Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1898-03-17
TWO FINE CRUISERS.
The Government Secures "a Pair of Bra
lillian Vessels.

negotiations closed today ny the tri-
umphant purchase by the navy depart
mcnt in London of the two fine cruisers
Amazonas and Admiral Abrenall built
and building at Elsewick for the Bra
lillian government. Possibly the Off
Gals took more pleasure in closing the
business in this matter because of the
knowledge that Spanish agents had
been striving to secure these very ships,
and that to Spain, 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 vet been
settled, according to the secretary of
the navy. The United States flag will
be hoisted over the new ships within
week, probably, and just as soon as the
crew can be put aboard the Amazonas,
she will start for the United States
The other vessel will follow at the
earliest possible moment. The terms
OF the sale are secret.
The availability of the two Brazilian
ships was first brought to the attention
of the navy department by Mr.. Lane,
agent of the Nordcnfclit Company, who
was authorized to dispose OF these ships
building at ElseWick, and two others
in course of construction in Franco.
Mr.. Lane said today that the two ships
purchased would be most desirable
acquisition to the American navy, rs
they We're the latest and best products
OF the famous Armstrong yards. One
of the ships is complete in every re-
spect, has her coal supply and ammuni-
ton on board, and steam can be raised
at any time. There will be no trouble
IN bringing this ship across, as an ade-
quate force from the local yards can
be secured for the service. 1t is said
the coal and ammunition on board
passed with the sale to the United
States. The ammunition is not of the
Kind in use by the American navy, 50
that the supply of ammunition is "A
necessary adjunct OF the new ships.
The other ship has been launched,
but it will take some time to make her
ready for sea. Mr.. Lane believes, how
ever, that there will be no difficulty in
bringing her over Immediately if II is
desired to make the move without de-
lay as the hull of the ship is SO we'll
along that she could be towed, and her
own sail power utilized for the trip.
Senator Proctor visited the White
House and uptown departments today,
and his calls excited q great deal of in
terest He spent half an hour with
Secretary Alger, explaining, it is be-
lieved, the military situation in Cuba,
and afterwards held conference with
Judge Day, assistant secretary of state.
Then he went to the White House, and
was closeted with the president for two
hours. When he emerged from the
room he courteously declined to speak
regarding the nature OF the informa-
ton he has communicated to the presi-
dent.
The two Brazilian ships will be ex-
tremely valuable additions to the Uni
/ ted States navy in either war or peace,
in the opinion OF Secretary Long, who
acknowledges they have been bought
by the United States. They are steel
sheathed and coppered, with twin
screws. The Amazonas is rated at
/, 400 tons displacement, with an indi-
Gated horsepower, under natural
draught, of 1000, which is calculated
to develop 30 knots speed
Thus, while the ship is about the
size of the Charleston, she is much
faster. Her armament is also much
more formidable, not So much in cali
Der, for the main battery is made up OF
six-inch guns, but the guns are what is
known as 50-caliber length, giving them
an unusual range and power. In addi-
tion to this they have 10 G-pounier
quick firing guns, four l-pounders. four
Maxim machine guns, and two boat or
field guns. The torpedo tubes are
three in number
The coal capacity is $50 tons, giving
her an effective steaming radius Of
5000 knots, a most valuable feature,
inaslnuch as it would enable the ship
to cross and recross the Atlantic with
out coaling. Such a vessel as a COM
merce destroyer would be vastly more
effective than what appears to be more
powerful craft, because of their ability
to get along on long cruises without
] touNiiHc Nv hN'I'oi l'i 70 w NN'''' anu
thus exposing themselves to capture.
The bureau of ordnance of the war
department opened bids today for a
large supply of armor-percing projec-
tiles, and for 1000, 600 rifle ball car
tldges. The bidding brought together
number of representatives OF large
steel and ammunition companies, some
Of whom took occasion to give assur-
ances that in the present emergency,
government would be given the prefer
! ence over commercial orders.
The bidders for steel projectiles,
varying in size from the S-inch steel
capped shot to the 1,000.pound SHOT,
were the Midvalc Steel Company, the
acknowledgement Co., the Carpenter
Steel Company and the Furth Sterling
Company. The bids varied only slight
" on the various classes OF heavy shot,
running from 81 Is each for the S-inch
to : 30 each from the FOUNDERS.
The bids for rife cartridges We're in
two parts, $1,000, 600 being standard
metallic ball cartridges, with brown
powder, and 1900, 900 new cartridges,
with smoLeless powder. There We're
three bidders, viz; The Union Metal