The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-16
Yorktown and YOumuri Purchased,
and to Be Added to the Fleet
of Auxiliary Cruisers.
NEGOTIATIONS FOR WAR SHIPS
GOOD CHILEAN AND ARGENTINE YES
Sells MAY BE SECURED.
Mimic Battle Fought by the Flying
Suuadron-The New Orleans
Worthy of Her Name.

WASHINGTON, April 15.-Several i'm
portant and decisive steps in the work of
war preparations were taken by the Navy
Department to-day. 1t was decided to as
sign the raval reserves of New York New
Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland and Mich
igan to the five military cruisers hereafter
to be known as patrol boats. These ships
are the Prairie, the Dixie, the Yankee, the
Yosemite and either the Venezuela or York
town, the latter of which was purchased
to-day. The question of the American line
steamers was also wound up to-day with
the decision to charter all four of them
the st. Louis, the ST. Paul, the Paris and
the New York. The two first mentioned
have already been acquired by the depart
ment, though the form of acquisition was
tentative, the department being undecided
whether it would purchase these two only
or charter all four. With the announcement
that these magnificent ships have been
added to the auxiliary fleet came the state
ment that the department also had pur-
chased the Yorktown, of the Old Dominion
line, and the Youmuri, of the Ward line.
With these additions the fleet of converted
vessels now includes the pick of the ocean
liners and coasting steamers running under
the American flag. AS in all instances the
prices paid are withheld by the department.
But of greater moment than any of the
foregoing developments was the reopening
of negotiations for the purchase of two war
ships and several torpedo boats from Chile
and Argentina. One of the cruisers is the
Chilean OHigginS, just completed at an
English yard, and regarded one of the
most formidable of her class afioat. These
negotiations are being conducted through
Mr.. Charles r. Flint, of New York, who
has large commercial and financial interests
in both countries. Mr.. Flint was at the
Navy Department to-day and held extended
conferences with the secretary and other
officials. While Mr.. Flint would not say
how far the negotiations had progressed he
intimated that the internal affairs of Chile
and Argentina were assuming such salts
factory shape as to warrant the presump-
ton that they were not averse to parting
with portion of their navies.
The boundary dispute between Chile and
Argentine, he explained, had caused sucn
strained relations as to practically prohibit
any reduction in the navy strength of either
country. The dispute has now, however,
been left to the arbitration of Queen Vic
toria, and the prospects of a thoroughly
peaceful and satisfactory adjustment of
this old quarrel were more than good. With
this possible cause for trouble in fair way
to removal, Mr.. Flint said that the ablest
and most conservative men in both Chile
and Argentina are in favor of reducing the
naval establishment and economizing ex-
penditures. Naturally, however, neither
country was inclined to weaken itself alone,
and the proposition was pending that each
shall dispense with equal amount of
.c11i h9E ta1x shane
suggestion that Chile shall sell the O. Hig
gins and one torpedo boat, while Argentina
shall dispose of their Garibadi or the San
Martin, both fine cruisers, and two torpedo
boats. This would leave the two navies in
about the same respective condition. In adj
dtion to the strong argument of reduction
in expenses, Mr.. Flint stated that another
and possibly more powerful factor was be-
hind the scheme to decrease the navies not
only in Chile and Argentina, but in other
South American countries as WELL and that
was the fact that history has taught that
chiefly in the naves lies the danger of rev.
olution. Consequently the governments III
power generally favored reducing the navies
to the lowest possible limit. Should Chile
and Argentina decide to sell the vessels it
was believed to be practically assured that
they would be added to the naval list of the
United States.
Orders have been issued to the naval re-
serves of Massachusetts, Maryland, Micli-
gan, New York and New Jersey to hold
themselves in readiness for duty on the
patrol ships. 1t is the intention of the de-
partment to shape ali matters for any
emergency. but the militia VIII not actually
go into service aboard the ships until it is
certain that hostilities are to ensue. The
patrol ships will be assigned The Atlantic
coast line and form part of the general
plan of coast defense. The SC leme as IN
derstood, is to assign one of the patrol YES
sells to each of the five divisions tnat haVe
been mapped out for the mosquito fleet,
under command of Commander Horace El-
mer. These vessels viii be the iiayships
of their divisions. and will be under the
command of naval officer. These assign
ments already have been made. The only
other officer of the 'egular navy aboard
will be one engineer. the est of the officers
and the crew are TO be made UP of Tie ma
val reserves, with the possible addition of
volunteers. If volunteers are assigned to
them they most probably viii he the regu-
lar officers and crews of the ships. it Icing
the desire of the department 70 retain as
many of these men possible. II IS stated
that there viii be no attempt To observe
sectional lines III making up The @rews If
the patrol feet the reserve in best condi-
ton and most available VII be assigned To
the most convenient ship. Work Oh the IA
troll vessels is being pushed as rapidly
possible. and two of them probably viii be
ready 10 so into COMMISSION tomorrow.
Secretary Long to-day selected names for
the five steel sea-going tugs recently pur-
chased by the government for service in
connection with the defense of the ports of
the Pacific and gulf coasts. The tugs G. G.
Coyle and Penwood. purchased at New Or
leans and Mobile. respectively will here
after be known as the Choctaw and Pow
hatan. respectively. The tugs Fearless.
Vigilant and Active. purchased on the Pa
ciiic coast, viii retain their present names.
The Navy Department to-day assigned
Capt. w. NJ. Foger. al present in charge of
the third lighthouse district, to command