The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-06
IN THE MARKET FOR SHIPS.
s,11y DOING ALL SIZE CAN TO
AND TO HER WAR FLEBT.

.,,,-opions to Purchase Two ships Few
nu,,dlnE on the clyde Onerea to Us-Chni
peol,ne. to Sci, Any wsrships while Trouble
III. Arreui.a Threatens-Brasi Seems t.
n. ue,d,nE or for Fancy P~rices-spain's
rorpedo Beats Will Seen Ne OF The way.
sp,ctai Gable Dsspatch to TIE SUE.
,oSpoS. March Sit was q moro statement
q, ordinary common sense which Mr.. Disracli
,ttsred when he declared that tho issue of any
vsr wherein England was engaged would DO
decided In Threadncedlo street. Tho present
sn,nish Government 10 clever enough fully to
.ppreclate that maxim and 10 acting on It at
this moment with astonishing enorgy.
II is scarcely an exaggeration to say that the
sr,t turn Of the tide in tho struggle which
threatens between Spain and the United States
IA involved In the negotiations that are pending
in this country between tho Spanish represent,-
lives and foreign owners Of ships which will DO
,srylceable in case OF war. No foreign warship
1, rot actually within Spanish control, but moro
than one will be in less than a week unless the
United States, with It's vastly superior resources,
enters this campaign Of dollars.
II was on Wednesday last, as oabled to THE SUN
On the same night, that Spain finally succeeded
in raising su~ Efficient cash to enable her to offer ex-
trayngant prices for vessels which would suffice
10 mako her naval strength equal, II not supe-
rior, to that of the United States. 1t happened.
curiously enough, that ON American was actually
present when the negotiations opened on that
DAY for tho purchase Of Gillian warships. Tho
prices offered were so large that the CHILEAN
representative was confident that his Govern
ment would accept, and tho Spaniards congrat-
ulatcd themselves that the ships were rs good
% theirs.
The Gillian Charge d'Affaires In London said
to TIE Sun correspondent to-day that he had
Just received a cable reply from his Government
TO the effect that 1t was impossible to relinquish
any warship as long as the strained relations
with the Argentine Republic continue. He
added. with remarkable ~frankness. that the re.
ply further explained that the consequence of
the disposal of a single warship to any foreign
power at the present moment would involve the
overthrow OF tho Government. by the people of
Chill. Argentina Is also trying to buy warships.
owing to the crisis with Chilli, which is an ad.
ditional reason why tho latter is unable to sell.
Nevertheless tho Spanish nezotiators have not
yet given up hope Of securing did from the
Chllians before the actual outbreak Of hostilities.
One point in tho Spanish proceedings 10 some
what p%nzzling. SPANS representatives mado a
substantial offer for the brazilian coast defence
vessels Deodora and Florlnna. now building In
these ships uader three months. Should war
break out in a less period they will be unavail.
able, because International luw would compel
France TO retain possession of them until the
end OF hostili.ies. An offer has also been made
for another Brazilian warship, the sister ship OF
tho Anazonas, which is in tho Armstrong;
yard, not yet launched. The natural inference
is that srnin does not expect war before sum-
Yer. although perhaps il would be possible to tow
.hesr unfinished ships to some Spanish port in
case hostiiitics became imminent. In regard to
the Arnazon0s, which is reported to have been
secured for Spain, this is still premature.
although. as reported in these dispatches some
weeks ago. Spain is making every effort to get
possession OF this vessel, which is now almost
really for sea.
It's shrcwdly suspected that Brazil, II willing
10 sell is holding of for n fancy price. 1t 10
"cllknown that the supply of warships is much
less than the demand, and it is easily foreseen
that there will be no limit to the prices the ma.
tions will be willing TO pay In case of the emer.
Gency which is threatened.
Meantime. as far as actual negotiations arc
concerned, 1t may DO Affirmed positively tina the
United States, up to noon to-day, had not made
Q single offer TO purchase any warship in
Europe. It. necessary to DO very precise in
language on this point. for representatives of
the United States Government have been ac-
lively collecting exact information in regard to
themarketability Of every warship now building
mEurope. The cable has boon freely used within
the past few days on this subject. and the situa-
non may be completely changed at any hour.
The American Governments representatives
IN Europe know precisely what sum will secure
each ship for which Spain 10 bidding. It is even
asserted that options to purchase two ships now
building on the Clyde nave voluntarily been
enered to the United States. and orders to pur-
oAase these vessels are expected from Washing
Ton at any hour.
10 by no means impossible that the Anna
tonas. which 10 almost ready to leave the Arm
slrohgs' yard. may yet DO secured by the United
states. although this 10 not one OF the vessels on
which an option has been offered. Tho Brazilian
naval Commission IN Paris arc negotiAtors In
ocnall OF the owner Of the Amazonas.
FOOLISH rumors havo been cabled from Amer-
'ea 10 tho effect that negotiations have been
entered into by one or two Of the great powers
,of the purchase of warships for the United
states or Spain. 1t Is unnecessary to say that
'nSr" Is not the slightest truth In this report.
Tho Spanish Government evidently attaches
'ne greatest Importance to the torpedo hotilla
under Admiral viliamll reaching Cuban waters
VITO the least possible delay. All tho vessels
NO being htted with spare sails. The magazine
Iooms are being converted into coal bunkers,
ana the deck guns hnva hAAn ramovAd IL aIso