The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-18
, AMERICAN FLAG WILL GO UP.

London. March 1.-THE warship Anna
zonas, built for Brazil. but purchased
by the United States. will be formally
transferred to the United States govern
ment tomorrow at Gravsssnd.
Lieutenant Commander Colwell, the
Tinted States naval attache here, will
receive her on behalf of the government
and from the Brazilian commander. A
crew from the San Francisco Will then
be marched on board it. the Brazilian
flag will be hauled down and the bra
lillian crew will be landed.
The executive officer of the San Fran
cisco will probably take command of the
Amazonas and she will sail for the Unit
ed States as speedily as possible, under
sealed orders
1t is supposed she is going to the near
est American station, where her crew
can be reinforced.
A special dispatch from Rome says the
italian minister of marine, Admiral
Brine, has informed the Spanish ambassa-
dor to Italy, Count de Bonomar, that his
request that Italy will sell three warships
to Spain will be discussed at the next
cabinet meeting.
SPAIN WILL REFUSE TO SETTLE.
Madrid, March l7.-The following semi
official note was issued today:
The report of the Spanish commission
on the Maine is not yet known, but the
S statement of several technical officers,
who haveImade a close examination OF
the scene of the disaster, shows 1t was in
disputably due to an internal incident.
American assertions to the contrary
are therefore deplored in official quarters,
as tending to mislead public opinion
and render the situation still more diff
cult from tho standpoint OF maintaining
friendly relations between the two coun-
tries.
1t may be regarded as certain that the
American technical commission will
present report declaring the disaster
to be due to an external explosion. The
publio here will refuse to accept such a
finding, and any demand for an iDdem-
nifty based thereon will be Indignantly
repealed by Spain.
WANT TO NAME NEW SHIPS.
Washington, March 17-Nearly every
town in the country large enough in its
own estimation to Justify such claim
has applied to Secretary Long to christen
one OF the newly acquired Brazilian
cruisers in its honor.
The naval officials are somewhat dis
coura1ed at the receipt Of additional
quantities of provisions at Kety West
destined for the relief of the suffering re-
copcantradoes in Cuba, as the department
hos not lust now available any suitable
vessel for the delivery Of supplies and 1t
may become necessary to charter meR-
chant vessel.
A representative of the Kansas City
Star today notified Judge Day that he
had collected large quantity of supplies
which he desired transported in accord
ance With the promise held out in the
Presidents proclamation to Cuba. With
out doubt some method will be found to
forward supplies speedily.
The gunboat Vicksburg has sailed from
Than1aG
Vesuyius sailed this morning from Fort
George, Fla, for Washington. Many
substantial advances have been made In
the mechanism of dynamite guns, such as
the Vesuvius carries, since nhe was built
and the department. proposes too verhaul-
her machinery at the Washington Navy
Yard at once.
WE BUY ANOTHER BOAT.
London, March 17.-According to q
special despatch from Sunderland. the
United States government has purchased
a torpedo toat destroyer from ship.
builder of the place, named Dexford.
CAPT. MAHAN GOING TO EUROPE
New York, March 17.-CaptaiD Alfred
Il. Mahan, retired, the noted authority OF
naval affairs, secured passports today fol
a trip through Italy, France and Eng
land. He will sail on March 26, fol
Naples While in England, Captain
Mahan will gather material for his work
on the naval history of the war Of 1872
He said his visit would have nothing tt
do with the present naval affairs Of the
government