The San Francisco call., 1898-03-05

case of trouble this Government could purchase from Japan the Kasagi and the Chiosa, which are nearing completion at Philadelphia and the Union Iron Works. The official with whom talked had no doubt that Japan would be be willing to aid the United States by selling the warships before the com mencement of war. In the event of war this Government might feel constrained. he said. to take the ships and settle for them afterward.
 As the Herald has stated, Chile has a fine armored cruiser of S4oo tons dis placement, the O'Higgins, under con struction, which could be purchased, 1t is thought, if necessity demanded.
 "Of course,' said the administration officer to me, this Government will have to pay nearly $Io,ooo 900 for the four battle-ships and cruisers and the four torpedo boats which have been of fered to it.
 If 1t should be found necessary to take the Kasagi and Chiosa big sum would have to be paid to Japan. The President realizes, think, that the mar gin of safety, so far as armored ships are concerned, is dangerously close, and Spain stands almost as good a chance of winning as the United States in case of war
 "The loss ot the Maine reduced our armored fleet on the Atlantic to the battle-ships Iowa, Indiana and the Mas sachusetts, the second-class battle-ship Texas and the armored cruisers Brook lyn and New York, making six in all The Spanish navy has now Tn commits sion or practically ready for active serv- ice the battle-ship Pelayo, and the ar mored cruisers Almirante Oquendo. Vizcaya, Infanta Maria Teresa. Carlos V. Cristobal Colon and Princessa de Asturias. The completion of the battle ship Numancia and the armored cruisers Catalina and Cardinal Cisneros is being pushed, and they will be ready for service in few months The total ar mored fleet of Spain in commission to- day comprises seven. ships, with three shortly to be completed. and if the re- port of to-day should prove true two more are to be added to her effective force.
 Our battle-ships are superior to anything in Spain's navy. but if we are to continue this superiority 1t would be necessary for us to buy ships that have been offered to us for sale 1 have no doubt that Congress will make the ne cessary appropriation should the Presi- dent take the ships"
 Before the cruiser Baltimore proceeds to the Asiatic station she will await the coming Of the corvette Mohican, which will convey to Honolulu from Mare Island a great many tons of ammuni- ton for the ships of the Asiatic squad ron.
 There has been some talk of relieving the cruiser Olympia by the Baltimore, but no orders contemplating such ac- ton will be issued in the near future. The addition of the Baltimore to the Asiatic squadron will make that squad ron sufficiently strong, it is believed in official circles, to easily defeat the five small Spanish vessels in the waters of the Philippine Islands and to reduce the Notifications of Manila
 The concentration of the Asiatic squadron at Hongkong, Goo miles from Manila, was completed to-day when the cruiser Boston and the gunboat Con cord arrived at that port. Upon the ar rival of the Baltimore at Hongkong. which will be in the course of a month. this Government will have at the British port the Baltimore, the Olympia, the Raleigh and the Boston and the gun boats Concord and Petrel.
 1 was told to-day that the Asiatic squadron was not so badly off for am munition as sensational reports this morning indicated When the Concord went to the Asiatic station last fall she carried with her thirtyhve tons of pro- jectiles and powder. which were distrib- uted among the vessels on the station. The department has been attempting to make shipments to Asia by tramp steamers, but has been unsuccessful.
 In accordance with orders issued last week by Assistant Secretary Roosevelt, Commander Pendleton. in charge of the ordnance department at the Wash ington Navy Yard, has commenced shipment to New York of ten six-inch guns built for the Atlanta and Chicago. but which will in reality be placed aboard the ships of the American line. This shipment will be followed by an other, which will include twenty-two fve-inch guns. It is proposed by the department to have everything in readi- ness so that instant action can be taken without the slightest unnecessary delay.
 There is no longer any doubt of the intention of the administration to keep the North Atlantic squadron at the strategical point at which 1t is now sta tioned for some time to come.