The herald., 1898-03-09
BUYING OF WARSHIpS
UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE
NAVY OFFICIALS
JAPAN's TWO BIG CRUISERS
Are Looked Upon With Longing Eyes.
Lighthouse Tenders May Be
Pressed Into Service
Associated Press Special Wire


mitted to the department proposals fol
the sale Of certain warships now build
ing in Europe, at private shipyards
What passed between them is moi
known, but Mr.. Lane hastened immed'
lately to the cable office at the conclu-
sion of the conversation, to communi-
cate directly with his principals II
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 tho
ship-building in progress In european
yards. But the point upon which the
department now seeks to inform ltselI
goes beyond this and looks to securing
information as to which Of these ships
can be purchased immediately, It was
shown that very many more dih1culties
exist than the public Is aware in the ac-
Quirement of such property as war
ships. Most of these craft under con-
struction are building under special
orders for various governments, and
only few, and those perhaps not of
the most desirable type, are in the
builders hands, in such shape that they
cannot be at once disposed Of. In the case
of some of the European Powers, under
strong monarchial form OF govern
ment, 1t Is possible for permission to be
given at once for the sale of a ship to
another nation, but in case Of more
complex forms Of government, such as
those that exist In the South American
Republics, which have ordered ships
now under construction in Europe, 1t Is
feared that grave constitutional and
legal objections exist to the transfer of
the rights of these countries in their
ships,to the United States, necssitating
recourse to the legislative branches of
their governments for authorization.
This will be time-consuming process
that could be scarcely entertained in
our case.
1t Is particularly with the view to ac-
Quiring information on this point that
1t has decided to send Mr.. Brownson to
Europe. He is an officer of great dis
cretion and his experience on the Board
of Inspection, which is charged with the
duty of thoroughly examining all ships
built for the navy. has thoroughly fam
iliarized him with all of the details of
modern battleship construction.
During the conference this morning
Mr.. Brownson was made fully ac-
quainted with the views Of the Secre-
tary and his advisors as to the scope
of his mission and he will lose no time
In starting on his mission to Europe.
Commander Brownson will sail from
New York to Southampton by the first
available steamer and will prosecute his
duties in England and France with the
utmost diligence and dispatch. AT
Southampton he will be joined by Lieut..
j. C.. Colwell, naval attache of the
American Embassy at London. Com
mander Brownson will go to France
next, with as little delay as possible and
will confer with Lieut.. w. S. Sims, naval
attache to the American Embassy at
Paris, and there inspect the two battle
ships Marshal Deodoro and Marshal
Florian, now building for the Brazilian
navy, and which, it is understood, can
be purchased by the United States.
Commander Brownson Is also charged
with the important duty of investigat-
ing the practicability OF the purchase
from foreign manufacturers of ordnance
material in case our own supply should
prove inadequate.
1t Is known positively that negotiations
are in progress toward having the
United States acquire the crack cruisers
now being built for Japan. one now at
the Cramp yards at Philadelphia, and
the other at the Union Iron Works, San
Francisco. The negotiations naturally
are circuitous, as there are three parties
in it-namely, the Japanese government,
the United States and the ship-builders
There is good reason to believe that
terms could be made between the United
States and the ship builders, and that,
so far as they are concerned, the trans
action could be concluded without much
further negotiation. While suggestions
have been made that the right of emf
nent domain would permit the United
States to take the two cruisers without
reference to Japan's rights, there is no
desire among officials here to resort to
such radical steps. Moreover it is said
that such action would be an interna-
tional offense directed against Japan,
and an unfriendly act, which this gov
ernment is not likely to commit at this
moment toward a friendly power.
The present negotiations contemplated
Japan's full acquiescence, but whether
they will succeed cannot be said at this
time. 1t Is known positively, however.
that no overtures have been submitted |
thus far to the authorities at Toxic, and |
1t would he for them to give the final |
decision. Pending this, a contract could |
not be made nor an option given. The |
negotiations took a marked step forward |
today. although, as stated, they have not |
yet reached the final stage. The two cruis- |
ers are not only being built for Japan |
but they have already become the actual |
property of Japan by the payment of a |
considerable portion Of the purchase price, |
to wit, $1,350.000 each. They are within |
three months of completion on an emer- |
gency basis, and are designed to make 22
Knots, which ranks them among the swift |
est cruisers in the world. Their armament |
primary and seconardy, Is according to the |
japanese naval standard which proved so
enectlve IN her recent war with China |
Inc government officials here feel that
tnere IS not likely to be manifested a dis
position ON the part of the Japanese gov |
ernment to stand upon technical objections
70 the sale OF these ships to the United
states government In case the decision is
reacneo TO purchase them, basing this he
lief upon the many kindly expressions
tnnt OF late have come to their notice |
and the past record Of the Japanese nas
tion. 80
MOVEMENTS OF wARsH1Ps
The big armored cruiser BROOKLYN start.
ed away from La Guyra today. under or |
ders from the navy department, directly
1or Hampton roads, She has been maxine |
q flying cruise in the eWst indies and
around the eastern end Of Cuba. and II |
was the original intention to have her ro |
to Colon. on the isthmus, and thence ~ /
work northward along the eastern coast |