The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-03-15
ADDITIONS 70 THE NAVY
The United S|0ieS acquires Two CTQiS.
eTS from BIuZIIi0R Government.
HOW ARE THEY TO Be GOTTEN HOME?
That liz the Question Tint Is Annoy.
ing tho Navy Deiartmcnt-A Dan
gcrous Deficiency Discovered In
the Engineering Experimentation.
Rtor Proctor Wiih NIcIkInlcy.
HOW ARE THEY TO Be GOTTEN HOME?
Washington, March II, 1898

Washington. March II, 1898.
~ weeks c.Egotiations clcScd to-day
by the purchase by the Navy Depart
merit III London OF the two fine cruisers
built and building AT Elswick, for ;hs
Brazilian Governments Possibly the
officials r.ok morS pleasure i.g closing
up the business in this manner because
cf the knowledge that the Spanish
agents had been striving to secure these
Nsry ships, 10 whom, Il is said, they
would be Of much greater value in case
OF Erouble than to the United States.
The C.cNt question is how to get thu
ships home, ard that has not yet besr!
settled, according tc, tlr> Secretary of
the Navy. JUST as soon as the crew
can ba put aboard the Amazonas she
Will start for the Cnt;ed States Thu
other vessel Will follow at the farles t
possible moment. The terms of i'he
sale ar: secret Mr.. Lane, agent IF
the At2Xim-N Nord1nfeldt company, said
to-day ihat the two ships would be n
most desirable uddit.c:. to the American
navy. as ihcy are the latest arii b. ST
products of thv famous Armstrong
yards. Ons Of the ships is somplets, in
every rcspcc., has her d.al supply and
'2I1lmunittcn on board, ac;d steam can be
raised at any time. There will be
no timbie in bringing this ship ,across
aus ac1 adequate force from the local
yards CaHi be secured for the service
IT. rs said the coal and ammunitcc,
on board rsssed with the sale u. he
unipd IStatss Tint ammunition is
not all Of the kind IL, use by tbs, uu,ited
States navy, 50 that the supply of am
muntlu7' is necessary adjunct 10 the
new SHIPS The other ship has been
launch5d, hut il will TAX, some time
to make her ready for sea. Mr.. Lane
p"i.cves nWever. thar chere will be
I'D difficulty l." bringing her over inn
hSalately, If !; is desired 10 make the
hH,N>, without delay. as ,hr hull of the
snip IS 50 well along that she could be
toWed, ana her own saul power utilized
for 'thc 'r.p ac!,,ss
y dangerous dcic.oncy in ;ha rr,n,
ne7r branch Of the navy has Lran
brought To light In the feet that ii is
scarcely possible h. s, cure a stan of
s:&ine5r oilio-rs TO bring back to the
tn'rd states any of the ships pur
chased abroad. This state If ,rroirs
mas harn brought to the at.antir,a, Of
IN" Rouse Naval Committee, but S. IA =
J. IS fsarcd without meeting with ina,
degree of success which IL was hor,d "a.
III 'hc snap" ~ IN amendment ..crcas
ing the "Mmber %f engineer officers H.,
thz $ rvics, -
Coz Hotwo7a. the commandant ~
me Marine cerpS. To-day made 1vs
uG'Ai'S O. marines for cruisers now he
LIZ liS repaired or ready for CGrcnissin-
I nTI' ':e %wo drafts Of 10 eac.. for ill.,,
ihi!ade!rh:' and Charleston. on, nj
o. Tor the Newark nj Norfolk. ana ON,
~ thirty for the columbia and Min
h@dnn!iS at League Island
ser tor Proctor VISITED the Whit
lt"uSc AID up ttiSl1 departments to-
Day and his call excited A eoc,l daaI
OF interest lie sp2nt hlls an enur
4iiH; wiki Secretary Algcr, explajnjns.
IS belived. the military situa;.cm in
tur"' all aiterward had conference,
win Judga Day. Assistant S,crnt,rv
0i State. Then he wen: Ia tbs Wh;.,
!iohsc ana was clnSctcd with the Prs
idgnt for tvs hours ana a quarter
heh ne emerged from the room VA
cour'eouHiy declined TO speak regard.
ing ihe nature OF the information bc
hld consrntnicaicd To- the President.
y. t. Palmer, representing ;ns
SeuintaiN Iron Works of New York
'"h'"'a Dn!i me engines of the Maine
"~s ~ inc Navy Department ta-iay
III consultation with n.Ia officials res
po|taHS the conversion Of vcss, * NJ
IN, merchant marine into war Graf,
Whiie not IL shpbuildng firm. III,
t9Ufi;ard works have done a crca,
deaI OF work on the engines and In
parior hiiinGS of ships. which js
just the class crf work thar would h,
required In the case of ttaa auxiliary
cruisers.
l!ecaue5 az protest from some of
the Western people. he Secretary CT
War has npdifihd his order of In :;
,lh