer, and Will
prosecute his duties in England and
France with the utmost diligence ana
dispatch At Southampton, where he
will arrive early next week, he VIII be
Joined BY Lieut.. j. g. Cowell naval
attache OF the American embassy at
London. Commander Brownson Will
next 90 to France with as little delay
as possible. and Will confer with
Lieut. w. s. Sims, naval attache OF the
. ,,,.,,.i,.,,, hacsv AT Paris and in his