The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-24
Gould Add to Her NAVY
by Purchase From
Other Nations.
Fifty Million Dollars Sufficient
to Raise Formidable
Fleet
Modern Men-of-war Which Irnpov-
erished Governments Would
Part With.

During the past $50 years Spain has
been in chronic state of impecunious-
ness. AS far back as 1657-5S when
England's great Admiral Blake block
AIDED the entire southern part of Spain
and intercepted the silver fleets from
Peru and the West Indies, the mer-
chants and hidalgos voluntarily con-
tributed funds to fit out naval vessels
which the bankrupt Government was
unable to do for the common defense
Nothing came of it, however, the pa
triotiSm smmered down and the gal
Icons remained in Cadiz. History would
probably repeat itself in a war with the
United States, for Spain with a ma
tional debt of nearly $1,000, 900, 900 and
still growing is practically bankrupt
and it's merchants and rich mobiles will
have to provide the sinews of war to
endeavor to save the worthless Govern
ment.
The navy of Spain, assuming even
that every vessel in the list is service
able, would be unable to meet our
ponderous armor-clads and swift
cruisers, and there is a strong prob
ability that at least one-half of the
Spanish navy is either incomplete or in
bad condition for lack of care and
proper repairs. 1t would, therefore, be-
come necessary to augment the fleet
from other sources, and there are four
countries from which Spain with ready
cash could obtain lot of war vessels
built chiefly during recent years by
such noted firms as Armstrong; in
England and at La Leyne in France.
10
da Cana of 2422 tons, with a 9-inch
belt and armed with two 102-inch
Krupp rifles. The Adamastor, a cruz
ser of 1898 tons, has just been completed
and is a good vessel, steaming eighteen
knots and carries battery of quick
firing SO and Al inch guns. Don Car
los l of 400 tons, another cruiser of the
same type, and two of 1900 tons, are
building at Elswick and are to have
speeds ranging from twenty-five to
fifteen knots and carry heavy batteries
of quick-firing guns.
Brazil, which is in financial straits,
has the armored Richanello and Aquid-
aban of 800 and 1850 tons, respectively.
Two others of 1852 tons, building in
France, are said to have been turned
over to Japan. OF cruisers three of
5000 tons each are building at Elswick,
likewise alleged to have been sold to
are good ships of their type, such as
the Tamandore, Abs tons; Benjamin
Constant, 2750 tons; Caramura, 1890
tons; Fimbera 1890 tons; Paysunda.
1900 tons, and Tupy of 1880 tons, with
speed of twenty-five knots for the
smaller vessels and seventeen knots
the larger, making two armorclads and
six cruisers and torpedo gunboats.
The Argentine armored fleet consists
Of ly,1jr raj Mt a
ibaldi and San Marine, sister ships to
the Cristobal Colon, in the Spanish
navy and of 6840 tons each. They are
armored cruisers with 6-inch belt, and
carry two 10-inch rifles. In addition
the Independence and Libertad, 23O0
tons, with 8-inch belts and two 9.4-incb
rifles, are also modern armored vessels
Of cruisers there are the Buenos Aires
of 4740 tons and twenty-three knots
speed, recently built at Elswick; Nuevo
de Julio, 1870 tons and 2274 knots trial
speed. built in 1892; 25 de Mayo
5000 tons, 22.43 knots, built in 1890. and
a torpedo gunboat, Patria, 1910 tons
and 20.75 knots, turned out in 1893.
Chile's armored navy of modern build
consists of Captain Prat. $500 tons. ~
inch belt, 1873 knot speed and six o.
inch rifles; Esmeralda, 1920 tons. g.
inch belt Harveyzed steel, 23-knot
speed, and battery of two 8-inch and
sixteen 6-inch and quick-f1ring guns.
The O'Higgins is completing at Els
wick and Is $500 tons, with finch belt.
21.25-knot speed and an armament of
four 8-inch and ten 6-inch quick-firers.
The new cruisers and smaller I'm
armored vessels include Banco Enca-
lada, 400 tons, 22.7S-knot speed and ar
mament of two S-inch and ten 6-inch
6. f.; Minestro Zenteno, $500 tons. 20
knot speed, with a battery of eight g.
inch g. f. Two other cruisers, Presi-
dente Errazuriz and Presidente Pinto,