The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-07
TO BUY SEVEN SHIPS.
Rothschilds Said to Have Loaned $40, O0O,-
900 at 40 Per Cent.

600 at 40 Per Cent.
London, March 5.-The New York
Journals correspondent sends the follow
ing to this paper.
All Indications in London today are
that Spain is pushing every preparation
for war with the United States. It is, of
course, impossible to verify the rumors in
connection with Spain's transactions
here, but have been informed on the
very best authority that her agents have
today concluded negotiations for loan
said to be $40, 900, 900.
The most persistent rumor is that the
Rothschilds have furnished this amount,
but this is positively denied by the Roths-
ohilds' agent. The fact is, however, that
two different commissioners from Spain
have been in London for two weeks at
tempting to raise money for which they
have offered as high rate of interest as
40 per cent, which is believed to be the
rate at which the loan was made.
Financial agents of London capitalists
have been in Madrid for ten days investi-
eating the security offered by Spain. and
it is on their report that the transaction
was concluded today.
The import of this Is that If Spain has
obtained this money she will at once pur-
chase seven war vessels for which she has
been negotiating since the relations be-
tween Spain and the United States be-
came SO greatly strained. OF these vessels,
two, the Captain Pratt and Blanoo Encaf
lada, both the property of Chill, are af1oat
today in the Pacific. The Pratt is war
ship of $500 tons, 1900 horse power, IL
inch armor belt, three inch protected deck
and 10 1-2 inch turrets. She carries six
Q IA inch, eight At inch six Founders,
four three Founders, 10 one Founders, five
machine guns and four torpedo tubes.
Her speed is 1873 knots and her crew is
4S5 men.
The Blanco is of 4, 400 tons and IA, 500
horse power. She has no gun protection
but four inch protected deck. She
carries two eight inch and ten six inch
guns. twelve three Founders, twelve one
Founders and five torpedo tubes. Her
speed is 1913 knots. She was completed
IN 1886 ana the Frau IN lc0S.
Other vessels which Spain has been try
ing to acquire are O'Higgins, also the
property of Chill, and just completed ct
published in the journal. the Amazonas
and sister vessel not yet named, now
building for Brazil at Newcastle, and
also two other warghips,. the Marshal
Deodore and Marshal F1oriano, building
for Brazil at La Seyne Works in France
!, The AInazonas and her sister vessel
are protected cruisers. each !. 900 tons ana
Of six six inch rapid fire guns, ten six
Founders, four one FOUNDER, four machine
guns and three torpedo tubes. The armor
around their guns is Ia inches thick.
and each has three inch protected deck.
Their speed Is twenty knots.
The Amazonas could be gotten ready
for sea in two or three days. Her sister
ship is not yet launched. The Deodoro
and Floriano are also sister ships, armored
coast defence vessels, almost fiat bot
toned, for men-of-war, drawing maxi
mum of 10 feet inches. They are twin
screw steamships of 5000 tons and 8, 400
horse power. Their armor belts are 10 3-4
to IA inches thick, all of harveyized
steel. The battery of each consists OF two
"a two So inch, four ~ inch, four SIX
Founders, two one Founders, two machine
Their speed is 10 knots. :
There is another small cruiser lying off
Thames Iron Works that was built there
for Peru during her war with Chill, and
consequently not allowed to leave Eng
land at that time. She is of 1900 tons dis
placement and carries six 4. Z inch guns.
An expert estimate of the price Spain
would have to pay for these seven vessels
ia IS. 600. 900 for three Chilian vessels; 50, !
600. coo for the four building at Brazil,
and $500, 600 for the small cruiser which
only ten days ago was offered for sale for
$3.50, 900.
Americans need not feel called upon to
be frightened, however, If Spain should
secure these seven warships tomorrow,
since with her navy thus augmented
Spain would not be anything like
match on the sea for the United States.
The Spanish naval men, for instance,
consider that it Is a brilliant strategic
feat to purchase the Captain Pratt and
Blanco Enca1ada in order to take posses
sion of the western coast OF America In
case of Immediate war, those vessels be-
ing at present in the Pacific.
Eyen If Spain could get crews out to
these ships In time to do0apy damage,
they would find three American men-of-
war ready for them in the Pacific. the
Oregon, Monterey and Monadnock, any
two of which would befe more than a
match for the FRAT ana bhe hncStiaua.
GENEROUS TARS.
Key West, Fla, March 5.-The Mallory
line steamer Lampasas, which sailed for
New York today has on board five sur
yiyors of the Maine. They are Master-at-
arms Lead, Cooks Schwartz and Toplis,
Rushida and Awo. stewards. They will
be taken to the receiving ship Vermont
and from her will be transferred to other
ships. All the other marines and sailors
of the Maine now here and fit for duty
were distributed today among the vessels
of the fleet. The commissioned and war.
rant officers of the Maine have not yet re-
ceiyed orders, but it Is said the orders are
here and as soon as the court of inquiry
definitely announces that it will not re-
call the officers, they Will be ordered to
their homes on leave on absence. A sub
scription is being raised throughout the
fleet for the relief of the families of the
victims of the Maine. Every enlisted man
on board the cruiser New York has given
SIS out of this months pay, in spite of the
endeavor to limit the subscription to 81.
! The men say they fear the Congressional
appropriation will be some time before ii
reaches the families of the dead of the