The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-03-17

Washington, March 16. - A weeks
negotiations closed yesterday by the
triumphant purchase by the navy de-
partment in London of the two fine
cruisers built and 1u1lding at Elswick
Tor the Brazilian government. Posi-
bly, 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
now to get the ships home, and that
has not yet 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 be
started for the United States. The
other vessel will follow at he4earliest
possible moment. The terms of sale
are secret. The availability of the two
Brazilian ships was first brought to
the attention of the navy department
by Mr.. Laine, agent Of the Maxim
Nordenfeldt company, who was au-
thorlzed to dispose these ships and
two others in course of construction, in
France. Mr.. Lame said that the two
ships purchased would be a most de-
sirable acquisition to the American
navy, as they were
I, The Latest and Best
products of the famous Armstrong
yards. One of the slips 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 the ship across
ASIAN adequate 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
all OF the kind in use by the United
States navy. so that the supply OF am
munition is a necessary aGjCnct to the
new ships. The other ship has been
launched but it will take some time to
make her ready for sea- Mr.. Laine
believes, however, that there will be
no difficulty in bringing her over i'm
mediately if it is desired to make the
move without delay, as the hull Of
the ship is well along and she could be
tOWed and her own sail power used
for the trip across.
A dangerous deficiency in the engi-
neer department has been brought to
light stril1ingly in the fact that it is
scarcely possible to secure a staff of
engineer officers to bring back to the
United States any of the ships pur-
chased abroad. This state of affairs
has been brought to the attention Of
the house naval committee, but so far
it is feared without meeting that de-
gree of success which it was hoped for
in the shape of an amendment
Increasing the Number
CT engineer officers in the service. COL
Haywood, the commandant of the ma
rine corps, has made five details of
marines for cruisers now being re-
paired or ready for commission.
Senator Proctor visited the White
House and uptown departments and
his calls excited good deal Of inter-
est. He spent half an hour first with
Secretary Alger, explaining, it is be.
1ieved, the military situation in Cuba,
and afterward had a conference with
Judge Day, assistant secretary of
state. Then he went to the White
4l\uSC Olu NdS S1OSCtcu Will IuS pres.
ident for two hours and a quarter.
When he emerged from the room he
courteously declined to speak regard
ing the nature of the information he
had communicated to the president.
Because of protest from some Of
tile Western people the secretary of
war has modified his order Of last
week changing. the names Of bounds of
the military department so as to re-
tein the name of the department Of the
Missouri. 10 do this, however, it was
necessary to abandon the naming Of
'"The Department of the Platte" and
the territory included within the pres
ent limits Of that department will be
known as the department of the Mis-
souri,. The old department Of the Mis-
souri, retains it's new name of the de-
partment Of the Lakes.
NO SHIPS BOUGHT.
Navy Department. Means to Get It's