The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-11
NO SHIPS SOLD TO SPAIN.
NEITHER HAs sHE BEEN ABLE TO
SECURE a LOAN OF S<o,oO0,0oo.

whe Has Authority which Will Ennbie
Him 10 Buy Quickly. Reaches Europe.
WARRINGTON. March 1o.-According to the
advices received by tho State and Navy depart
ments from their agents abroad. Spain has not
succeeded In purchasing n single warship built
or building In any European country. Tho Ad.
ministration regards this information as
thoroughly trustworthy. and after It's
worry over the reports from London. Paris.
and elsewhere that the Spanish Govern
mont had arranged for securing options
on q number OF armorclads at European
shipyards. 1t 10 correspondinRly happy.
Furthermore, diplomatic officers Of the United
States. who have been ondeavoring to ascertain
from the most reliable sources whether there is
any truth In tho persistent rumors that Spain
has secured q loan OF $4o.O Oo. 900. have reported
to this Government that Spain has not sue
ceedod In raising any money. ana shipbuilders
and foreign nations who have vessels OF war for
sale are shy Of making any contracts with the
Madrid authorities.
A number Of dispatches from naval attaches
of United States Embassies In Europe in regard
to the prospect of purchasing ships and the
Spanish endeavors to obtain options on those
under construction were received OF the Navy
Department to-day. 1t was on the strength Of the
information contained in these and otber cable
phS oto nv Auhh tAAtt NV hhfiAA
tration feels justified in believing that Spain
has been quito as unsuccessful as this country In
making arrangements for augmenting its naval
forces in the event OF hostilities. Great Britain's
attitude in not permitting English shipowners
to sell their vessels without tho consent of the
Admiralty 10 not causing any uneasiness. II
fact, 1t 10 quito pleasing to the Navy Depart
ment, which realizes that tho embargo will
have o worse effect on Spain than on the United
1 49, - C~At, yAAla IL 80. 49, aLl.
country does.
I'VE will feel that we have accomplished q
great DEAL" said a prominent official to THE
Sun reporter, "if falling ourselves to purchase
ships abroad we have kept the other fellows
from getting any"
Lieut.. A. p. Niblack, naval attach6 Of the
United States Embassies at Vienna. Berlin, and
Rome. has added his efforts in securing informa-
tion about purchasable armorclads and torpedo
boats to those of Lieut.. John c. Colwell. attache
at London, and Lieut.. w. g. Sims. attache at
Paris and st. Petersburg. He is now In
Italy making inspections OF tho shipyards
in that country and comforting with
the representatives Of nations which are
said to BIO willing to sell vessels under
construction for their navies. Lieut.. Niblack
informed the Navy Department to-day that he
had been unable to secure an option on the
armorclad San MARITIME, which is being built for
the Argentine Republic at Leghorn. The rea-
sons underlying this failure were not ascer-
tanned by THE Sun reporter. but 1t is positively
known that the Spanish Government did not
chcckmate tho United States.
Tho rivalry between Spain and the United
States in the endeavor to get ships is growing
more intense. Representatives of each Govern
mont arc crossing the tracks Of agents of tho
other. and 1t is believed here that some Of
tho countries which want to dispose Of
vessels arc encouraging both sides In tho
hope Of securing more advantageous Of
fers than those now under consideration
This 10 not displeasins to the Washington
administration which is hoping that no prog
ress will be made by either party in tho race
until Commander Willard II. Brownson, the
general agent OF the Unitod States, who sailed
from New York for Southampton by the st.
Paul yesterday. begins his propaganda in
Europe. Tho wide discretion and authority
given Commander Brownson will enable him to
make quick bargains and straighten out some
of the difficulties which the naval attaches have
encountered through their inability to enter
into formal arrangements with the Governments
and the persons who have ships for sale.
The scope Of Commander Brownson's mission
Is wider than had been previously admitted. Ho
will devote his attention not only to securing
| options on war vessels and in ascertaining every
thing that will be OF value to the Government
in relation to that subject. but will make ar.
rangements for securing q large supply of am
m~unition for the ships of the United States
Navy. There has boen considerable I'M
e~asiness felt by the naval authorities
over their inability to obtain a sufficient
quantity Of powder. projectiles. and fixed am
munition to supply all tho ships which would be
in commission II hostilities actually occurred.
Very little smokeless powder is in the posses
sion of the navy. and the manufacturer Of this
material will not be able. no matter how
great their efforts, 10 comply with the
emergency demands of the Government.
| Commander Brownson will probably place
contracts with foreign Arms for furnishing
an enormous quantity OF smokeless powder. 10
be delivered within tho shortest possible period.
He will also arrange for securing other mum.
lions of war and will make n general inspection
of the factories where such things are made.
with q view to reporting their ability to provide
the Navy with whatever 1t needs In their several
lines.
Mr.. Plat. . representative OF tho Thornycraft
| Shippuiiding Company. has been In consultation
with navy officials In regard to tho purchase of
vessels constructed by his arm. The decision
OF the British Government that no English ship
builder shall dispose Of any of his craft to tho
United States or Spain has put a stop to the ne
gotiations for securing tho four thirty-knot tor
pedo boat destroyers which Thornvcraft had on
tho stocks in the expectation OF disposing of
them to China. This British firm would like to
| enter into contract with the United States
for constructing other torpedo boat de-
~stroyers and torpedo boats, deliveries to
DO made within fifteen months. but tho
Navy Department has decided that II will not
arrange for any work Of a warliko character
that cannot be completed within the period set
for the $780, OO.O 900 emergency appropriation to
run-that 10. until Jan. l. 1899. II the limit of
tho availability Of the appropriation should DO
extended. all contracts for the construction of
] ships and for furnishing other munitions OF war
will be placed with American firms. The pres
cnt preparations contemplate quick deliveries
of all materials. which will DO paid for out Of
tho emergency fund.
A contract for delivery OF fixed ammunition
was closed to-day by the Navy Department with
the Driggs-Seabury Ordnance Company Of
Washington. d. c., and Derby, Conn. The con-