The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-06
MAY Be TRICKY
SUSPICION THAT sPANIARDs ARE NOT
ACTING IN GOOD FAITH.
Buying War Ships While Protesting
to President Mckinley They Are
Anxious IN avoid HOstiIities.
AGENTS OF OUR GOVERNMENT
SAID TO BE SECRETLY WATCHING
MOVEMENTS OF THE DONs,
And Also Looking Out for Bargains in
War Vessels i'm Case There Is
Need of Their Purchase.
FLORIDA MAKING TROUBLE
THREATENS TO QUARANTINE PART
OF ADMIRAL SICARD'S FLEET.
Navy and Army OmciaIs Anxious for
the Public to Believe They Are Not
Getting Ready for War.
And Also Looking Out for Bargains in
War Vessels i'm Case There Is
Need of Their Purchase.
FLORIDA MAKING TROUBLE
THREATENS ITO QUARANTINE PART
OF ADMIRAL sICARD's FLEET.
Navy and Army officials Anxious for
Getting Ready for War.
special 10 the Indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, March 5-The President
is taking steps to-day to ascertain what
basis there is for the cablegrams announc-
ing that the Spanish government had pur-
chased two or more battle ships. The Pres
ident is not satisfied as to the facts in the
case, and agents of the government are
moving to learn the status. The report
was very disturbing to the administration,
and tended to confirm the suspicion that
the Spanish Ministry might not be acting
in entire good faith. The Madrid govern
ment has been to extraordinary pains to
produce the impression on the Presidents
mind that it would yield almost anything
to avoid actual hostilities, but many facts
are being brought to his attention which
indicate that these professions may be in
sincere, and made for the purpose of gain
ing time to complete preparations for war.
Out of this state of affairs has grown the
story that naval attaches of legations of
Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Italy and Japan
have secured options on a number of battle
ships. armed cruisers and torpdeo boats on
behalf of this government. These reports
cannot be verified. They are, in fact, de-
MED at the Navy Department, but it is
probably true that inquiry has been made
by direction OF the department, SO that if it
should be necessary these options could be
secured without delay. The administration
will proceed on the theory that the Spanish
Ministry is honest in its professions of
friendship for the United States, but will
not be blind to the necessity of preparation
for war if break in our relations should
occur.
An Associated Press dispatch says: The
continued reports that Spain is buying
new war ships led to counter reports
that the naval authorities here were con-
sidering similar purchases In no official
quarter at the Navy Department could this
be confirmed, as steps of this character
necessarily would be guarded with the
greatest secrecy. There is little doubt, how
ever, that the department is informing
itself fully as to the opportunities of pur-
chases should the necessity for more ships
arise. Thus far there have been no ne
gotiations for ships and no options asked on
particular ships. Quite a number of offers
of ships have been submitted to Secretary
Long by ship-building concerns, in this
country and abroad These have been
docketed and filed, but beyond an acknowl-
edgment of the offers no steps toward pur-
chase have been taken.
Under ordinary circumstances the Navy
Department would require authority from
Congress to purchase war ships. There is
no law which permits a larger exercise of
authority in times of emergency than at
other times. 1t is understood however that
the naval authorities feel that such emer-
gency measures as might be required would
have the subsequent approval of Congress-
A precedent is cited as to the purchase of a
naval vessel in a time of emergency without
the assent of Congress. While Secretary
Chandler was at the head of the Navy De-
partment information reached here that the
Greely arctie expedition was in a perilous
condition and that relief was imperative
without a days delay, and it is now a mat
ter of history that if the relief party had
been twenty-four hours later in reaching
Greedy and his men the latter would have
succumbed from starvation. None of the
naval ships at the time were available. The
Bear was offered for sale, however, and
Secretary Chandler closed the contract for
its purchase, stating at the time that if
Congress failed to ratify the purchase and
make the appropriation necessary for the
purchase price he would hold himself per-
sonally responsible to the contractors. The
Bear was successful in its relief mission,
and Congress promptly ratified Mr. Chand-
lers course by appropriating for the ship
She is now in the government service as a
1t is said that the same course of procedure
would be followed in case of emergency at
the present time