The Columbus journal., 1898-03-16
SECURE BRAZIL SHIPS

SeUUnc DRILL SJuI -
Two Fine Cruisers Purchased
by Uncle Sam.
SPANISH OFFICIALS HEADED OFF
American Flag win Re HoSssed Over the
New Shin. Within . Week-Da.geress
Deficiency In the Eaxinesr BraneA ef
the Nsvy-SeSssor rrSctor's Visit 70
white House Excites Great Interess.
WASHINGTON, March ia weeks
closed Monday BY the tn
umphant purchase by the navy depart
ment in London of the two fine cruisers
built and building at Elswock for the
Brazilian government Possibly the
officials took more pleasure in closing
up the business in this manner because
Of the knowledge that the Spanish
agents had been striving to secure these
very ships, to whom. it is said. they
would be of much greater value in case
OF trouble than to the United States.
The next question is how to get the
ships home and that has not yet been
settled, according to the secretary OF
the navy. The United States nag Will
he hoisted over the new ships within
week, probably, and just as soon AZ the
crew can be put aboard the Amazonas,
she will start for the United States.
The ether vessel will follow at the
earlies. possible moment. The terms
of sale are secret.
One Of Ships Complete. ...
The ability of the two Brazilian ships
was first brought to the attention OF the
navy department by Mr.. Laine, agent
of the Maxim -Nordfeld company, who
was authorized to dispose of these ships
and two others in course of construction
in France. Mr.. Laiae said today that
the two ships purchased would be q
most desirable acquisition to the Amer
lean navy as they were the latest and
best products of the famous Armstrong
wards. One of the ships is complete in
every respect, has her coal supply and
ammunition on board and steam can be
raised at any time. There will be no
trouble in bringing this ship across. q
An ADEQUATE force from the local yards
can be secured for the service. 1t II
said the coal and ammunition on hoard
passed with the sale to the United
States. The ammunition is not all OF
the kind in use by the United States
navy, 90 that the supply of ammunition
| is q necessary adjunct to the new ships.
The other ship has been launched. but
it will take some time to make hel
ready for sea.
| Mr.. Laine believes there will he Et
difficulty in bringing her over immedi
ately If it is desired to make the move
without delay, as the hull of the shil
is 10 well along that she could be tOwet
and her own sail power utilized for th'
trip across.
shortage In Engineers.
A dangerous deficiency in the engin
eer branch of the navy has been brough
to light strikingly in the fact that it i
scarcely possible to secure staff o
engineer officers to bring hack to tn
United States any Of the ships pur
chased abroad. This state Of affairs Ina
been brought to the attention of til
house naval committee, but so Tar, !
Il feared, without meeting that degre
of success which it was hoped for in tn
shane of an amendment increasing tn
number of engineer officers in the serv
ice.
Senator Proctor visited the Whit
house and uptown departments and hi
calls excited o good deal of interest. H
snent half an hour first with Secretar
Alger, explaining, it is believed, th
military situation in Cuba and aftel
ward had q conference with Judg
Day, assistant secretary of state. The
, he went to the White house and wa
, closeted with the president for tw
3 hours and o quarter. When he emerge
, from the room he conrteously decline
:, to speak regarding the nature Of the il
formation he had communicated to I'll
> president.
N.F. Palmer. representing the Quiz
Q tard iron works of New York. whic
built the engines of the Maine. was
e the navy department in cOnsultatio
J. with the officials respecting the CONVEX
o sion of vessels of the merchant Marir
into war craft. While not shipbuil'
> ing firm, the Quintard works have dol
. great deal of work on the engines an
y interiors of ships. which is just Il
g class of work required in the case I
q the auxiliary cruisers.
Missouri Valley DOctOrs.
,, RED OAK Ia, March i5.-The Mi