The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-04-01

Chile May Sell a Man Of War to the
United States.
ARMoRED CRUISERS BADLY NEEDED.
Oregon VIII He HURRIED Around me
Horn 10 Join the North A.
l~ntic Squadron.

New York, March si--A special from
| Washington 10 the Herald saws; Autiri
pating that Chile Will sell a man ,f Ma,
70 the United States, Commander Simmons
commanding the gnnboat Marietta. ma.
been ordered to proceed at once iron, Cal.
lao to Valparaiso, where he viii hoist tn,
american Nag on board the vessel. he
lore his departure from Callao, Commander
simmons, II is expected, will make arrange.
ments for the collection OF 4 sufncien,
supply OF coal TO be placed Immediately on
board tho battleship oregon. due at tina,
FONT the first OF next week so that there
VIII be no delay In her race against time
around the Horn. 1t is proposed 60 place
the crew Of the Marietta on hoard The
chilean cruiser TO be purchased n ease
the negotiations are successful, ana the
new addition to the American navy Will
Join the Oregon i'll her voyage 10 this coast
Inc Marietta, in charge OF a short crew,
VIII work her way north until she falls in
with the Alert, which will place Il portion
OF her crew aboard and the two viii then
proceed to Mare island.
'Sn0u'u Wv hcSoti"llons Tor the Chilean
cruiser fall through the Marietta Will steam
with the Oregon to Key West,
OFFICIALS recognize that IL is of Vital i'm
portance that this government should oh
Tain possession of another atmored cruiser
before war occurs with Spain II il adj
mitted that the armored cruiser O'IIig.
gins, which is completed at Elswiuk, eng
i''hu' is not FOR sale. that the Argentina
government has declined to sell the cruiser
tl,s
ieghorn, Italy. aud that the Italian gov.
ernment VIII not dispose OF any of it's
completed cruisers. IL is believed this
government is cndeavoring to purchase
the Blanco Encaiada, which has been in
collision In the Chilean service. The yes
sci mas speed OF twenty-five knots and
has an armament consisting of two eight
inch brceeh-loading rifles. ten six. inch
quick firing guns. twelve twospounders,
twelve one Founders and Ave torpedo tubes.
The only battloahip in the Chilean service
which this government has considered with
q view to possible purchase is the Captain
FRAT but 1t is not believed that Chile win |
be willing TO sell her. With such a YES
sci as the Blanco Eucalada ACCOMMODATING |
the Oregon. the authorities do not autici- |
pate that these ships would have any diff |
fculty In disposing of the Spanish torpedo |
boat Temerario. which is thought to he |
ying In wait for the American ships In |
order to prevent them from reaching Key |
West in case war should be declared,
II is officially denied at the navy de-
Dartment that any negotiations are being
conducted with Denmark for the sale of
my a. her vessels. 1t IL said that there
ire no ships in the Danish navy which
would be worth anything 10 the United
States in the present crisis. II Is. also
stated that NO ,authoyitG has heen given TO
he naval attaches Of this government
thread TO purchase any additional tor
redo boats and IL is doubted by the Of
icials that this government will he ablo
o procure any more vessels of this type
W purchase.