The herald., 1898-04-08
SPAIN BUYS A CRUISER
AND PAYS A BIG PRICE FOR A
POOR SHIP
THE GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI
Judged by Expert Brownson to Be Of
the Kind the United States
Does Not Need
Associated Press Special Wire

NEW YORK, April s.--A dispatch to the
Tribune from Washington says: The navy
department has learned officially that
Spain has bought the Giuseppe Garibaldi
from Italy, for future delivery, after the
United States had refused TO take the ves-
sci. 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 secondhand
ships Of that character. 1t was for this
reason that Commander Brownson, after
inspecting the two vessels in the italian
dock yard, was recalled to this country, it
being evident that, in case of war, neither
of the vessels could be brought to the
United States, if it were possible, indeed,
to complete them in Italy, or get them out
of neutral waters after declaration of
hostilities.
Commander Brownson also had the salts
faction of knowing before he left Italy
that Spain was made to pay dearly for the
ship, for his visit advanced her price to
$4,O0O,00O, although the vessel had at one
time been offered for two-thirds of that
amount. Italy has found it exceedingly
profitable to build Garibalds and varezes
in lots and parcel them off at strictly re-
tail prices. The first was launched at Ses-
tn Peneute dock yard Mary e. 1885, and
named Giuseppe Garibaldi.
A sister ship called the Varez was
launched about the same time at the same
place. Both these were sold to the Ar
gentine Republic in 1896, and renamed re-
spectively Ganbaldi and San Matin, the
former bringing the enormous price of 49,
S07 800 francs.
Italy Immediately laid down two more
identical ships, with the same names, and
launched them by the latter part Of 1896.
They were snapped up by Spain and re-
named respectively Crstobal 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 selected to convoy the torpedo flotilla
to this country, but at the last moment it
was found that the Scotch engineers would
not come, and the Spanish engineers were
not sufficiently familiar with the machin-
cry to undertake so long a voyage. In fact,
the Spanish engineers could not get the
ship under full steam power at all.
AS soon as Italy disposed Of the second
set Of duplicates, another Giuseppe Carl
baldi was laid down at Sestu Poneute and
third Varex at Leghorn, to be completed
in the latter part of 1898. The former ves-
sci was launched on September 20 last, and
by extra work has now been brought to @
condition which promises completion the
| last Of August. The United States con.
cluded that it would not need such shi,
the last of August or even o month earlier
Naval officers did not want to purchas,
the Albany because she was uncompleted
but Brazil declined to sell the New Or
| leans without the Albany, and, as the New
Orleans was ready and needed, both ships
were taken. The American flag was prompt
ly raised on the Albany to avoid any inter.
national ENHANCEMENT, but it is fully rec
ognized here that her services cannot bt
utilized, if war occurs before she leaves
English, for the English could not com.
plete her afterward and observe neutrality
nor would it be considered 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 italian torpedo boats is
| not true, for. much as the United States
would like to have the vessels, the impos.
sibility of getting them to the United States
is fully recognized.
The names Yankee, Dixie, Prairie an6
Yosemite were today selected as the nava
designations Of the four Morgan line aux
iliary cruisers Ell Sol, Ell Norte, Ell Sud an6
Ell Rio.
RAISING A WAR FUND
LONDON, April S.-The Madrid CORE.
spondent Of the Daily Mail says: The sub.
scriptions to the national war fund which
the government has opened will be depos
| tied in the Bank of Spain, at the disposa
of the government. Army, navy and al
government officials will contribute a.
least one days pay. Private corporation.
and clubs, as we'll as newspapers, have
convoked meetings to make the subscrip
tions as big and as popular as possible