The Indianapolis journal., 1898-03-09
AT THE DEPARTMENTS.
Conference Over Purchase of War
Vessels from Foreign Builders.

Conference Over Purchase of War
Vessels from Foreign Builders.
WASHINGTON, March S.-There was a
very strong suggestion of the state of af-
fairs that might exist in time of actual war
in the busy scenes presented at the Navy
and War Departments to-day. There was
an almost unbroken succession of confer
enceS between officers and officials of vari-
Gus degrees, and throughout both these
branches of the war establishment the
greatest activity was exhibited. Secretary
Long was particularly busy. Before 10
o'clock he had been obliged to retire to his
private office and deny himself to callers
in order to hold conference. Senator
Lodge was present as we'll as Chairman
Hale, of the Senate naval committee; Chair
man Boutelle, of the House naval commit
tee; Captain Crowninshield, chief of the
Navigation Bureau; Captain Bradford.
chief of the Equipment Bureau Captain
Brownson and Assistant Secretary Roose-
welt. Chief Constructor Hichborn and Ad-
miral Matthews, chief of the Bureau of
Yards and Docks, were also called to the
conference by the secretary TO deal with
special phases of the question under com
sderation. The conference had to do with
the preparations for putting the navy in the
Secretary Long is consulting at every step
with the representatives of the legislative
branch of the government shows the desire
of the President to keep within the strict
spirit of the Constitution.
Secretary Long found time during the
progress of the conference to talk a mo-
ment with Mr.. Lane, who has submitted to
the department proposals for the sale of
certain war ships now building in Europe
at private ship yards. What passed be-
tween them is not known. but Mr.. Lane
hastened Immediately to the cable office at
the conclusion OF the conversation to COM
municate directly with his principals in
Europe. Tcss secretary made it plain to the
legislators at the conference that the de-
partment is very much better prepared than
has been supposed in the matter of ac-
curate information of the ship-building in
progress in European ship yards. But the
point upon which the department now seeks
to inform itself goes beyond this, and looks
to securing information as to which of these
ships can be purchased Immediately. 1t was
shown that very many more difficulties ex-
ist than the public is aware of in the ac-
quirement of such property war ships.
Most of these craft under construction are
being built under special orders for various
perhaps not of the most desirable type,
are in the builders hands in such shape
that they can be at once disposed of. In
the case of some of the European powers,
under strong monarchical form of govern
ment, it is possible for permission to be
given at once for the sale OF ship to an
other nation, but in the case of more COM
plex forms of government such as those
as exist in the South American republics,
which have ordered ships now under con-
struction in Europe, it 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, neces-
stating recourse to the legislative branches
of their government for authorization. This
will be a time-consuming process that could
be scarcely entertained in our case.
BROWNSON. WILL GO TO EUROPE.
1t Is particularly with a view to acquiring
information the possibility of buying
ships Immediately that Captain Brownson
has been selected to go to Europe. He is
an officer of great discretion and his ex-
perience on the board of inspection, which
is charged with the duty Of thoroughly
examining all ships built for the navy has
thoroughly familiarized him with all of the
details of the various types of war ships,
Daltis SHIPS, armoreu cruisers, protected
cruisers, monitors and torpedo boats. Dur
ing tho conference this morning he was
made fully acquainted with the views OF the
secretary and his advisers as to the proper
scope of his mission and he will lose no
time in starting for Europe. After the con-
ference he had long interview with AS
sistant Secretary Day, of the State De-
partment and arranged to obtain letters
to United States ambassadors and ministers
abroad, instructing them to place every
force at their disposal at work to help Capt.
Brownson.
Commander Brownson will sail for South
ampton by the first available steamer and
will prosecute his duties in England
and France with the utmost diligence and
dispatch AT southampton, where he win
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