The herald., 1898-03-09
THE CRUISER MARKET
Is NOT ovERsToCKED JUST AT
PRESENT
TALE OF SPANISH PURCHASES
Must Be Taken With a Good Deal Of
Allowance-Owners of Warships
Will Not Sell
Associated Press speclal Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
LONDON, March 8.-The English
newspapers today confirm the news Of
spain's purchase of warships. The st.
James Gazette, which yesterday pub
lished the denials of the Spanish EN-
bassy and the Spanish Naval Commits
sion, which has an office in London, says
today:
"It is ascertained on very high au-
thority, in spite of denials, that the
Spanish government has almost sue
ceeded in buying three nearly complet-
ed cruisers here and two coast defense
vessels, which are about to be launched
in France. Experts are almost as much
surprised at the success of Madrid in
raising money as by the clever diplomacy
which secured the Chilean and Brazilian
cruisers from the Armstrong; at cost
believed to be a million pounds sterling,
almost before the move was suspected"
The article goes on to say that much
competition between Spain and the
United States for the various ships being
constructed was expected, but America
has come to the conclusion that its naval
resources are strong enough to confront
Spain without increase.
A naval authority in this country takes
| cynical view of the six torpedo boats
now building for Spain and of those al
ready built, which he says will probably
make valuable additions to the United
States Navy later on
In conclusion, the st. James Gazette
remarks "A feature of the warship mar
ket at present is the small number of
i lob n 16
| two coast defense vessels is the best
Great Britain and France can do. 1t is
true these are not the only warships
building, but the others, twelve Japan
ese and two Chinese cruisers, and eight
torpedo boat destroyers for Japan, are
so keenly and Immediately desired by
their respective governments, that no
price would buy Them
| 1t is said that even If the AmaZonas
should sail from Great Britain with a
Brazilian flag, ,shewill be in Cuban waters
with a Spanish crew. The affair natur-
ally has been kept as secret as possible
The introduction yesterday in Congress
of bill appropriating s5O,OOO,OO has ex-
cited the utmost interest among English
dealers in war munitions.
Hiram Maxim, of rapid-fire gun fame.
said significantly that if the United
States intended to make purchases in
England she should have begun a week
ago. He also admitted that he was
aware that Spain had placed large or
ders within week, but he declined to
say whether orders had been placed
with his firm. 1t is known, however,
that if the United States needs eight
inch guns and powder, she could secure
full stock at a fortnight's notice.
Norwegian papers just received reveal
the fact that three United States naval
attaches, Lieutenant John c. Colwell, of
the London Embassy; Lieutenant Will
liam Emmons, who is accredited to St
Petersburg and Paris; and Lieutenant
P. Niblack, who is attached to the Ger
man Embassy and also accredited to
Vienna and Rome, were present at the
Elswick submerged torpedo tube trials
in Norway February %. Much i'm
portance is attached to this invention,
with which the Norwegian ship Harold
Raarfargre is fitted. The trials were
| pronounced most successful. Whitehead
| torpedoes were fired through the tubes
at 9.12 and Is knots speed with remark
| able accuracy.
ENGLAND GIVES ORDERS
Washington correspondent telegraphs:
Considerable Importance is attached to
the information received here today to
| the effect that Great Britain has noti-
| fed the shipbuilders and gun makers
in her territory that no war material
must be sold to foreign countries until
her Majestys government has been con-
suited. Word to this effect was receiv-
ed by the representatives of the Arm
| strongs and Thornycroft firms, which
are now negotiating for the sale of war;
ships and various kinds of war mater
ial to the United States government. Its
| full significance is not definitely known.
FRANCE WON'T SELL
NEW YORK, March S.-According to
the Paris correspondent of the Herald
the Spanish government has given or
ders for the purchase Of rapid firing
guns of the Canet type of IA and 16 CEN
timetres, in France. They are supposed
to be for the Spanish ironclad Carlos v,
now at Havre completing her armament.
| Spain is said to have tried to purchase
warships from France, but without sue
cess.
When a girl is chased by a man who il,