The record-union., 1898-04-08
SPAIN PAYS DEARLY FOR SHIPS.
GIVES FOUR MILLION DOLLARS
FOR THE GARTBALDI.
The Vessel at One Time offered for
Sale for Two-Thirds the
Purchase Price.

NEW YORK, April S--A dispatch
to the Tribune" from Washington
says The Navy Department has
learned that Spain has bought another
warship, the Giuseppe Garibaldi from
Italy, for future delivery, after the
United States had refused to take the
vessel. The Varez No 3, which had
also been offered to the United States,
has been sold by Italy to the Argentine
Republic. No other vessels will be
completed for four or five months, and
by that time the United States does not
expect to need second hand ships of
that character. 1t was for this rea-
son that Commander Brownson, after
inspecting the two vessels in the Ital-
ian dock yards, was recalled to this
country, it being evident that in case
of war neither of the two vessels could
be brought to the United States, if it
We're possible indeed, to complete them
in Italy or get them out of neutral
waters after a declaration of hostilities.
Commander Brownson also had the
satisfaction of knowing before he left
italy that Spain was made to pay dear
ly for the ship, for his visit advanced
her price to $4,C00C00, although the
vessel had at one time been offered for
two-thirds of that amount. Italy has
found it exceedingly profitable tG
build Garibaldis and Varezs in lots, and
parcel them off at strictly retail prices.
The first was launched at qSestu Po-
onute dock yard May 81 1895. and
named Giuseppe Garibaldi. A sister
ship called the Varez was launched
oil hn of fbo ,1Ia
Both these We're sold to the Argentine
Republic in 1896, and renamed, respec-
lively, Garibaldi and San Matin, the
former bringing the enormous price of
1S,S07 800 francs.
Italy Immediately laid down two more
identical ships with the same names,
and launched them by the latter part
of 1886. They were snapped up by
Spain, and renamed respectively Girls
tobal Colon and Pedro d'Aragua, the
former being now considered the finest
cruiser belonging to Spain, while the
latter is still uncompleted at Cadiz. 1t
was the Cristobal Colon that was Sc
lected to convoy the torpedo flotiIla to
this country but at the last moment
it was found that the Scotch engineers
would not come, and the Spanish engi-
neers were not sufficiently familiar with
the machinery to undertake so long a
voyage. In fact, the Spanish engi-
neers could not get the ship under a
full steam power at all
AS soon as Italy disposed of the sec
ond set of duplicates another Giuseppe
Garibaldi was laid down at SeXtu Po-
neute and a third Varez at Leghorn, to
be completed in the latter part of 1898
The former vessel was launched on
September 10Th last, and by extra work
has now been brought to condition
which gives promise Of completion the
last of August The United States con-
cluded it would not need such a ship
the last of August or even a month
earlier. Naval officers did not want to
purchase the Albany, because she was
uncompleted, but Brazil declined to sell
the New Orleans without the Albany
and, as the New Orleans was ready
and needed both ships We're taken.
The American flag was promptly
raised on the Albany to avoid any in
ternational ENHANCEMENT but it is fully
recognized here that her services can
not be utilized if war occurs before
she leaves England, for the English
could not complete her afterward to
observe neutrality, nor would it be con-
Sidered safe to start her unarmOred
and alone across the ocean.
At the Navy Department it is said
that the statement that the United
States signed contracts for three Ital-
ian torpedo boats is not true. for much
as the United States would like to have
the vessels, the impossiblity of getting
them to the United States is fully
recognized.
The names Yankee Dixie, Prairie
and Yosemite were to-day selected as
the naval designations of the four
Morgan Line auxiliary cruisers Ell Sol,
FL Norte El Sud and Ell Rio