Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-15

States-One of Them is Complete,
Having Her Coal and Ammunition
on Board, and the Other is So
Nearly Finished That She Could
Be lowed Across at Once, or
Finished in a Few Weeks Where
she Is-Shortage of Engineers
Painfully Apparent - Senator
Proctor Has a Talk With the
President and Secretary Alger.
Washington, March IA weeks
regoMations closed to-day by the tri-
umphant purchase by the navy de-
nartment in London of the two fine
cruisers built and building at Elswick
for The Brazilian government. Pos
sibly the officials took more pleasure
in closing up the business in this
manner because of the knowledge
hal The Spanish agents had been
striving to secure these very ships, to
whom, it is said they would be of
much greater value in case of trouble
than to the United States. The next
question is how to get the ships home.
and that has not yet been settled, ac-
cording to the Secretary of the Navy.
The United States flag will be hoisted
over the new ships within a week,
probably, and just as soon as the crew
can be put on board the Amazonas she
will start for the United States. The
uher vessel will follow at the earliest
possible moment. The terms of sale
are secret.
The availability of the two Brazilian
ships was first brought to the atten-
ton OF the navy department by Mr..
Lane, agent of the Nordenfeldt Com
pany, who was authorized to dispose
Of these ships building at Elswick and
TWO others in course of construction
in France. Mr.. Lane said to-day that
the TWO ships purchased would be
most desirable acquisition to the
American navy, as they were the latest
and best products of the famous Arm
strong yards. One of
THE SHIPS is COMPLETE
in every respect, has her coal supply
and ammunition on board and steam
can be raised at any time. There will
be no trouble in bringing this ship
across, as IN adequate force from the
local yards can be secured for the SER
vice. It is said the coal and ammuni-
ton on board passed with the sale to
the United States The ammunition
is not all Of the kind in use by the
lpited States navy so that the supply
Of ammunition is a necessary adjunct
TO the new ships. The other ship has
been launched, but it viii take some
time to make her ready for sea. Mr.
Lane believes however, that there will
be no difficulty in bringing her over
Immediately, if it is desired to make
the move without delay as the hull
OF the ship is so well along that she
could be towed and her own sail pow
er utilized for the trip across.
dangerous deficiency in the en-
gneer branch OF the navy. has been
brought to light strikingly in the fact
mat 1t is scarcely possible to secure a
stan Of engineers officers to bring
back to the United States any of the
sbIps purchased abroad A short
time ago when orders were given to
rush the work of putting the cruiser
CnleagO in shape for active service,
Inc engineer in chief proposed that he
would have the ship
READY IN THREE MONTHS,
instead Of six. as was estimated. To
10 this he would work forces day and
Msht' and to keep them at work he
would place an engineer officer aboard
'ae snip, to stay there day and night.
raised Assistant Engineer Dixon was
CHOSEN for the work, but he had not
oeen employed more than week be-
lore 1t was found necessary to detach
Nln IN order to find an engineer Off
Ger to act as a member of the board
appointed to examine auxiliary cruis-
ers
his state of affairs has been
brought 10 the attention of the House
ma val
naval committee, but so far it is feared
T'aout meeting that degree of success
"Nch 1t was hoped for in the shape of
gu amendment increasing the num-
'' OF engineer officers in the service.
'oL Heywood, the commandant of
"e marine corps. to-day made five de-
'aiS Of marines for cruisers now being
.Fpaifed or ready for commission.
mere are two drafts of As each for
wig Philadelphia and the Charleston
y Mare Island. one of So for the New
a-A at Norfolk, and two of 80 each for
ue Columbia and Minneapolis at
League Island.
senator Proctor
VISITED THE WHITE HOUSE
'l0 Uptown departments to-day, and
's calls excited good deal OF inter
lie spent half an hour first with
''felaly Alger explaining. il is be-